Kitty Help

[Sillyman]

I have a small problem We have six cats at home. I know for some people here that's kind of paltry. Anyway, recently, one of our more neurotic cats has run outside. She's by the house since she's terrified to go anywhere, but we can't get here to come back in the house, since all the other cats beat her up. Anyone know how we can get her to come back in? She runs away from us, and the other cats pounce on her the minute we try to bring her inside.

 

[Laurel]

Why do the other cats beat her up?

 

[scylis]

shut the other cats into a room or two and get her inside while they aren't there to pounce her. next, section off an area where she can be free of the other cats and keep her there. how big is your basement? upstairs? are either sectioned off by a door? do you even have them?

 

[Wiggles]

You might want to try leaving her kitty box just inside your main door.

Apparently they'll follow their own scent to it.

That's all I've got.

GL

 

[scylis]

kitty mama

that cat is eeevil looking.

 

[KillerMuffin]

It sounds like you have a seriously unhappy cat if she prefers the terror of the unknown to what's going on in the known. You may want to consider finding her another home where she won't be the bottom of the cat heirarchy and abused by the rest of them.

You can get human cat traps from the pound/SPCA/whatever.

If and when you do get her back inside, keep her away from the other cats and make sure you give her the companionship she needs.

 

[Sillyman]

Why do the other cats beat her up?

She's smaller than they are. She's just a tiny thing, she never grew very much, and their all huges. She's also the only female among 5 males. I think some of them are just asshole cats.


Scyliss, we don't have any space to section off. We have no upstairs or basement, and every other room in the house sees way too much foot traffic.

 

[superlittlegirl]

is everybody spayed & neutered?

I'm wondering if all your kitties have their gonads intact. That could be one thing that's causing them to attack her, if she is (or they are) not fixed. Do all the boy cats get along just fine? That's unusual that so many male creatures could peacefully coexist yet beat up on the lone female pussy in the house.

 

[Sillyman]

Oh they all kick the crap out of each other too. TARDIS is the worst. The little fuck just has to challenge everything and everyone for dominance. I have no idea whether Z (female kitty) is fixed, but she has never had a heat in my lifetime, so it hasn't come up.

KM, I would dearly love to trim our animal population, but nobody in the house will have it. Z is my aunt's cat, and she won't give her up for anything. She won't give up her evil little dog either. Z has serious problems with high anxiety, and we've already had to rescue her from the pound once. Most of the cats are like the people, practically non-functional.

 

[scylis]

get ride of some family members, too, then.

 

[Sillyman]

get ride of some family members, too, then.

Can't. There the only people who would put up with my insanity.

 

[superlittlegirl]

Is there any space you can provide her with some isolation?

All you need to catch her is a can of white albacore tunafish (in springwater, of course....... purr) and a can opener. Go near the area where she's hiding, sit down cross legged on the ground, and open the can of tuna. keep your head down, eyes on the ground, hands tucked in your lap, and use your peripheral vision to watch for her. Call her using a kitty clucking noise if you like, but make absolutely no eye contact whatsoever. It's threatening. She will not be able to resist the tuna, and she'll be even less able to resist you ignoring her. Once she starts to eat the tuna, gradually advance your hand toward her (palms facing down, open hands are scary!) and either stroke her or let her sniff you, whichever she prefers. Soon, you will be able to stroke the length of her body from neck to tail, and you can gently pick her up.

This does work-- I petted a 100% feral cat (1 generation removed from domestication) using this method earlier this week. On a cat that is domestic, it should be no problem. You simply cannot catch a cat by chasing and grabbing her. Even if you caught her, she'd rip you to shreds (which you would deserve for scaring her) or she'd be even further traumatized.

Once you have caught her, I'd recommend finding a safe place for her in the house. A small room with a closable door is ideal. She might even feel safe in a large-ish dog kennel with a towel or drape over the top to give her some privacy.

Ask your aunt about the cat's medical history. If she is not spayed, that is likely the problem. I know I'd be scared if I were a tiny girl cat and 5 hideous boy cats with barbed penises were stalking me. (They do have barbed penises. Did you know? Ugh.)

--Freya

 

[Sillyman]

The boys are all tutored. Er, Neutered. So that's not a problem.

 

[superlittlegirl]

I'm all out of ideas.

I'm sorry. All idea-ed out. Good luck, anyway. I hope it all turns out okay for her.