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We were woken in the middle of the night Thursday/Friday to Bentley aggressively fighting one of the other or possibly both Fin and Alastair...earlier that day they were laying in piles...so I have no idea what triggered the aggression.

Not really wanting to deal, I took Fin and Alastair into the bedroom with us and the dogs and locked Bentley out...normally we do the whomever is not playing nice gets to be alone rule...

The next morning I went downstairs and Bentley was lying on a chair...I pet him...he seemed fine...then Alastair came down and the hissing, spitting started up again...because I was on my way out the door to bring the dogs to the kennel...as we were leaving to go away...I immediately scopped up Bentley and took him to the screened porch...figuring the fresh air might do him some good...

When I got back from the Kennel...Bentley had climbed into the rafters (Alastair's favorite spot) and would not come down and was not very aggressive toward me and my husband...but, we needed to leave and didn't want to leave him out there for the weekend...so Jon suited up with a raincoat, mechanics gloves and a helmet with facemask...it was a sight...to try and get the cat down and into the guestroom...needless to say it did not go well, Bentley fought and bit him through the gloves and refused to come down...

So, with no other alternative, we left him out there with his own litterbox and food and water...I left very unsettled, not knowing what could be wrong with him...and then spent Saturday afternoon in Urgent Care with my husband and an infected finger.

Sunday morning we get a call from the Kennel and one of our greyhounds had died in his sleep...we immediately headed back. The weekend had just gone from bad to worse to unbelievable...

When we got home we found Bentley had eaten and used the litterbox...so I am fairly certain it wasn't another obstruction and he's not ill...my husband was able to coax him out of the hiding spot and he was all purry again...we took him in, but again his aggression started to surface as soon as he saw one of the other cats...we put him in the guestroom while we took care of the getting the dogs...

Last night I kept Bentley in the room with us and locked the other cats out...he was his usual self to us...all purry and snuggly...but starts to freak out each time he sees one of the other cats...

I have no idea what is going on with them, my initial guess is maybe Fin who is now 3 is trying to take Alpha position from Bentley and he is reasserting his right...and Alastair is getting the brunt of it because he is so passive?

My mind is all cloudy right now as I am still trying to make arrangements for Shuteye...and am keeping Bentley separate until I can devote some time to the situation...but was wondering if anyone else ever had anything similar happen and/or what do you think the best course of action is...do I let them just figure it out? Do I act like this is a new cat situation and do a gradually re-introduction...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated...thanks.
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Lisa, owned by Bentley,Alastair, Finster, & Delilah

Lisa,

First of all I want to let you know how sorry I am about your dog. Our pets give us so much and ask for so little in return, and it's so hard when we lose one of them.

Am assuming that the old standard -- that one of the other cats had just been to the vet and therefore smells funny -- is not the problem. Or, something may have scared him and he may be associating whatever it was with one/both of the other cats, if they were nearby when it happened.

A few years ago I read a great book -- The Cat Who Cried for Help, by Nicholas Dodman. As I recall, he addressed this very problem and it was displaced aggression. I believe his recommendation was to do what you suggested -- start all over and reintroduce Bentley slowly to the others.

Please keep us posted on how everyone is doing!

