Need help with aggressive behavior in Decker

[Freedom]

I suggest two things.

Water squirt bottle. Since you are worried, and since you don't know how to scruff (I'm not even sure what it IS, let alone how to do it!), the water bottle should be handy to dissuade him the minute he shows signs of moving to her food dish.

Neuter him as soon as he is old enough. That may help him calm down a little bit.

Crystal started out fine, grew into a little monster who scarfed down her food and then moved in on all the other dishes, growled and hissed and grabbed food and ran to under the bed with it. I was going nuts with her and food. She arrived here as a 2 pound nothing and within 6 months was terrorizing the other cats! I diligently used the water bottle and some how 4 months later she was back to her prior sweet self. During that time she also got spayed. What did it? I haven't a clue. But I kept making it clear that this was NOT acceptable behavior. Lord knows, the other cats were too frightened by her to reprimand her themselves. Geesh! Calicos rule, so I've heard.

[jenluckenbach]

He is fighting for survival, remember he was out in the wild (with mom) a lot longer.
Feed him separately so there is no competition and once he realizes that there will ALWAYS be enough (and he won't go hungry) he should settle down.
Besides, I am fairly sure the adults will put him in his place!

[jazzcat]

KAK, hopefully Decker will be like Starr and get over it, thanks.

AbbyMom - thanks, I'm glad to know someone else has experienced that. Today I've put them in the sunroom where all the big cat's toys are and he's doing just fine with all those other type toys. I'll just make sure no natural feather things are out.

Freedom - Decker is already neutered. When we trapped him he was so wild I didn't think I could tame him so the vet neutered him so we could release him with his mom but then he calmed down. As for the water bottle so far it doesn't faze him but I'll keep trying. It worked well with breaking bad behavior with my other guys.

Jen - I may have to start putting him in the cage to eat and leaving Moxie out, or the other way around. I think once I get them back on regular food he will get better, I hope. He sure did learn a lot of things from his mom in those few weeks.

Thanks for the replies.

[rg_girlca]

Whoa Lori. It sure sounds like you have quite the little spitfire there.
I agree with Jen in regards to completely separating them during feeding time.
One thing I would suggest is not to put Moxie in the cage, but Decker if need be. Also, no more real feathers either. What a little hunter.

Good luck with your little spitfire and I hope that he grows out of this real soon.

[catmandu]

Decker might be a little scraed and is over reacting a bit by being aggressive.
I agree with Jen that you might have to feed him seperatley.
I hope you can calm him down , maybe the neutering and getting older will help.
Miquelito was wild I hear as a Kitten, before he came to the Hotel and hes fine now.

[Catty1]

I think separating at feeding is a great idea too. Would some Rescue Remedy or Feliway help in the short term?

See what your vet thinks.

Good luck with Decker.

[Freedom]

Duh! I DO know Decker was neutered. I'm to YOUNG to be having senior moments!!!!!

Dad has a suggestion. May have to wait until they are off the special food. Dad wondered if maybe Decker feels as if he has no control over feeding times. Feed him separately from Moxie, AND give him less. Then he has to learn to come tell you when he is hungry; and of course you will feed him, as he had less to eat and can have a snack. Don't do this at bedtime, you want to sleep through the night! And don't do this on a day when you are going out for 5 or 6 hours.

Dad reminded me that during the 4 months she was this wild thing, Crystal learned to tell me she is hungry. Before that, with all the other older cats here took care of that and she never HAD to ASK for food. It just appearred and she probably didn't even know why, when, how.

As I said before, I don't know what made Crystal stop doing all that hissing, growling and stealing after 4 months. Just trying to think of things that happened during that time.

Sandra

[heidiv]

Was Decker a rescue kitty?? Someone might have already asked you this but if he is he might not realize that he has a NEXT meal and it may just take sometime for him to realize that you will always feed him and he doesn't have to settle without a meal. I have had some of those problems with my male cat Tucker he was VERY protective of his food at first and to this day he still has to eat first and he over eats which in return makes him throw up. So I have those issues also I would hope the aggressive behavior might be the kitten in him but like I said Tucker had some issues but he still eats till he is sick so I think its attributed to the Alfa male in him that makes him do that. He has gotten better but he still eats as if its his last meal. Once a cat goes through that they seem to never forget. Hope that helps????