Her new owner has picked up Daisy. I'm a mess. Happily, her driver is JB's cousin. Small world. Her new life, with her new mommy, begins. Our stress is over.
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| Hooper |
I'm wondering if she connects Hooper's boy smell with Buster, who similarly harassed her.
An affectionate cat with us, she changes with Hooper, just like Buster did.
It's been a very difficult month, what with all the rain. Hooper hangs out in JB's office, hiding under the desk.
Sunday, Hooper was on my lap, Daisy came in the room, came around my chair and went after him. One of them made a big scratch on my leg. it is so upsetting. She hunts him all around the house.
This is a prime example of what she does. You can hear her in the video, or him, snarling. When he sees her indoors, he growls in self-defence. It takes so much energy keeping them apart.
Tuesday, Nov. 6
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| Daisy is on amitriptyline, in the ear. |
We saw our vet. We're going to try Feliway 'Friends', we've been on 'classic', sigh.
The Dr. suggested all sort of things, food envy, deferred aggression (there aren't any other cats in our forest, only coyotes), keeping cats down to 2 cats in the house. Funnily, it was her practice which convinced us to take in Annabelle, when we already had 4 cats.
Daisy is on amitriptyline cream. It's 0.05mg in the ear. I think it is calming her. I'm on meds to relieve my anxiety and depression, there's no reason not to put Daisy on meds, too! SIGH. This is making both of us sick. JB shouldn't be stressed, either.
Animal Medium
Another last-ditch effort, I tried an animal medium. It's 15 minutes for $50. You can do this over the phone, which I did, as she is in another part of the province. I sent her photos of the two cats, and I explained the problem. She basically told me that I had to yell at Daisy and tell her to 'Stop it!!!' (As if I haven't been doing this!) She didn't tell my why Daisy is bullying, but told me she'd tell Daisy to stop bullying Hooper. The medium did tell me to remember it's not about us, and I knew that. Daisy is perfectly fine with us.
After only 11 minutes, I wasn't convinced. It was $50. What can I say? She told me the best way to take care of the situation is to rehome Daisy. Sadly, all the shelters around here are full. There are a lot of cats and kittens with LAWS needing homes. The bonus is, she looks like a kitten,
Thursday, Nov. 8
It is calming Daisy down. We have been working hard to keep them apart. Daisy went out at 2:30 a.m., having come in the bedroom to beg to go out, and came back in at 5:30.She loves her walks with me, and stops the others from following, as Buster did to her.
I've tried to leash her. That way I can catch her if she goes after him. The leash terrifies her, though. I took her downstairs, as that is where she wanted to go, and then Hooper came down to see what is going on. She went after him, and I had to hold her back with the leash.
When they are outdoors, we try to let them out one at a time, they go into the little heated house we bought. I put it on a timer, and I can set it for all day, all night, or certain hours (4 - 8) after dark. It's a great timer, meant for Christmas lights! They both use it.
Annabelle and Hooper are best buddies.
Friday, Nov. 9
I could see her hunting for him in the house. I decided to put her into the cage until the meds kicked in.
Last night Daisy and Annabelle slept on the bed with us. We were both stressed out about this. I had to take extra anti-anxiety meds, as my stomach was horrid all day. Hubby went out a brought in some dinner for us. It was about to snow, so we had it at lunchtime, before the snow fell.
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| An unusual moment both Annie & Daisy on my legs. |
Last night Daisy and Annabelle slept on the bed with us. We were both stressed out about this. I had to take extra anti-anxiety meds, as my stomach was horrid all day. Hubby went out a brought in some dinner for us. It was about to snow, so we had it at lunchtime, before the snow fell.
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| You can see the Feliway plugged in on the left. |
We'll use the crate as a time out, I think. A safe place during the day when they are both out and about.
This is unusual for a female cat, spraying on a tree.
Hooper out all night, Daisy slept with me, on top of me. Meds twice a day. She is worried about being picked up and placed in the crate.
Tuesday, Nov. 13
She won't come in the front door, came around the back. I threw a treat inside, she followed.
Daisy didn't get antsy until after dinner. We were playing with her, staring out the window, she saw Hooper outside.
Saw Annie on the floor in the door frame, went after her. Locked her in the bedroom. Hooper came in.
She is having her meds (amitriptyline) in her ear. It does calm her. We've been working on keeping one out, the other in; putting Daisy in the crate, or on a leash, until I figure out what is up. Thing is, she's wary of me picking her up all the time. I'm wondering if it is deferred aggression, as she sees Hooper outdoor, come in hormones raging.
She'll go to her crate, I keep a dish of food there, or I put her on a leash if I think I still see the aggression.
Monday, Nov. 19
She came into the room, walked right past Hooper. She played with us. She's been put in her cage after an incident.Tuesday, Nov. 20
Daisy is reluctant to eat her new meds. They were $66. She's been switched from amitriptyline Iliquid in the ear) to chewy pills fluoxetine (Prozac for cats).
