Hi everyone, My female cat, who is nearly 5 years old, has started pulling out and eating the fur of my other cat, who joined our home about 5 months ago. At first, she was scared of him, but for a few months now she has started attacking him and pulling out his fur. Sometimes she will walk right past him without doing anything, and she doesn't react when he pounces on her. But other times, for example when he is sleeping, she'll go over, swat him, pull his fur out and eat it. I asked my vet why she was doing this, but I didn't get much of an answer. If anyone else is in the same boat, is there anything that can be done? Or will it just settle down over time? I have already had the little one neutered, but it hasn't made any difference.
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Thanks for the replies, I think I’ll give the diffusers or some tablets a go.
It’s true that at the start Meya was scared of the little one; as soon as he came near her, she’d just lie down. Since then, she’s got the upper hand and she’s the one who chases him away. Even so, he still goes back to her afterwards to try and play.
I’ve been playing with them one at a time, so I’ll try playing with both of them together to see if that helps the situation.
Thanks a lot for the advice!
Hi,
As Mia078 mentioned, this is likely down to dominance behaviour; cats often don't like it when a newcomer moves into their territory. They are very territorial animals with a keen sense of space and boundaries. Every cat has its own 'personal space' which is only accessible to those they are bonded with, such as their owners. It’s possible your cat doesn't appreciate another cat being in what they consider their personal bubble. Make sure the cats have enough room and plenty of hiding spots where they can settle down without being pestered by the other.
It is also worth gradually getting the cats used to eating together to avoid any competition over food. You could also try to encourage them to play together—using a cat tree, for example, which might keep them both occupied and discourage them from fighting.
There are medications available to reduce aggression in 'attacker' cats and fear in 'victim' cats. Vets can prescribe Diazepam, which sometimes gives good results, particularly when fear is the root cause of the aggression. A Feliway diffuser can also be a great shout, as can Zylkene, which is a supplement based on casein (a milk protein). Both of these aim to reduce a cat's anxiety levels.
Finally, as long as they aren't drawing blood and the scraps are manageable, it is possible that the cats will naturally come to accept each other over time, although you would usually expect that to have happened by the 5-month mark.
I hope this advice helps.
Best regards,
Amélie – Veterinary Student at the Alfort National Veterinary School (EnvA). Junior Consultant for ProVéto Junior Conseil.
Hi Flow17,
Have you tried using Feliway plug-in diffusers? I’ve got two cats, a five-year-old male and a little three-year-old female, and they’re both neutered and spayed. Every now and then, the male will pester the female by pouncing on her and pulling her fur out. Like you, I’ve mentioned it to my vet but they didn't have much to say, so I reckon he’s just playing or it’s a dominance thing to show who’s boss of the house or flat.
I’m no cat expert, though, so maybe someone else will have a better answer. As long as they aren't properly fighting, I think it’s probably alright; you just have to make sure it doesn’t turn into a real scrap and that no blood is drawn.
Best regards