Carol, Emily, & Eddie

>>We were woken in the middle of the night Thursday/Friday to Bentley aggressively fighting one of the other or possibly both Fin and Alastair...earlier that day they were laying in piles...so I have no idea what triggered the aggression.
>>
>>Not really wanting to deal, I took Fin and Alastair into the bedroom with us and the dogs and locked Bentley out...normally we do the whomever is not playing nice gets to be alone rule...
>>
>>The next morning I went downstairs and Bentley was lying on a chair...I pet him...he seemed fine...then Alastair came down and the hissing, spitting started up again...because I was on my way out the door to bring the dogs to the kennel...as we were leaving to go away...I immediately scopped up Bentley and took him to the screened porch...figuring the fresh air might do him some good...
>>
>>When I got back from the Kennel...Bentley had climbed into the rafters (Alastair's favorite spot) and would not come down and was not very aggressive toward me and my husband...but, we needed to leave and didn't want to leave him out there for the weekend...so Jon suited up with a raincoat, mechanics gloves and a helmet with facemask...it was a sight...to try and get the cat down and into the guestroom...needless to say it did not go well, Bentley fought and bit him through the gloves and refused to come down...
>>
>>So, with no other alternative, we left him out there with his own litterbox and food and water...I left very unsettled, not knowing what could be wrong with him...and then spent Saturday afternoon in Urgent Care with my husband and an infected finger.
>>
>>Sunday morning we get a call from the Kennel and one of our greyhounds had died in his sleep...we immediately headed back. The weekend had just gone from bad to worse to unbelievable...
>>
>>When we got home we found Bentley had eaten and used the litterbox...so I am fairly certain it wasn't another obstruction and he's not ill...my husband was able to coax him out of the hiding spot and he was all purry again...we took him in, but again his aggression started to surface as soon as he saw one of the other cats...we put him in the guestroom while we took care of the getting the dogs...
>>
>>Last night I kept Bentley in the room with us and locked the other cats out...he was his usual self to us...all purry and snuggly...but starts to freak out each time he sees one of the other cats...
>>
>>I have no idea what is going on with them, my initial guess is maybe Fin who is now 3 is trying to take Alpha position from Bentley and he is reasserting his right...and Alastair is getting the brunt of it because he is so passive?
>>
>>My mind is all cloudy right now as I am still trying to make arrangements for Shuteye...and am keeping Bentley separate until I can devote some time to the situation...but was wondering if anyone else ever had anything similar happen and/or what do you think the best course of action is...do I let them just figure it out? Do I act like this is a new cat situation and do a gradually re-introduction...
>>
>>Any advice would be greatly appreciated...thanks.
>>-----
>>Lisa, owned by Bentley,Alastair, Finster, & Delilah

Carol...thanks so much...I'm pretty confident you nailed it on the head...it makes perfect sense...

I ran out and tried to get the book...Borders did not have it on the shelf...but I got a comparable one...addressing the issue of misdirected aggression with the same advice...separate the aggressor and re-introduce slowly...

Fortunately...I know exactly what the "trigger" was with Bentley...Delilah...more specifically, Bentley knowing Delilah is in the other room and he cannot access her....although she has been separated for a while...it was only a few days ago where she started hanging out by the door and Alastair and Fin started the paws under the door game...Bentley must have seen this and it pushed him over the edge...

But, the only reason Delilah is separated is because she refused to play nice in the sandbox...so now, I'm pretty much left with a situation where...the Bentley's trigger will always be this adversarial presence in my home, for whatever reason is no longer accepting her behind the door and wants at her, She and Bentley will never be friends ...so even after Bentley and the other two make nice...it is just a matter of time before the cycle starts all over again...or worst case, as long as she is behind the door he won't make nice with the other two...I love him to pieces...but Bentley is as stubborn as he is pretty.

I'm having a sinking feeling the only way to restore peace is to remove Delilah from my home....I'm going to speak to my vet, who also deals with behavioral issues...

My 7 year old son is away at my in-laws this week...he's going to come home to two pets gone...what a mess...
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Lisa, owned by Bentley,Alastair, Finster, & Delilah

I knew I was forgetting something from that book, so I did a little research online and found the following. The author of The Cat Who Cried for Help also suggested the rubbing with the towel thing. Maybe it would help with Delilah and Bentley?

----
Displaced Aggression: If the aggression has occurred suddenly between cats that previously got along, it is most likely to be related to a specific incident. A common cause is one cat returning after being absent from the home or a strange cat outside creates tension for the indoor cats and they fight with each other because the intruder is out of reach. This can also occur if the aggressor is injured or startled and fights with the other cat.

Cats are not rational when they are aggressive. It‘s not about social dominance as it is with dogs. Reprimanding an attacking cat doesn‘t work. It would be like reasoning with a person who has had too much to drink. In these cases, you may not have to resort to separate territories if you separate the cats and rub each with a towel in turn so that they become re-acquainted with each other‘s scent while they are relaxed.

