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Help! My older girl Tia has developed a dislike for the kitten, Kato, as he's matured. He wasn't her kitten but she pretty much adopted him when he arrived at 14 weeks old. I had her neutered when I got her at 20 months, and he was done at 6 months. She'd been rehomed twice and he'd been rehomed once before coming here. I figured her growing moodiness was because she'd decided it was time for him to move out, but of course he's still here and she's stressing about it. He's now a year old.
It's not entirely consistent: There are times she finds his presence completely intolerable, and other times not so bad. They do touch noses occasionally, but other times she whines, hisses, and makes off out the cat flap. Sadly, she largely avoids my bedroom now even when he's not there - having said that, a couple of times lately she's come on to the bed for old-style cuddle time, but only once he's gone out.
She was an indoor cat before she came to me, clearly used to being playing with. He'd been rather neglected so he was happy with whatever attention he could get. They have very different styles of play, she's very considered and likes more subtle games whereas he's all action. I play with her much more than with him but it has to be done when he's nowhere to be seen because if he tries to join in he tends to ruin her game and she gets upset, whines and stalks off. I try and play separately with him too because I feel it may make things worse to be seen to be giving him attention in her presence if jealously is a factor.
When he was younger, they used to chase each other and rough and tumble, but as he's got bigger, it's become too boisterous for her comfort. Then again, I saw her chasing him (in a friendly way) out in the garden a couple of days ago, but when he took his turn, she was all hisses and I thought for a moment it might turn serious.
I haven't noticed any overt aggressive behaviour on his part, he looks a bit confused if anything, but he does occasionally make the mistake of trying to get a game going by coming up from behind and getting his front leg over her - which is how he used to initiate play - a total no-no as far as she's concerned.
Have you had this situation arise between a cat and growing kitten who were previously harmonious? Perhaps his smell is changing as he's maturing or out wrestling with the local toms and that's what she objects to. Is there the remotest hope that given time and maturity on his part this situation may improve?
So, to the Zylkene: Given Feliway has made not a blind bit of difference, I've bought some Zylkene caps online to see if it helps her feel less stressed but it doesn't say what the dosage should be - presumably it depends on the weight of the cat - can anyone advise?
It's not entirely consistent: There are times she finds his presence completely intolerable, and other times not so bad. They do touch noses occasionally, but other times she whines, hisses, and makes off out the cat flap. Sadly, she largely avoids my bedroom now even when he's not there - having said that, a couple of times lately she's come on to the bed for old-style cuddle time, but only once he's gone out.
She was an indoor cat before she came to me, clearly used to being playing with. He'd been rather neglected so he was happy with whatever attention he could get. They have very different styles of play, she's very considered and likes more subtle games whereas he's all action. I play with her much more than with him but it has to be done when he's nowhere to be seen because if he tries to join in he tends to ruin her game and she gets upset, whines and stalks off. I try and play separately with him too because I feel it may make things worse to be seen to be giving him attention in her presence if jealously is a factor.
When he was younger, they used to chase each other and rough and tumble, but as he's got bigger, it's become too boisterous for her comfort. Then again, I saw her chasing him (in a friendly way) out in the garden a couple of days ago, but when he took his turn, she was all hisses and I thought for a moment it might turn serious.
I haven't noticed any overt aggressive behaviour on his part, he looks a bit confused if anything, but he does occasionally make the mistake of trying to get a game going by coming up from behind and getting his front leg over her - which is how he used to initiate play - a total no-no as far as she's concerned.
Have you had this situation arise between a cat and growing kitten who were previously harmonious? Perhaps his smell is changing as he's maturing or out wrestling with the local toms and that's what she objects to. Is there the remotest hope that given time and maturity on his part this situation may improve?
So, to the Zylkene: Given Feliway has made not a blind bit of difference, I've bought some Zylkene caps online to see if it helps her feel less stressed but it doesn't say what the dosage should be - presumably it depends on the weight of the cat - can anyone advise?
