New kitten & older cats problem
Discussion
Shall we have a little update? Sure, why not!
No-one ever tells you how mental kittens can be, do they? Lexi is an absolute terror at times, so much energy! She does the most random things too, like sudden changes from adorable to I'M GOING TO ATTACK YOUR SHINS NOW, BEWARE!
That said, sometimes she's just the most chilled out little thing ever:
Zelda and Lexi are about the same as they were when we last left them. Zel hides a lot, but if you encourage him to come down by promising him a walk in the back garden then he'll sit downstairs and pretty much ignore Lexi, which in turn makes Lexi less likely to attack him. She still chases him when he walks out of the room though and attacks his arse, but I guess that'll stop as she gets older. Speaking of Zel and his walks, here's a pic from the other day:
Gelly, on the other hand, is not doing so well. Actually that's only partially true, her and Lexi are getting on so much better now! Over the weekend Gelly actually wouldn't come downstairs for breakfast until we'd let Lexi out of her overnight room, and they were meowing at each other through the door as if they were planning it. That was really cute to see. Gelly has also started playing with Lexi a lot, but unfortunately as Gel and Zel never played together as kittens she gets a little bit overexcited. Gel just doesn't know when to put the claws away and stop chasing as it's only fun, which leads to Lexi hunched up in a corner doing the sweetest little angry kitten growl (if a growl can ever be sweet) to keep her away. Total change of position, and the wife does worry about Lexi getting beaten up, but I can see it's clearly just Gelly playing.
Gelly went for her second dose of chemo today, but we've had pretty much the worst news from that. I noticed that another lump had appeared near the scar site of the last one, and I always knew what was coming when the vet rang to speak to me about 20 mins ago. It's definitely the cancer back, and it's so aggressive that the chemo isn't touching it at all. There's no point continuing chemo and putting Gelly through it, so we're stopping that now. He recommended a strong steroid injection to kill pain and increase her appetite as she's so thin, and then just see how she goes. He reckons about 2 months left, 3 at the absolute most. Not ashamed to say a few more tears have been shed this morning.
It's so sad to think that, just as they start getting on, I'll never be able to see their relationship together develop. Even with her fur not really growing back quickly, she's still a pretty thing I think.
A miracle the other night, they all came down and sat on the sofa together! May we get a few more of those before Gelly leaves us.
No-one ever tells you how mental kittens can be, do they? Lexi is an absolute terror at times, so much energy! She does the most random things too, like sudden changes from adorable to I'M GOING TO ATTACK YOUR SHINS NOW, BEWARE!
That said, sometimes she's just the most chilled out little thing ever:
Zelda and Lexi are about the same as they were when we last left them. Zel hides a lot, but if you encourage him to come down by promising him a walk in the back garden then he'll sit downstairs and pretty much ignore Lexi, which in turn makes Lexi less likely to attack him. She still chases him when he walks out of the room though and attacks his arse, but I guess that'll stop as she gets older. Speaking of Zel and his walks, here's a pic from the other day:
Gelly, on the other hand, is not doing so well. Actually that's only partially true, her and Lexi are getting on so much better now! Over the weekend Gelly actually wouldn't come downstairs for breakfast until we'd let Lexi out of her overnight room, and they were meowing at each other through the door as if they were planning it. That was really cute to see. Gelly has also started playing with Lexi a lot, but unfortunately as Gel and Zel never played together as kittens she gets a little bit overexcited. Gel just doesn't know when to put the claws away and stop chasing as it's only fun, which leads to Lexi hunched up in a corner doing the sweetest little angry kitten growl (if a growl can ever be sweet) to keep her away. Total change of position, and the wife does worry about Lexi getting beaten up, but I can see it's clearly just Gelly playing.
Gelly went for her second dose of chemo today, but we've had pretty much the worst news from that. I noticed that another lump had appeared near the scar site of the last one, and I always knew what was coming when the vet rang to speak to me about 20 mins ago. It's definitely the cancer back, and it's so aggressive that the chemo isn't touching it at all. There's no point continuing chemo and putting Gelly through it, so we're stopping that now. He recommended a strong steroid injection to kill pain and increase her appetite as she's so thin, and then just see how she goes. He reckons about 2 months left, 3 at the absolute most. Not ashamed to say a few more tears have been shed this morning.