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Carol, Emily, & Eddie

>>Carol...thanks so much...I'm pretty confident you nailed it on the head...it makes perfect sense...
>>
>>I ran out and tried to get the book...Borders did not have it on the shelf...but I got a comparable one...addressing the issue of misdirected aggression with the same advice...separate the aggressor and re-introduce slowly...
>>
>>Fortunately...I know exactly what the "trigger" was with Bentley...Delilah...more specifically, Bentley knowing Delilah is in the other room and he cannot access her....although she has been separated for a while...it was only a few days ago where she started hanging out by the door and Alastair and Fin started the paws under the door game...Bentley must have seen this and it pushed him over the edge...
>>
>>But, the only reason Delilah is separated is because she refused to play nice in the sandbox...so now, I'm pretty much left with a situation where...the Bentley's trigger will always be this adversarial presence in my home, for whatever reason is no longer accepting her behind the door and wants at her, She and Bentley will never be friends ...so even after Bentley and the other two make nice...it is just a matter of time before the cycle starts all over again...or worst case, as long as she is behind the door he won't make nice with the other two...I love him to pieces...but Bentley is as stubborn as he is pretty.
>>
>>I'm having a sinking feeling the only way to restore peace is to remove Delilah from my home....I'm going to speak to my vet, who also deals with behavioral issues...
>>
>>My 7 year old son is away at my in-laws this week...he's going to come home to two pets gone...what a mess...
>>-----
>>Lisa, owned by Bentley,Alastair, Finster, & Delilah

Thanks Carol...towels are in place...but the saga is getting worse...I just got a call from South Carolina's Health department (we were in Myrtle Beach when we had to Urgent Care)

It seems...that if you get bit by a cat and seek medical attention it gets forwarded to your local health department & animal control...whereby they come and visit your home and possibly take and quarantine the animal...(which I'm sure should greatly improve Bentley's mood...)

Now, luckily Bentley is not only up to date on all of his shots, but he is actually licensed with my town (Matthews NC)...but they wanted my vets number to verify...with all that was going on with Shuteye (I just dropped off his body there this morning for cremation) I didn't get around to filling them in on Bentley's issues...so I frantically called them to give them a heads up...and the receptionist said she would handle it with them and said they rarely quarantine the animal if proof of rabies is furnished...

However...I'm probably going to have to undergo the visit from animal control...and even with Shuteye gone, I am still over the 3 pet per household limit in my town without a special permit...in addition to having to pay the permit fee I might get fined...so I am pro-actively getting my permit and licensing Alastair (Fin and Trysta are already licensed)now so when they show up I am all squared away.

My friend is coming to pick up Delilah in the morning and is going to continue the task of rehoming her while I get through my grieving, cat re-acclimations, and animal control nonsense...

So, please keep us in your thoughts...while we muddle through the next couple of weeks.
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Lisa, owned by Bentley,Alastair, Finster, & Delilah

OMG!!!

I am so sorry, and please know that I am sending all the good thoughts I can muster your way.

If you don't get all the paperwork in order in time can you board Alastair or send him to a friend's house during the visit? Or, do they just show up unannounced?

Carol

>>Thanks Carol...towels are in place...but the saga is getting worse...I just got a call from South Carolina's Health department (we were in Myrtle Beach when we had to Urgent Care)
>>
>>It seems...that if you get bit by a cat and seek medical attention it gets forwarded to your local health department & animal control...whereby they come and visit your home and possibly take and quarantine the animal...(which I'm sure should greatly improve Bentley's mood...)
>>
>>Now, luckily Bentley is not only up to date on all of his shots, but he is actually licensed with my town (Matthews NC)...but they wanted my vets number to verify...with all that was going on with Shuteye (I just dropped off his body there this morning for cremation) I didn't get around to filling them in on Bentley's issues...so I frantically called them to give them a heads up...and the receptionist said she would handle it with them and said they rarely quarantine the animal if proof of rabies is furnished...
>>
>>However...I'm probably going to have to undergo the visit from animal control...and even with Shuteye gone, I am still over the 3 pet per household limit in my town without a special permit...in addition to having to pay the permit fee I might get fined...so I am pro-actively getting my permit and licensing Alastair (Fin and Trysta are already licensed)now so when they show up I am all squared away.
>>
>>My friend is coming to pick up Delilah in the morning and is going to continue the task of rehoming her while I get through my grieving, cat re-acclimations, and animal control nonsense...
>>
>>So, please keep us in your thoughts...while we muddle through the next couple of weeks.
>>-----
>>Lisa, owned by Bentley,Alastair, Finster, & Delilah

Who knows...hopefully Alatair's license will show before they do, then I can send in the permit papers (which are all filled out, check written, envelope addressed)...or hopefully they will call to schedule an appointment and I can stash His Fattness at my neighbors...and hopefully they don't ask the vet how many pets I actually own when they call them regarding Bentley. And hopefully when they do show they are hoping to find that I am a responsible loving pet owner who's husband made a huge mistake by trying to get our otherwise gentle cat from a safe spot while agitated...

