Reptile & Amphibian Forums

okay...I don't know if cats can be bi-polar, but if they can this cat definitely is...

last thursday he went all twisty again with the other cats...he was wrestling with Alastair one minute and the next he was hissing and growling up a storm...5 days later they are all back in a pile again after a whole new series of separation and reintroduction...but here are the new lessons I've learned which may come in handy for you guys since I believe everyone has at least two of these maniacs at home...

With regards to "territories"

1. a territory is any place the cat decides a territory should be at any given moment...hallways, stairs, bathrooms, closests, the bathtub, ect

2. all must be negotiated and renegotiated until the alpha cat feels he once again King of the World...

3. A room is not necessarily just one territory...for instance...I found out this time around, my room is 4 separate and distinct territories...the room itself, under the bed, on top of the bed...and although I always viewed myself as "Switzerland" apparently when I am lying on the bed...I too am a territory...which I found out the hard way when I shifted my leg in the middle of the night and moved Alastair too close to Bentley.

and...

3. All territories negotiated in daylight, must be renegotiated during darkness.

Here are how our negotiations went:

Bentley: I hate all of you

Alastair: Oh Bentley, I love you so much, you are king of the world, here's my belly, let me lick you. I love you, you are king of the world.

Bentley: I don't believe you

Alastair: well then I will keep showing you my belly, because I love you and you are King of the World...

Finster: here we go again...blah blah blah...you are king of the world, blah blah...I'm not afraid of you...but, I'll look the the other way...blah blah blah...still not afraid of you...you're king of the world...are we done yet?

Bentley: Finster, I didn't hear you...can you repeat that?

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Lisa, owned by Bentley,Alastair, Finster, & Trysta (greyhound)

Maybe it is because my pair are girls, or I just got really lucky... but thank heavens mine aren't territorial!

In fact, they seem to think that sleeping is best done as a group activity, preferably with one kitty piled on top of the other!

Actually all cats are territorial by nature, in a multi-cat household where all is well, they have just worked out their spaces, some of which can overlap...

and actually, female cats are even more complex and in addition to the regular territorial issues, they can do something called "get out of the nest" aggression where they will suddenly turn on a younger male cat they either bore or "adopted", once they have decided its time for him to take care of himself. As well as specific "Female-Female" aggression where one cat simply resents the other one in her space. Period. This looks a lot like regular territorial agression and is handled the same way...separate and reintroduce.

I'm not trying to scare you or even say this will ever happen in your home...just be aware this dynamic is occurring and if one day your home is upside down...this is what's happening and it can be resolved...I was completely freaked out when Bentley suddently went "crazy" until I read up on it and realized what what happening (thanks again Carol)

My cats lived in peace for 3 years before our first knock down drag out episode...which was about a dominant Female cat coming into our home who would not submit. (but he was taking it out on the younger two males) Now, that she was re-homed, ours has more to do with the two younger ones coming into maturity and testing Bentley's alpha standing...I'm pretty sure they don't really want it, as they immediately submit to his tantrums...(although he likes to hold the grudge for a few days) but one day if one of them decides it's time, I'm going to have to let them 'figure it out'. I am not looking forward to that day. AS of right now, they are back in a pile again...

My vet told me something very interesting...they (vets) have a saying..."For every additional cat you bring into the home, the problems increase exponentially"...
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Lisa, owned by Bentley,Alastair, Finster, & Trysta (greyhound)

Wow. I was trying to be silly and light hearted (yes, I know females are territorial as well) and I feel like I just got told off for it.

Relax Cailin...one of the purposes of this board is to educate...apparrently we don't share the same sense of humor and I missed your joke...

And to clarify...once upon a time I didn't know any of these aggressions had names and could rear up at any given time...it cost my husband getting bit, and emergency visit during vacation, a call from the Health Department, and my cat almost being confiscated by Animal Control....so, when I hear someone say their cat is not territorial...I got concerned and felt it was important enough to share what I learned from a book another member of this board recommended to me...I was trying to be helpful....

I'm sorry, my mistake...however, I will continue to give out information...so,feel free to not read or respond to my posts if this is going to be an issue for you.
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Lisa, owned by Bentley,Alastair, Finster, & Trysta (greyhound)

lol crazy tonks.... too funny