It's so sad to think that, just as they start getting on, I'll never be able to see their relationship together develop. Even with her fur not really growing back quickly, she's still a pretty thing I think.
A miracle the other night, they all came down and sat on the sofa together! May we get a few more of those before Gelly leaves us.
Some of the behaviour you are describing inter-cat seems perfectly normal. I have 2 cats both came as 12 week old kittens but 1 year apart. Some days, like right now they are sleeping on the bed next to each other, one will groom the other, they will eat together, but for those mad moments as all cats do they will have a tear up just like human brothers and sisters. Sometimes you will come home to fluff everywhere and sometimes you will witness one corner the other, shoulders haunched, whilst the other is on her back ears pinned back and all limbs out and claws out, then they will just bundle each other.
Update time 
Sadly since I last posted Geldof has left us, so it's just Lexi and Zelda now. Things were getting pretty heated in Geldof's last week, as I think the cancer was causing her some discomfort so she wasn't standing for any of Lexi's kitten play, and was getting quite aggressive. In the end we had to separate them during the day, with Lexi downstairs and the other two upstairs. I really miss my Gelly-bumble.
However, now that she's gone we've started leaving Lexi out overnight, and not shutting her in her room. She's much calmer at night now, and will happily sleep on our bed, however Zelda has become the ultimate wimp. She still chases him, but only because he runs away! He's taken to living in the man cave right now, where he sits behind the TV unit most of the day, just avoiding the kitten. She's not aggressive towards him, and just wants to play, but he doesn't understand that he needs to hold his ground! They're okay to leave out though, she does leave him alone once she's trapped him in a corner and he starts hissing at her. It's not always like that however:
They weren't really staring each other out, I just happened to catch them when they were looking at each other! She was gazing vacantly out of the window, he was happily just sat there. Lexi goes in for her neutering in a week's time, so I'm hoping she may calm down a bit after that. If not, i really do think I'll go get another cat to keep her company. Either a kitten of a similar age, or maybe a 1-2 year old cat so it won't be as mental as a kitten but will still happily play.
We're getting there, slowly but surely.
Sadly since I last posted Geldof has left us, so it's just Lexi and Zelda now. Things were getting pretty heated in Geldof's last week, as I think the cancer was causing her some discomfort so she wasn't standing for any of Lexi's kitten play, and was getting quite aggressive. In the end we had to separate them during the day, with Lexi downstairs and the other two upstairs. I really miss my Gelly-bumble.
However, now that she's gone we've started leaving Lexi out overnight, and not shutting her in her room. She's much calmer at night now, and will happily sleep on our bed, however Zelda has become the ultimate wimp. She still chases him, but only because he runs away! He's taken to living in the man cave right now, where he sits behind the TV unit most of the day, just avoiding the kitten. She's not aggressive towards him, and just wants to play, but he doesn't understand that he needs to hold his ground! They're okay to leave out though, she does leave him alone once she's trapped him in a corner and he starts hissing at her. It's not always like that however:
They weren't really staring each other out, I just happened to catch them when they were looking at each other! She was gazing vacantly out of the window, he was happily just sat there. Lexi goes in for her neutering in a week's time, so I'm hoping she may calm down a bit after that. If not, i really do think I'll go get another cat to keep her company. Either a kitten of a similar age, or maybe a 1-2 year old cat so it won't be as mental as a kitten but will still happily play.
We're getting there, slowly but surely.
Sorry to hear that. But glad that some progress has been made.
I'm in a similar boat with our cats, got three, Lily, 6 year old female, Tango, 8 year old male, and Pumpkin, 4 month old male.
Tango and Pumpkin generally get on, they have a chase around and Pumpkin absolutely adores Tango, whether it's mutual or not I'm not sure! Lily is not so keen, she hisses at Pumpkin and runs away in disgust! But she's getting better.