I know all of this is done for a reason to help with the spread of disease and inhibit or at least keep track of animal horders (I prefer to consider myself a "collector" ...but what a hassle...
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Lisa, owned by Bentley,Alastair, Finster, & Delilah

I was talking to a friend last night who had a somewhat similar situation a few years back. Despite repeated warnings not to do it, a neighbor's son got right up in her cat's face. The cat nipped at him -- didn't even break the skin, but just enough to say "get out of my space." The boy's parents freaked and called the police.
Needless to say, animal control got involved and showed up at the house. What they found was a very laid back, friendly, elderly cat who was up to date on his vaccinations. The upshot: my friend had to keep the cat in the house and could have no visitors for two weeks.

Carol, Emily, & Eddie

>>Who knows...hopefully Alatair's license will show before they do, then I can send in the permit papers (which are all filled out, check written, envelope addressed)...or hopefully they will call to schedule an appointment and I can stash His Fattness at my neighbors...and hopefully they don't ask the vet how many pets I actually own when they call them regarding Bentley. And hopefully when they do show they are hoping to find that I am a responsible loving pet owner who's husband made a huge mistake by trying to get our otherwise gentle cat from a safe spot while agitated...
>>
>>I know all of this is done for a reason to help with the spread of disease and inhibit or at least keep track of animal horders (I prefer to consider myself a "collector" ...but what a hassle...
>>-----
>>Lisa, owned by Bentley,Alastair, Finster, & Delilah

Good heavens!!!!

All this is scaring the daylights out of me. I just put down a deposit on a kitten and now I'm seeing all this going on.

Sorry to hear about your loss, I know what it feels like to lose
a pet. Then to have all this other stuff going down at the same time, I can only wish you luck.
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Terry, confused human companion of Liat.

Thanks Terry....a new kitten...how awesome...give us the details...another Tonk...male or female...color...??? And I'm sure you know, the acclimation period will suck for the first few days...but it's usually very different with a kitten because they are not phased by the older cat hissing the hear it all the time at the cattery, and they are not trying to take over and just want to play with the older cat...Liat will realize this quickly and they will be fine...what I have going on now is all sorts of adult behaviors, brought on by Bentley being an ass and the other two reacting to it...

Things are progressing here...we are up to the swapping spaces stage...and Bentley went and used the community litterbox, drank from the bowl...he played a little paws under the door game with Fin and Alastair who are sequestered in his "safe room"...but after a few minutes hissed under the door...and then walked away...and he now is on a chair basking in the sun ...

Meanwhile...Alastair has been calling for Bentley...with Shuteye gone...they know something is not right...I keep letting them see each other briefly and rubbing all sorts of towels back and forth just so they don't think Bentley is gone too...I'm not going to go any further though until Delilah is out of the house and Bentley has a day or so to realize she is gone...

And for anyone who has never fully read a cat behavior book...please go out and get one...it is really helping me "translate" what is going on...thanks so much Carol for the suggestion...
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Lisa, owned by Bentley,Alastair, Finster, & Delilah

New kitten: Female Tonk. Not sure of color, there are two possibles. Ready around Labor day. Haven't seen them yet, but have met the breeder at shows and her cats are beautiful. I am leaning toward a platinum, but will see how they respond to me. That's how I chose Liat. Or vice-versa. She was the first to leave the litter and snuggled against me immediately. Her sisters were less enthused. One hissed at me and the other did the wet dish rag impersonation. I rubbed behind her ears and made a friend for life.. She looked up at me as if to say "Can we go home now?" It's been fun and games from there.

Hang in with the behavior problems. I hope everything lines out in the end.
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Terry, confused human companion of Liat.

Terry,

This is exciting news!!!
Do keep us posted, and let's have some pictures as soon as you get them!

Carol, Emily, & Eddie

>>New kitten: Female Tonk. Not sure of color, there are two possibles. Ready around Labor day. Haven't seen them yet, but have met the breeder at shows and her cats are beautiful. I am leaning toward a platinum, but will see how they respond to me. That's how I chose Liat. Or vice-versa. She was the first to leave the litter and snuggled against me immediately. Her sisters were less enthused. One hissed at me and the other did the wet dish rag impersonation. I rubbed behind her ears and made a friend for life.. She looked up at me as if to say "Can we go home now?" It's been fun and games from there.
>>
>>Hang in with the behavior problems. I hope everything lines out in the end.
>>-----
>>Terry, confused human companion of Liat.