What's an alpha cat …
Question:
I definitely recommend this book for anyone having behavioral problems with his/her cat. Dr. Dodman who wrote the book will even do consultations by phone/fax/e-mail/snail mail (of course, there’s a cost involved but it can be worth it if you really have a problem you need professional help with). Sue – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > There’s a book called The Cat Who Cried For Help that discusses > alpha/dominant cat behavioral problems and treatments– it might > be helpful for your situation. > If your cats are injuring each other, or are totally stressed out > with each other, you need to put them in separate rooms > immediately. Otherwise, they’re probably OK to be together, as > long as they are able to run and get away from each other. Again, > watch them carefully to make sure the violence doesn’t escalate. > A stressful event can definitely trigger a change in behavior. > For example, "misdirected aggression" means that the cat (or any > animal/person) was afraid of something, but rather than attacking > the feared object, redirects the anger to a safer target. > Example: person is angry at the boss and comes home and kicks the > dog. It’s fairly common for companion cats to get into a pattern > of aggressive behavior after experiencing a trigger event. > The book mentioned above talks about how to recondition the cats > to be more tolerant of each other. The main idea is to make them > have positive experiences (feeding, playing etc) while around > each other, so that they become deconditioned to the recent > negative pattern that they’ve gotten into. > Also you should consider having your cat checked by a vet. > Behavioral changes can be a symptom of a medical problem. Also > the vet should be able to advise you on behavioral and (if it’s > needed) drug treatments for your cat. > * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * > The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
If it’s a male cat acting aggressively to a female cat, it is possible that another female cat in your neighborhood has gone into heat and your male has got a whiff of her raging hormones. Even if both of your cats are neutered, you’ll still see this behavior. The Duke, my large neutered male cat, always gets in a lather when there is a female in heat nearby and I have subsequently had to break up a few fights between him and his sister when he has tried to act our his ‘impulses’ on her. When the female in heat leaves, this behavior stops. Jim SquidTech – the ‘Fun’ part of Lodestone Technologies, Ltd. (Check out our new Squid options on our website) Website: http://squidtech.home.att.net
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi, > What’s an alpha cat and how does a cat become an alpha cat? Also, can a > male cat who has been docile, timid and seemingly dominated by another > younger,smaller and female cat suddenly wanted to assert himself to be the > alpha cat? > I have two cats, an older male and a younger female. They don’t love each > other but they have been tolerating each other. Recently I found that > they’ve been fighting quite a bit. The male kept wanting to bother the > female. When he does that, she growls and sometimes they end up fighting. > Some of the fights are play fights and some are real fur flying fights. The > male has never been aggressive towards the female until now. Any idea why? > Also, any idea as to how to cool them down when and immediately after they > fight? Would squirting water help? Should I just let them fight it out? > Finally, would a stressful even trigger the aggressive/protective behavior > of an otherwise very docile and timid male cat? I can write about the > stressful event and the male cat’s unusual behavior in more detail if > that’s needed. It’ll be long though. > Any help in shedding some light on this will be great appreciated. Thanks! > Erika
Response:
Aggressive males can be treated with female hormones (eg Delvosterone) to calm them down. Rather unusual treatment but discuss with your vet Nokomis – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi, >What’s an alpha cat and how does a cat become an alpha cat? Also, can a >male cat who has been docile, timid and seemingly dominated by another >younger,smaller and female cat suddenly wanted to assert himself to be the >alpha cat? >I have two cats, an older male and a younger female. They don’t love each >other but they have been tolerating each other. Recently I found that >they’ve been fighting quite a bit. The male kept wanting to bother the >female. When he does that, she growls and sometimes they end up fighting. >Some of the fights are play fights and some are real fur flying fights. The >male has never been aggressive towards the female until now. Any idea why? >Also, any idea as to how to cool them down when and immediately after they >fight? Would squirting water help? Should I just let them fight it out? >Finally, would a stressful even trigger the aggressive/protective behavior >of an otherwise very docile and timid male cat? I can write about the >stressful event and the male cat’s unusual behavior in more detail if >that’s needed. It’ll be long though. >Any help in shedding some light on this will be great appreciated. Thanks! >Erika
Response:
