My Pet World: For owners of multiple cats, social skills are important
Q: How do I best get our cats to accept one another? We have a 16-year-old named Tyler. Two years ago, 6-year-old Kallie showed up. It took awhile, but they get along fine.
After about a year, we heard about a kitten left in a house to starve, so we rescued her, and named her Holly. She was brought back to life from the brink of death, but we now call this sweetie 'the monster.' She constantly attacks the other two cats. We tried Feliway plug-in diffusers. We've tried to separate them. If they're together, Holly constantly chases them and it's not a happy household.
My husband wants to give her up, but after seven months, I can't. Do you have any ideas? -- D. P., Las Vegas
A: Good for you for saving Holly's life. You should feel good about yourself, and understand none of what's happening now is your fault. Or anyone's fault. Part of the problem may be that Holly, who was apparently abandoned by her mom, never learned cat social skills.
Veterinary behaviorist Dr. Theresa DePorter of Oakland, Mich., says your situation is not hopeless. Your best bet at this point may be to bring in a veterinary behaviorist or a certified cat behavior consultant.
There's a new Feliway pheromone product specifically designed for cats not getting along with one another, called Feliway Multi Cat. Another idea may be Solliquin, a nutritional suppliant, which can help to ease anxiety.
"However, you'll definitely also require a behavior protocol, and perhaps if the situation is as bad as it sounds, anti-anxiety medication," says DePorter. "But you also need a professional to assess that." Your next step is to again separate Holly from the other two cats, and many weeks from now slowly introduce them.
DePorter makes a point of saying, "Never punish or startle any of the cats -- that will only make them more anxious. So no squirting water bottles. Instead, when that stare (to another cat occurs), take a toy (with feathers, for example) and re-direct the cats. With play, you change the emotional state. Of course, this may be easier said than done without help."
Here are some additional tips from DePorter to ease social tension:
--Space. Provide enough real estate for each cat to enjoy preferred resting, playing, and eating activities while still avoiding stressful encounters with housemate cats.
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