- Joined
- Aug 25, 2014
- Messages
- 22
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A little over a month ago I moved. I live in a 2 story home that was converted into 2 apartments - I was on the top floor, now am on the bottom. Since moving my two normally very peaceful loving boys have had 2 death matches. Yes, I know the difference between a play fight and a death match. Play fights do not involved hissing (until one wants to say "I'm done" and the other respects it), no growling, no screaming, very little fur raising, and never have they drawn blood.
I suspect the reason for this is because Nom, the one in my avatar, is especially nervous after the move. He's normally a clingy cat compared to Rawrz, but he's even clingier now. He will randomly poof his fur for what seems to me to be no reason. He's also constantly looking around and acting as though he expects something to jump out and get him. Well, one night his brother did just that, and it sparked the first death match. I was terrified thinking they were going to kill each other. I've only heard outdoor cats do that prior and it was to cause severe injury to rivals, not just warn them to back off. Rawrz did sustain a bit of injury on his neck that I found days later, but luckily nothing major. A full 12+ hours away from each other and using play and food bonding got them to like each other again by the next evening and they were right back to cuddling on their kitty tower.
This time I have no idea what sparked it. I was woken up at 4:29pm (I work nights, so it's actually early for me to get up then) by the screaming and had to intervene. I tried to go back to sleep, but I was so worked up that I couldn't. 3.5hrs later was their supper time, so I tried food bonding and it went ok... Until I stepped away to refill their water. The growling and hissing started up, so I closed the door I had between them. Or I thought I had. While I went back to refilling the water the door had opened and Nom went after Rawrz again. I had to intervene again by grabbing Nom, this time getting redirected at (no injury), but I didn't want them to get hurt so I had to risk it. Bonding failed, so they're spending a night apart again. This time Nom got a piece of claw stuck in his nose and I had to pull it out. Shows just how real this is - they mean to hurt each other.
I'm really worried now that even if I get them to bond again, there will be a death match while I'm at work and can't stop it. I live alone and have no family close by to watch them at night, and even if I got a camera to watch them myself from work there would be no one to stop the fight. Leaving work isn't an option, even for emergencies.
As for Rawrz, he's taking very well to the new place. He doesn't act nervous like Nom does. It takes something big to even make him look like he heard it, the little noises don't bother him like they bother Nom. He doesn't go after Nom during these fights either, he only tries to get away and when cornered will defend himself. The first time he scared Nom it was purely an accident, but Nom didn't see it that way.
What can I do to help Nom be less nervous to hopefully stop more fights from happening? Two major reasons I think he's so nervous:
1. New environment, pretty obvious. We lived in that apartment for 3 years and they're only about 3 and a half, so most of their life by far was spent there. They're basically feral, they only know me and each other, and Nom especially hates when my family comes over, but Rawrz is getting used to my mom at least. Now that we're on the bottom floor they see and hear the neighbor and her friends come and go all the time and Nom is obviously nervous just hearing someone.
2. The apartment used to be occupied by 3 other cats. Apparently, one or all of them were not properly litterbox trained and the basement reeks of cat urine. I'm sure both of my boys smell the scent of those 3 all over the house, so I'm thinking that has something to do with it too - like Nom sort of expects the owners of the scents to come get him and maybe even is confusing his brother for one of them.
I suspect the reason for this is because Nom, the one in my avatar, is especially nervous after the move. He's normally a clingy cat compared to Rawrz, but he's even clingier now. He will randomly poof his fur for what seems to me to be no reason. He's also constantly looking around and acting as though he expects something to jump out and get him. Well, one night his brother did just that, and it sparked the first death match. I was terrified thinking they were going to kill each other. I've only heard outdoor cats do that prior and it was to cause severe injury to rivals, not just warn them to back off. Rawrz did sustain a bit of injury on his neck that I found days later, but luckily nothing major. A full 12+ hours away from each other and using play and food bonding got them to like each other again by the next evening and they were right back to cuddling on their kitty tower.
This time I have no idea what sparked it. I was woken up at 4:29pm (I work nights, so it's actually early for me to get up then) by the screaming and had to intervene. I tried to go back to sleep, but I was so worked up that I couldn't. 3.5hrs later was their supper time, so I tried food bonding and it went ok... Until I stepped away to refill their water. The growling and hissing started up, so I closed the door I had between them. Or I thought I had. While I went back to refilling the water the door had opened and Nom went after Rawrz again. I had to intervene again by grabbing Nom, this time getting redirected at (no injury), but I didn't want them to get hurt so I had to risk it. Bonding failed, so they're spending a night apart again. This time Nom got a piece of claw stuck in his nose and I had to pull it out. Shows just how real this is - they mean to hurt each other.
I'm really worried now that even if I get them to bond again, there will be a death match while I'm at work and can't stop it. I live alone and have no family close by to watch them at night, and even if I got a camera to watch them myself from work there would be no one to stop the fight. Leaving work isn't an option, even for emergencies.
As for Rawrz, he's taking very well to the new place. He doesn't act nervous like Nom does. It takes something big to even make him look like he heard it, the little noises don't bother him like they bother Nom. He doesn't go after Nom during these fights either, he only tries to get away and when cornered will defend himself. The first time he scared Nom it was purely an accident, but Nom didn't see it that way.
What can I do to help Nom be less nervous to hopefully stop more fights from happening? Two major reasons I think he's so nervous:
1. New environment, pretty obvious. We lived in that apartment for 3 years and they're only about 3 and a half, so most of their life by far was spent there. They're basically feral, they only know me and each other, and Nom especially hates when my family comes over, but Rawrz is getting used to my mom at least. Now that we're on the bottom floor they see and hear the neighbor and her friends come and go all the time and Nom is obviously nervous just hearing someone.
2. The apartment used to be occupied by 3 other cats. Apparently, one or all of them were not properly litterbox trained and the basement reeks of cat urine. I'm sure both of my boys smell the scent of those 3 all over the house, so I'm thinking that has something to do with it too - like Nom sort of expects the owners of the scents to come get him and maybe even is confusing his brother for one of them.
It takes a while, because every time you rinse and wipe more bubbles keep forming.
