Taz is out of control! Update (sorta) w/pix #25.

**mamaducky** · 11-30-2008, 08:16 PM

I don't want to sound like the Voice of Doom, but this situation sounds VERY much like what we were going through at our house over the past year.

About a year ago when we got our newest family member, Meg, our two resident boys Zorro & Einstein got along reasonably well with her. However, as the months went on, things became increasingly strained with Meg and Zorro -- hissing, growling, etc.

I did all the "socialization" stuff I could find, such as playing with them and giving them treats in one another's company (along with about a million other things that I'm not bothering to mention here). I also put Feliway plug-ins in strategic locations throughout the house (and on a stretchy collar for Zorro, who was the main aggressor) -- but to no avail. It just got worse and worse until this summer when Zorro was actually attacking Meg -- and there were actual vet visits required by both of them for their bite wounds. We were willing to try medicating Zorro, but he refused to take the pills and would find ways to spit them out when we thought we'd gotten them into him.

My ultimate solution -- not the greatest, but the best I could come up with -- is that I keep them separated at all times. One of them is upstairs with limited access to the rest of the house on a given day, and the other is downstairs with somewhat more room to roam -- and every day I switch them out so that they alternate locations. (Einstein gets "joint custody", and visits back and forth whenever he wants -- if he "begs" at the closed door, we let him go to the other side of it.)

I wish you the very best of luck and very sincerely hope that things between Taz and Paizly do not deteriorate in this same way. However, I will VERY strongly urge you not to leave them unsupervised together; Paizly might not like being stuck in a room for a few days, but it would be preferable to having the two of them get into a physical confrontation.

All the best,
Diana

**krazyaboutkatz** · 11-30-2008, 09:25 PM

Cindy, I'm so sorry to hear that you're having problems.

Taz sounds a lot like my Storm. Just today Storm attacked Starr and later on Starr pooped in my hallway which was probably due to stress.

Even though Storm's on 3 calming herbal pills a day now, they don't seem to be working like they used to. I also use 3 feliway plugins and they help but not enough.

I just e-mailed my vets and my main vet said that we could try giving Storm prozac to see if this will help him. I want it in pill form because he loves pill pockets so he'd just think that he was getting a treat. My vet did say that if he and Starr hate each other that it might not work. I just think that Storm is very jealous of Starr because I have to give him some special treatment because of his IBD.

I hope that you'll be able to find a solution. Good luck.

**Taz_Zoee** · 11-30-2008, 10:18 PM

Jennie, I guess if you aren't using them I could try them out. I'll PM you my address.

Mamaducky, I am sorry about your situation with Meg and Zorro. I also hope our situation does not escalate to this. Like I said, he's gotten worse since surgery. If it does get worse I have an alternate plan of action. Not one I want to do, but I will do if I have to. Our house is not set up to be able to keep them separated without keeping one of them locked in a room. Which Paizly is in her room every night, so Taz has free run of the house to himself.

KAK, I'm sorry to hear about Storm and Starr. I hope the medication will work for you.

I can't help but begin to feel horribly guilty about bringing Paizly into our house. However, I will not give up on this without a fight.

BTW - my alternate plan would be for Paizly to stay with my parents. She actually does love it there. She loves playing on the stairs and running all over the house. But this is a last resort. I am hoping the Feliway works. Fingers crossed!!

**jennielynn1970** · 11-30-2008, 10:40 PM

Found 4 more of the outlet doohickies, so you'll be getting 7 of them in the mail. If you find they don't work for your guys (I jsut had an issues trying to calm down 12 cats back then with all this stuff. Hope 2 kitties will be easier).

Whatever you can't /don't use, use the "Freecycle" mentality with whomever you think would benefit from them. I don't want them back to be sitting for anotehr year or so.

**jennielynn1970** · 11-30-2008, 10:52 PM

I used to buy my supplies, in bulk, from discount pet drugs. They give great prices for bulk items (3, 6, 9, 12 of an item -- and on feliway it really makes a good buy)

Check them out.... $12.99 for a single refill, the 3pack comes out to $12.50 a piece, the 6 pack is 77.99 . It's a good deal compared to at PetSmart. And if you order over 100.00 you get free shipping. It's not that hard to do if you buy in bulk to begin with.

Check it out Cyn!

**Taz_Zoee** · 11-30-2008, 11:07 PM

Got your PM. Wow, I don't need 7 of them!

LOL I wouldn't even have enough sockets to plug them into. I think 3 would be good.

Thank you so much Jennie!!

**jennielynn1970** · 11-30-2008, 11:09 PM

Wow... I think I have a minimum of 3 sockets in each room!! Must be having one of these old houses! That and NO closets!!! What was with people back then?!

**Taz_Zoee** · 12-01-2008, 09:30 AM

LOL, I probably have enough sockets, but not that are not being used or are within reach to get to.

No closets?! That is just insane!!

**Moesha** · 12-13-2008, 07:51 PM

I was wondering how Taz was doing. Have you noticed him calming down any? Has he fully recovered from the surgery? I need my Taz updates!!

**Taz_Zoee** · 12-14-2008, 12:58 AM

Originally Posted by Moesha

I was wondering how Taz was doing. Have you noticed him calming down any? Has he fully recovered from the surgery? I need my Taz updates!!

LOL, thanks for asking Moe. He is fully recovered from his surgery and is doing pretty good. He has days that he won't touch his food, but it doesn't last too long and then he's eating again.

I have been using the spray on the collar and I'm not noticing much of a difference in his attitude. He is being a grumpster to the dogs now too. Jennie sent me some plug-ins I received last week and I'm going to buy some of the refills tomorrow and see how that works as well. I'll try anything once.

We have a solution for the couple of days while we are gone around Christmas, so that should all go well.

Here are a couple of recent pictures of him.
I got one of those body pillows and it was left in the bed. I think he thought it was one of us in bed. This is how he lays on us while we sleep.

The fur on his belly is growing back in. No more naykie tummy!!

And then Miss Paizly had to bug him. For a while they were both just cleaning themselves. I don't know if you can see Paizly's tongue in the picture, but it is sticking out a little. Hee hee.

**Catty1** · 12-14-2008, 10:24 AM

One minor thing, and I am sure you know -

Give the Feliway or whatever you are using a good shake - 'shake well before spraying'. Maybe the ingredients aren't getting mixed as they should.

Oscar's original dose was 2 - 3 shots a day; cats need 4 hrs exposure at a given time. So don't be afraid to up the number of doses.

Glad he is healing so well.

Now just CHILL OUT, Taz!

**Taz_Zoee** · 12-14-2008, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Catty1

One minor thing, and I am sure you know -

Give the Feliway or whatever you are using a good shake - 'shake well before spraying'. Maybe the ingredients aren't getting mixed as they should.

Oscar's original dose was 2 - 3 shots a day; cats need 4 hrs exposure at a given time. So don't be afraid to up the number of doses.

Glad he is healing so well.

Now just CHILL OUT, Taz!

Ok, I'll do that. Thanks Candace!

**Emeraldgreen** · 12-14-2008, 03:22 PM

Taz looks great! He looks so peaceful and cozy on the pillow. I hope the Feliway helps him become less of a grumpters and that he and Paizly can share space as friends soon.