Olivia....how to stop dominant behavior?

[NoahsMommy]

Is this even possible? She seems to feel right at home. She lays on the couch, our bed, anywhere she wants and stretches out and gets comfy. But...if Noah, Noel or Basie get too close, she growls and hisses at them. They get really intimidated and run away from her. It seems like they are walking on egg shells around her and I hate that. When she gets too prissy/dominant, I put her back in her room and the transformation in N, N & B is amazing! They relax and play together.

Any advice????

[wayne0214]

Noah's mommy, Although Amy is not a domineering cat, she used to hiss and let out a loud scrowel, when ever she felt threatened by another furkid. But now that I have had her for about 6 months now, she plays with the others, and does't scrowl like she did when I first brough her home. I am thinking concerning your Olivia, that you should give her time and she will become one of your furkid family. Amy certainly has, even though she still lives aloof from the others. Otis is the dominant male cat mostly because he is the oldest and largest. I did not realize how they manage a heirarchy until I brought him home last month. Until that time Fawn was the (somewhat) dominant male, but he shows little of the maturity that Otis has consistantly demonstrated.

I will say that it took a few weeks for Otis and Tiger to get along. I have noticed that Otis will tear into any cat that hisses at him, or like Tiger's large and expressive eyes, who even stares at him. I do not believe that Tiger was trying to intimidate him, but it is just her stare. Otherwise, if they ignore him, whether they are new to the pride or an old-timer, he doesn't bother them.

......wayne

[boscibo]

Sometimes that is the way it works - a dominant cat will be a dominant cat, and nothing you can do will change that. Abby is my dominant cat (alpha) and she had plenty of hisses when Hanna came home. Now that Abby has established herself as Alpha, and the rest accept that, no more hisses.

Sometimes it is better to let the cats figure out who is going to be Alpha, just don't let anyone get hurt and it should work itself out.

[neko1]

I agree the cats need to figure out for themselves who is going to be the dominant kitty.

[NoahsMommy]

I agree....its just hard to see that when I'm watching Noah, Noel and Basil be unhappy. I hate this part....hurry up "TIME"!!

[boscibo]

I try and give all the cats equal attention still - it's finally gotten to the point where all three will be on my bed at night with no growling or hissing. It took a few months. Hanna still tries to sneak up on Abby, but she won't get too close - it's kinda funny to watch her evasive manuvers. She will change her mind about attacking Abby at the last minute, often doing a mid-air flip to stay out of her way.

[NoahsMommy]

Originally posted by boscibo
I try and give all the cats equal attention still - it's finally gotten to the point where all three will be on my bed at night with no growling or hissing. It took a few months. Hanna still tries to sneak up on Abby, but she won't get too close - it's kinda funny to watch her evasive manuvers. She will change her mind about attacking Abby at the last minute, often doing a mid-air flip to stay out of her way.

Good point....I'll step up the special attention to all three. Thank you!

On Wednesday night, I went to bed before David. I was almost asleep when I hear a SCREEEEEEEEEEEEECHING sound. It was Olivia "yelling" at Noah. I guess they were both at the foot of the bed and Noah accidentally touched her when he stretched out. Poor little guy! He has been getting extra attention just for that incident.

Never a dull moment, huh??

[jenluckenbach]

You want advice??? here it is.....TIME

The cats need to work it out, and they will. My little Kim, all 4 pounds of her, growled and hissed at everyone. (and they are all 2 to 3 times larger) for quite a while. As did Sterling and Biddy and Monte and Jasper............. etc. when they were the new cat trying to adjust.

Try to ignore their attitude but at the same time give them love. It will work out.

[Miss Meow]

Originally posted by NoahsMommy
I agree....its just hard to see that when I'm watching Noah, Noel and Basil be unhappy. I hate this part....hurry up "TIME"!!

I know what you mean! We've had our new furkids for three(?) weeks now and Jasmine still does the hissing routine. We are trying to let them sort out their hierarchy, but I give Jasmine a little mummy hiss if she unfairly lashes out at the little guys.

Tabasco is fairly respectful of her leadership, but Pickles, he's definitely his own cat. He plonks himself down and sleeps right in front of her face and she gets so upset that he's invaded HER space! Then he just starts purring and dozes off

They'll sort it out, hopefully quickly for you!

[Cataholic]

Noah's mommy,
I had to come find the thred when I saw someone else post about their cats all getting along...

There just hasn't been enough time passage yet.. Olivia is just tellling the other guys to back off, and because they are unsure of her, they are going along with it. At some point, either Noah or Noel will stop letting Olivia boss them around, and react (if they haven't already). Someone will be the top cat, and they will work it out. Even after nearly 2.5 years, there are times that Tex gets soooo fed up with the lot of them. He hisses, and bops, and they let him walk on by. He is definetely the TOP cat, and totally respected. Once that is established, everyone else falls into line. I think Olivia and Basil will bond before the others do, then, all of a sudden, things will be normal (well, as normal as a four cat house would be).

I remember when Lillycat rescued Washy. Her other two boys were so bent out of shape that they looked like discarded hangers. Today, two months and a new house later, things are pretty calm.

Good luck, and I will chuckle when I see you 'counseling' some other PT with their latest addition. It just 'happens' one day!!!

Now, for this very long post, I demand one picture of Basil as payment!!!!!

[NoahsMommy]

Originally posted by Cataholic
Now, for this very long post, I demand one picture of Basil as payment!!!!!

For your advice, you can most definitely have more than one....

Here's Basie letting me put bows all over him:

Here's Basie chewing on my finger while I make him wear a santa hat:


This one is priceless....I love the look on Noah's face while Basil is grooming him!!

[jenluckenbach]

Noah says" Don't just stand there taking pictures. HELP ME!!!!!"

[sandragonfly]

Hi Noah's Mommy!

I understood ya totally! I was really crashed down the tubes..well not "was" -"am" when I brough two new kittens two days ago...my older cat, Zephyra - hisses, and growls at both of those "so-friendly-innocents". In the "Anyone Deaf Here?" Thread, I mentioned about Zephyra, 'definitely-not-a-cat', ....now I have something to admit... Zephyra definitely is a cat now- Hissing, growling...even at me when I pick her up and gave her extrrraaa attention and lots of treats...she never hid or meowing at me like those two past days for a year...it made me so sad, I couldn't breath... I definitely have do not bear for TIME! Whyyyyyyy TIME!! Mr. Clock...*ahem* can you please....HURRY UP!?

[Barbara]

Noah's mommy:
I love those pictures of Basil. Tooo cute