There’s a book called The Cat Who Cried For Help that discusses alpha/dominant cat behavioral problems and treatments– it might be helpful for your situation. If your cats are injuring each other, or are totally stressed out with each other, you need to put them in separate rooms immediately. Otherwise, they’re probably OK to be together, as long as they are able to run and get away from each other. Again, watch them carefully to make sure the violence doesn’t escalate. A stressful event can definitely trigger a change in behavior. For example, "misdirected aggression" means that the cat (or any animal/person) was afraid of something, but rather than attacking the feared object, redirects the anger to a safer target. Example: person is angry at the boss and comes home and kicks the dog. It’s fairly common for companion cats to get into a pattern of aggressive behavior after experiencing a trigger event. The book mentioned above talks about how to recondition the cats to be more tolerant of each other. The main idea is to make them have positive experiences (feeding, playing etc) while around each other, so that they become deconditioned to the recent negative pattern that they’ve gotten into. Also you should consider having your cat checked by a vet. Behavioral changes can be a symptom of a medical problem. Also the vet should be able to advise you on behavioral and (if it’s needed) drug treatments for your cat. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
Hi, What’s an alpha cat and how does a cat become an alpha cat? Also, can a male cat who has been docile, timid and seemingly dominated by another younger,smaller and female cat suddenly wanted to assert himself to be the alpha cat? I have two cats, an older male and a younger female. They don’t love each other but they have been tolerating each other. Recently I found that they’ve been fighting quite a bit. The male kept wanting to bother the female. When he does that, she growls and sometimes they end up fighting. Some of the fights are play fights and some are real fur flying fights. The male has never been aggressive towards the female until now. Any idea why? Also, any idea as to how to cool them down when and immediately after they fight? Would squirting water help? Should I just let them fight it out? Finally, would a stressful even trigger the aggressive/protective behavior of an otherwise very docile and timid male cat? I can write about the stressful event and the male cat’s unusual behavior in more detail if that’s needed. It’ll be long though. Any help in shedding some light on this will be great appreciated. Thanks! Erika
Response:
I definitely recommend this book for anyone having behavioral problems with his/her cat. Dr. Dodman who wrote the book will even do consultations by phone/fax/e-mail/snail mail (of course, there’s a cost involved but it can be worth it if you really have a problem you need professional help with). Sue – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > There’s a book called The Cat Who Cried For Help that discusses > alpha/dominant cat behavioral problems and treatments– it might > be helpful for your situation. > If your cats are injuring each other, or are totally stressed out > with each other, you need to put them in separate rooms > immediately. Otherwise, they’re probably OK to be together, as > long as they are able to run and get away from each other. Again, > watch them carefully to make sure the violence doesn’t escalate. > A stressful event can definitely trigger a change in behavior. > For example, "misdirected aggression" means that the cat (or any > animal/person) was afraid of something, but rather than attacking > the feared object, redirects the anger to a safer target. > Example: person is angry at the boss and comes home and kicks the > dog. It’s fairly common for companion cats to get into a pattern > of aggressive behavior after experiencing a trigger event. > The book mentioned above talks about how to recondition the cats > to be more tolerant of each other. The main idea is to make them > have positive experiences (feeding, playing etc) while around > each other, so that they become deconditioned to the recent > negative pattern that they’ve gotten into. > Also you should consider having your cat checked by a vet. > Behavioral changes can be a symptom of a medical problem. Also > the vet should be able to advise you on behavioral and (if it’s > needed) drug treatments for your cat. > * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * > The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
If it’s a male cat acting aggressively to a female cat, it is possible that another female cat in your neighborhood has gone into heat and your male has got a whiff of her raging hormones. Even if both of your cats are neutered, you’ll still see this behavior. The Duke, my large neutered male cat, always gets in a lather when there is a female in heat nearby and I have subsequently had to break up a few fights between him and his sister when he has tried to act our his ‘impulses’ on her. When the female in heat leaves, this behavior stops. Jim SquidTech – the ‘Fun’ part of Lodestone Technologies, Ltd. (Check out our new Squid options on our website) Website: http://squidtech.home.att.net
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi, > What’s an alpha cat and how does a cat become an alpha cat? Also, can a > male cat who has been docile, timid and seemingly dominated by another > younger,smaller and female cat suddenly wanted to assert himself to be the > alpha cat? > I have two cats, an older male and a younger female. They don’t love each > other but they have been tolerating each other. Recently I found that > they’ve been fighting quite a bit. The male kept wanting to bother the > female. When he does that, she growls and sometimes they end up fighting. > Some of the fights are play fights and some are real fur flying fights. The > male has never been aggressive towards the female until now. Any idea why? > Also, any idea as to how to cool them down when and immediately after they > fight? Would squirting water help? Should I just let them fight it out? > Finally, would a stressful even trigger the aggressive/protective behavior > of an otherwise very docile and timid male cat? I can write about the > stressful event and the male cat’s unusual behavior in more detail if > that’s needed. It’ll be long though. > Any help in shedding some light on this will be great appreciated. Thanks! > Erika
Response:
