How To Deal With Bully Kittens And Aggressive Behavior
Bullying often occurs when adding another cat to the home. When a new animal, most notably another feline, is introduced into a household, it creates chaos and turns this hierarchy upside down while everyone reestablishes their place. Sometimes, within that situation, one kitten becomes a bully and the other the target. In such cases your cat might be hurt and will need to be rushed for a cat treatment. The most common bullying scenarios include:
- A new cat attacking another cat
- An adult cat bullying a kitten
- A kitten teasing an adult cat
- A cat driving a puppy or dog
- Multiple cats in the household bullying one feline
- A stray or an outdoor cat bullying a household cat
There are ways to help the cat being bullied and redirect the bully cat. Below, we’ll address each scenario, analyze the situation, and find ways to correct the problem. In addition, we’ll learn how to determine if your felines are playing or fighting, how to break up a kitty fight, why it is important to neuter and spay, and how to deal with stray and feral cats.
How To Stop Cat-To-Cat Aggression
Watch Cat videos online, as many of the problems that occur when a new feline is introduced into the home and lives are depicted. Some behaviors that you are observing as abnormal may be pretty standard.
Say a new cat is being introduced to the home. Immediately, the established feline begins hissing. The kitten feels that he is now in competition with this new friend for:
- Food
- Territory
- The litter box
Introducing A New Cat To The Home
There are ways to help minimize a cat’s stress when a new feline is introduced into the home. If you help ease the transition process, you also reduce the need for either the established kitty or the new cat to feel the need to bully. Buying cat insurance helps you in your future cat treatment.
Territory: Introduce Your Cats Slowly
Introduce the new cat slowly. When bringing the new cat home, please keep them in a separate room away from the other home pets. If possible, let them interact under a door (let them fight, hiss, and stick their paws out if they should).
- Use a Carrier: Bring the new kitten into the home in a feline carrier. Allow the other pets to interact, sniff and even hiss. This is all part of their introduction to each other.
- Supervise: Allow the other feline to the house for short periods while you oversee. Be ready to part and move the new kitten back to its room if it gets too stressful.
Paw-slapping, hissing, and arching of the back are normal tendencies. Establishing a new pecking order takes time, sometimes months. Once, an older cat took about a year to acclimate and find his place in the home. The key is to be patient.
Methods for Stopping Bullying Behavior in Felines
Consider these alternative processes for preventing cat aggression:
- Do Not Punish:
As mentioned, never get physically involved. Scratches and Cat bites are severe and require medical attention. Do not punish them physically. It will damage your relationship with your kitty and cause fear; your feline may even start to redirect on you.
- Use Diversions:
If two canines are fighting and you need to stop and break it up, scare them. Try a loud whistle, throw a soft towel, or use a broom or similar object to separate or alarm them without hurting them.
- Verbal Rebuke:
Make sure you tell the bully kitty “no” in a firm and solid voice when they are being stubborn and dominant. Saying “no” while redirecting the kitty will help the canine to learn which conduct is acceptable and which is not.
- Offer a “Safe Space”:
Consider employing a cat flap or electronic cat door so that the fearful canine can occupy a space that is only reachable via an embedded magnet in the collar and seek refuge from the dominant cat.
Never get physically engaged while breaking up a fight for your and your cat’s safety. Cat bites and scratches require medical attention. Never hit a misbehaving animal. The message they get from being harmed is that their owner is a bully and wants to hurt them. This is not an excellent way to establish a loving pet and owner relationship. It is advised to buy Cat insurance to provide your kitten the best health care.
