Originally posted by wolflady
Has anything changed in your household at all (anything...no matter how small)??
I've tried to think of anything, no matter how small, and the only thing that really changed is we bought a motorhome that we can't store at our house so maybe we're gone a little bit more, but that's not unusual, really. And Tubby has always been good about change and it never really bothered him much (I've moved a lot since I first got him) Oh, maybe that's the problem. Maybe he's telling me it's time to move again!


Is Tubby trying to express his 'Top cat' status over Peanut?
I've thought of that because Tubby has always been top cat, and when he wasn't feeling good, it did seem like Peanut was starting to take over. But then I started giving him his medicine and he started feeling better and I thought everything was back to normal.

It almost does seem to me that he is displacing his frustrations on Peanut for some reason. Is there something frustrating him?
I wish I knew!!! The outside cats haven't come around lately, especially the nasty one, so I kind of ruled that out. There was a bunny right out the window the other day (which reminds me that I took pictures for everybody here) but I can't see as how a bunny would frustrate Tubby, especially since they've really come and gone over the years, without Tubby acting like this.

Depending on what the vet says medically, I would try to desensitize Tubby from Peanut. Using a squirt bottle is a good idea to get him to stop unwanted behaviors. Maybe keep the two separated for awhile, and only have them together under supervision.
I don't mean to sound like a know-it-all or anything like that, but I thought of that too. Separating them would be kind of hard, but could be done....if me and their daddy could handle it. They've been together and had each other around for so many years that I would feel terrible if I had to separate them. I think they would really miss each other, but maybe that's what Tubby needs so he can appreciate his little sister.

Reward Tubby for good behaviors (ie leaving Peanut alone), so he will associate the pleasant things with Peanut being in the room.
Tried that, but will keep doing it because I know positive reinforcement is much more powerful than negative. I felt so guilty after I spanked him that I felt it was a good thing I never had kids because I'd never be able to discipline them.

I do get the feeling that something is frustrating Tubby, and Peanut is his target for letting out these frustrations. If possible, find out what is bothering him and elimate the problem. Are there neighborhood cats that wander in the yard? Is there a visiting squirrel that he can't get at?? Observe him and let us know what happens!! Very curious indeed!
**hugs** [/B]
Thanks for all the suggestions Karen. For me it was a toss up between something wrong with Peanut and something frustrating Tubby. I still think I'm going to start with taking Peanut to the vet even though that will be the most stressful for her and her daddy. But it's better to have a little stress now than a whole lotta stress later when we find out something is seriously wrong with either one of them.

Thanks for the hugs too. I've needed them lately with all this going on.