It all takes time, they'll get there eventually.
I'm in a similar boat with our cats, got three, Lily, 6 year old female, Tango, 8 year old male, and Pumpkin, 4 month old male.
Tango and Pumpkin generally get on, they have a chase around and Pumpkin absolutely adores Tango, whether it's mutual or not I'm not sure! Lily is not so keen, she hisses at Pumpkin and runs away in disgust! But she's getting better.
It all takes time, they'll get there eventually.
New year, new update. Sorry if these are boring anyone btw, this is as much for my benefit as anyone else's so I can remind myself we actually have been seeing progress!
Taken literally five mins ago. She still chases him, he still runs, but today they've been so much better and I've never ever seen them this close before. A bit of patience can truly work wonders.
I'm sure she'll be a nightmare again tomorrow, but for now this brings a happy tear to my eye.
Taken literally five mins ago. She still chases him, he still runs, but today they've been so much better and I've never ever seen them this close before. A bit of patience can truly work wonders.
I'm sure she'll be a nightmare again tomorrow, but for now this brings a happy tear to my eye.
We have 4 cats, one is 19 another is 8 ish (mad as hell from a mad cat sanctuary) and the other 2 are about three (brother and sister). The mad cat gets on with the old one but still hisses and bats the younger ones even after 3 years! They tend to stay apart but the younger ones do like winding up the mad one!
TX.
TX.
bobtail4x4 said:
we have cats and dogs,
they all rub along together, the cats look to the dogs as "back up" in territorial disputes outside,
the dogs just like to nick the catfood,
its common for them to all sleep together.
never had problems with new kittens or new pups joining the group.
You're very lucky. Makes life easier, unfortunately unions are not always successful. they all rub along together, the cats look to the dogs as "back up" in territorial disputes outside,
the dogs just like to nick the catfood,
its common for them to all sleep together.
never had problems with new kittens or new pups joining the group.
One owners cat known to be a stressy cat and very much a home bod, she against our advice got a kitten. Resident cat ended up with cystitis then started staying out the house, a few months later he was hit and killed by a car.
Most people put cats together and don't recognise the subtle signs of stress their cats suffer as a result. However when it does work as it seems to have with the OP and yourself, it's great
Probably the final update I'll do here, but I thought it still worthwhile as it might give someone else some hope in the future.
We had to put both Lexi and Zelda away in a cattery twice this year, once in May for five days then once last month for sixteen days. We were very concerned as how they'd get on in a pen together, but we decided that was a better option than separating them. Totally the right decision
In May, when we brought them home Zel was a completely different animal. He didn't run from her at all, in fact he was happily coming downstairs to sit with us which he hadn't done since we'd got Lexi. This only lasted three days before Lexi chased him upstairs and there he stayed, but it gave us hope. When they came back last month we had the same thing, Zel loved coming downstairs, but now it's actually lasted! It's been three weeks now, and although she chased him he still comes down stairs to sit with us.
Final proof they now get on, taken five mins ago as I'm at home with a chest infection right now and I've got this sat beside me:
And this from the other day, with both of them cuddled up next to us on the sofa:
So if you are having cat troubles, and even if it's been a year, it can work.
We had to put both Lexi and Zelda away in a cattery twice this year, once in May for five days then once last month for sixteen days. We were very concerned as how they'd get on in a pen together, but we decided that was a better option than separating them. Totally the right decision
In May, when we brought them home Zel was a completely different animal. He didn't run from her at all, in fact he was happily coming downstairs to sit with us which he hadn't done since we'd got Lexi. This only lasted three days before Lexi chased him upstairs and there he stayed, but it gave us hope. When they came back last month we had the same thing, Zel loved coming downstairs, but now it's actually lasted! It's been three weeks now, and although she chased him he still comes down stairs to sit with us.
Final proof they now get on, taken five mins ago as I'm at home with a chest infection right now and I've got this sat beside me:
And this from the other day, with both of them cuddled up next to us on the sofa:
So if you are having cat troubles, and even if it's been a year, it can work.
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