Wed., Nov. 21
A kerfuffle last night. Hooper slept in bed with us, with the BR door closed. Cats fed, Daisy out. Hooper out, Daisy in.
I stuck a treat into the chewy med. She ate it. Whew!
Wed., Nov. 28
We've had a couple of rough days. Then a few good ones. We sat in the living room, Daisy in front of the crate, Hooper on my lap. We've been careful for days about keeping one in, one out during peak hours. There were several days it was simpler to lock Daisy in the crate, or Hooper in our bedroom overnight.Sat., Dec. 1st
All 3 cats present, Daisy on the aquarium. She hopped down and roared over to Hooper. He went under our bed. Annie went after Daisy. Daisy had stood down, too. Good work for Annie. I've had to pop the pill in her mouth, and hold her mouth closed as she spits it out.
Sat., Dec. 8th
Hooper was outside in -18 C., then he came back in in the morning. JB let him in and Daisy roared over to him, screaming. It's getting more difficult to give her her pill. I have to hold her head back, pop it in, and hold her jaw shut. She's been placed in her crate overnight, more often than not. It's safer and calmer for more of us.
She won't sit with me, anymore, She meows to get away. She won't mush her collar.
She won't sit with me, anymore, She meows to get away. She won't mush her collar.
Dec. 9
Daisy took a whack at Annabelle. For no reason. She's looking for Hooper.
Dec. 13th, 9 a.m.
Cold day. Daisy won't go out. I released her from her kennel, and no visit to the litter?
She was taking a drink, Hooper wanted one, he baulked.
She chased him under the bed. Eventually, he came out.
She was sitting in the hall, then went after him. Now, sleeping on the couch.
The pills are still a battle, although yesterday's went down well. In the kennel at night.
Dec. 14
Daisy sat on my lap in the morning, and mushed. First time in a month.
Daisy, Daisy, Daisy – Update: Jan. 19
As aggressive with Hooper as before, worse with Annabelle, with whom she'd had a bit of peace.
Dec. 21 – Daisy went to the Cat hotel for a time out.
Due to an ice storm, we've left her there for two weeks more. We hope she will calm down. It is my hope she will see, hear, smell lots of other cats and not feel afraid of them.Jan. 9th
As aggressive with Hooper as before, worse with Annabelle, with whom she'd had a bit of peace.
11 comments:
Hello, it would be nice if the two kitties got along better. I feel sorry for Hooper! Thanks so much for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your day and weekend! PS, thanks also for leaving me a comment.
Oh, my. What we go through for our pets. Daisy sounds like a red state conservative Republican who doesn't want immigrants coming into her territory.
Hari Om
it's like people I guess; we can't like everyone and occasionally some just 'get our goat'. There may be no other reason than the simple 'coz I can' with Daisy. Crating seems like a good option and there is a possibility that, with enough 'you do this, this happens', she'll start to connect behaviour and consequence. Sending hugs and mending thoughts! YAM xx
Hello! The cats are cute. The photo of Annabelle and Hooper is so lovely!
Too bad they can't be friends. Nice pics and videos.
So sorry, Jennifer, that Daisy has 'territory' issues. I've seen the resident cat trying to drive off the newer one many times before. A couple of winters ago I watched my Ellie Mae attack a young cat that appeared on our grounds. Ellie turned into a vicious little battle axe and I never saw her victim visit here again. I feel very sorry for Hooper, Daisy and you and hubby. I chuckled at Olga's wise comment. Good luck with you brave efforts to establish peace!
Our youngest cat, Miss Kitty is very aggressive with my old lady Emmy. Miss Kitty WAS here first though. For the longest time they had their own zones, but Emmy has gotten braver about wandering around the house. Emmy is VERY vocal when the scraps start. She doesn't have claws (NOT my doing) so I think the screaming is her defense.
I've just put Emmy on the Royal Canin food too. Hope it helps her.
We had that with one female cat, who came into our home after the other much older one.She would run, pounce, and fight. Now Boris is the attacker, and hunts Felicity down. Maybe after 5 weeks in a cattery he will be lots better.It is so peaceful with only one to have on our bed. I know how you feel, it is so stressful, The crate is a great idea. try not to worry too much, but in reality, I do know those words are futile.meantime, A heap of love from a cold morning here, the cows are all in the shed, the morning sky has lit up and gone to grey, and that first coffee is made.XXXX
Hopefully the idea of giving her a time out when needed, done enough times, is going to sink in with her, as well as making a point of keeping them apart as much as possible.
You must be desperate to call on a long distance medium. I don't what what else to say. All the best.
Jenn - so sorry for the cat trouble … it is stressful when our pets don't get along. With our two cats, the older one - Maggie - decides to put Josie in her place every few days. This basically amounts to holding Josie down while trying to lick her head. Josie is quite spry and will jump on a chair or something else too high for the old lady. I don't like it and I break it up when I see it happening … hope your combination of solutions pays off soon.
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