Aggressive males can be treated with female hormones (eg Delvosterone) to calm them down. Rather unusual treatment but discuss with your vet Nokomis – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi, >What’s an alpha cat and how does a cat become an alpha cat? Also, can a >male cat who has been docile, timid and seemingly dominated by another >younger,smaller and female cat suddenly wanted to assert himself to be the >alpha cat? >I have two cats, an older male and a younger female. They don’t love each >other but they have been tolerating each other. Recently I found that >they’ve been fighting quite a bit. The male kept wanting to bother the >female. When he does that, she growls and sometimes they end up fighting. >Some of the fights are play fights and some are real fur flying fights. The >male has never been aggressive towards the female until now. Any idea why? >Also, any idea as to how to cool them down when and immediately after they >fight? Would squirting water help? Should I just let them fight it out? >Finally, would a stressful even trigger the aggressive/protective behavior >of an otherwise very docile and timid male cat? I can write about the >stressful event and the male cat’s unusual behavior in more detail if >that’s needed. It’ll be long though. >Any help in shedding some light on this will be great appreciated. Thanks! >Erika
Response:
There’s a book called The Cat Who Cried For Help that discusses alpha/dominant cat behavioral problems and treatments– it might be helpful for your situation. If your cats are injuring each other, or are totally stressed out with each other, you need to put them in separate rooms immediately. Otherwise, they’re probably OK to be together, as long as they are able to run and get away from each other. Again, watch them carefully to make sure the violence doesn’t escalate. A stressful event can definitely trigger a change in behavior. For example, "misdirected aggression" means that the cat (or any animal/person) was afraid of something, but rather than attacking the feared object, redirects the anger to a safer target. Example: person is angry at the boss and comes home and kicks the dog. It’s fairly common for companion cats to get into a pattern of aggressive behavior after experiencing a trigger event. The book mentioned above talks about how to recondition the cats to be more tolerant of each other. The main idea is to make them have positive experiences (feeding, playing etc) while around each other, so that they become deconditioned to the recent negative pattern that they’ve gotten into. Also you should consider having your cat checked by a vet. Behavioral changes can be a symptom of a medical problem. Also the vet should be able to advise you on behavioral and (if it’s needed) drug treatments for your cat. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
Hi, What’s an alpha cat and how does a cat become an alpha cat? Also, can a male cat who has been docile, timid and seemingly dominated by another younger,smaller and female cat suddenly wanted to assert himself to be the alpha cat? I have two cats, an older male and a younger female. They don’t love each other but they have been tolerating each other. Recently I found that they’ve been fighting quite a bit. The male kept wanting to bother the female. When he does that, she growls and sometimes they end up fighting. Some of the fights are play fights and some are real fur flying fights. The male has never been aggressive towards the female until now. Any idea why? Also, any idea as to how to cool them down when and immediately after they fight? Would squirting water help? Should I just let them fight it out? Finally, would a stressful even trigger the aggressive/protective behavior of an otherwise very docile and timid male cat? I can write about the stressful event and the male cat’s unusual behavior in more detail if that’s needed. It’ll be long though. Any help in shedding some light on this will be great appreciated. Thanks! Erika
Response:
I definitely recommend this book for anyone having behavioral problems with his/her cat. Dr. Dodman who wrote the book will even do consultations by phone/fax/e-mail/snail mail (of course, there’s a cost involved but it can be worth it if you really have a problem you need professional help with). Sue – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > There’s a book called The Cat Who Cried For Help that discusses > alpha/dominant cat behavioral problems and treatments– it might > be helpful for your situation. > If your cats are injuring each other, or are totally stressed out > with each other, you need to put them in separate rooms > immediately. Otherwise, they’re probably OK to be together, as > long as they are able to run and get away from each other. Again, > watch them carefully to make sure the violence doesn’t escalate. > A stressful event can definitely trigger a change in behavior. > For example, "misdirected aggression" means that the cat (or any > animal/person) was afraid of something, but rather than attacking > the feared object, redirects the anger to a safer target. > Example: person is angry at the boss and comes home and kicks the > dog. It’s fairly common for companion cats to get into a pattern > of aggressive behavior after experiencing a trigger event. > The book mentioned above talks about how to recondition the cats > to be more tolerant of each other. The main idea is to make them > have positive experiences (feeding, playing etc) while around > each other, so that they become deconditioned to the recent > negative pattern that they’ve gotten into. > Also you should consider having your cat checked by a vet. > Behavioral changes can be a symptom of a medical problem. Also > the vet should be able to advise you on behavioral and (if it’s > needed) drug treatments for your cat. > * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * > The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
If it’s a male cat acting aggressively to a female cat, it is possible that another female cat in your neighborhood has gone into heat and your male has got a whiff of her raging hormones. Even if both of your cats are neutered, you’ll still see this behavior. The Duke, my large neutered male cat, always gets in a lather when there is a female in heat nearby and I have subsequently had to break up a few fights between him and his sister when he has tried to act our his ‘impulses’ on her. When the female in heat leaves, this behavior stops. Jim SquidTech – the ‘Fun’ part of Lodestone Technologies, Ltd. (Check out our new Squid options on our website) Website: http://squidtech.home.att.net
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi, > What’s an alpha cat and how does a cat become an alpha cat? Also, can a > male cat who has been docile, timid and seemingly dominated by another > younger,smaller and female cat suddenly wanted to assert himself to be the > alpha cat? > I have two cats, an older male and a younger female. They don’t love each > other but they have been tolerating each other. Recently I found that > they’ve been fighting quite a bit. The male kept wanting to bother the > female. When he does that, she growls and sometimes they end up fighting. > Some of the fights are play fights and some are real fur flying fights. The > male has never been aggressive towards the female until now. Any idea why? > Also, any idea as to how to cool them down when and immediately after they > fight? Would squirting water help? Should I just let them fight it out? > Finally, would a stressful even trigger the aggressive/protective behavior > of an otherwise very docile and timid male cat? I can write about the > stressful event and the male cat’s unusual behavior in more detail if > that’s needed. It’ll be long though. > Any help in shedding some light on this will be great appreciated. Thanks! > Erika
Response:
Aggressive males can be treated with female hormones (eg Delvosterone) to calm them down. Rather unusual treatment but discuss with your vet Nokomis – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi, >What’s an alpha cat and how does a cat become an alpha cat? Also, can a >male cat who has been docile, timid and seemingly dominated by another >younger,smaller and female cat suddenly wanted to assert himself to be the >alpha cat? >I have two cats, an older male and a younger female. They don’t love each >other but they have been tolerating each other. Recently I found that >they’ve been fighting quite a bit. The male kept wanting to bother the >female. When he does that, she growls and sometimes they end up fighting. >Some of the fights are play fights and some are real fur flying fights. The >male has never been aggressive towards the female until now. Any idea why? >Also, any idea as to how to cool them down when and immediately after they >fight? Would squirting water help? Should I just let them fight it out? >Finally, would a stressful even trigger the aggressive/protective behavior >of an otherwise very docile and timid male cat? I can write about the >stressful event and the male cat’s unusual behavior in more detail if >that’s needed. It’ll be long though. >Any help in shedding some light on this will be great appreciated. Thanks! >Erika
Response:
There’s a book called The Cat Who Cried For Help that discusses alpha/dominant cat behavioral problems and treatments– it might be helpful for your situation. If your cats are injuring each other, or are totally stressed out with each other, you need to put them in separate rooms immediately. Otherwise, they’re probably OK to be together, as long as they are able to run and get away from each other. Again, watch them carefully to make sure the violence doesn’t escalate. A stressful event can definitely trigger a change in behavior. For example, "misdirected aggression" means that the cat (or any animal/person) was afraid of something, but rather than attacking the feared object, redirects the anger to a safer target. Example: person is angry at the boss and comes home and kicks the dog. It’s fairly common for companion cats to get into a pattern of aggressive behavior after experiencing a trigger event. The book mentioned above talks about how to recondition the cats to be more tolerant of each other. The main idea is to make them have positive experiences (feeding, playing etc) while around each other, so that they become deconditioned to the recent negative pattern that they’ve gotten into. Also you should consider having your cat checked by a vet. Behavioral changes can be a symptom of a medical problem. Also the vet should be able to advise you on behavioral and (if it’s needed) drug treatments for your cat. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
Hi, What’s an alpha cat and how does a cat become an alpha cat? Also, can a male cat who has been docile, timid and seemingly dominated by another younger,smaller and female cat suddenly wanted to assert himself to be the alpha cat? I have two cats, an older male and a younger female. They don’t love each other but they have been tolerating each other. Recently I found that they’ve been fighting quite a bit. The male kept wanting to bother the female. When he does that, she growls and sometimes they end up fighting. Some of the fights are play fights and some are real fur flying fights. The male has never been aggressive towards the female until now. Any idea why? Also, any idea as to how to cool them down when and immediately after they fight? Would squirting water help? Should I just let them fight it out? Finally, would a stressful even trigger the aggressive/protective behavior of an otherwise very docile and timid male cat? I can write about the stressful event and the male cat’s unusual behavior in more detail if that’s needed. It’ll be long though. Any help in shedding some light on this will be great appreciated. Thanks! Erika
Response:
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