Need Cat Advice

nearnostrand

I have two cats, both female. The dominant cat is a Calico about 4 years old and the passive cat is a long hair with 6 toes on both of her back paws and is about 6 years old. The passive cat has become increasingly affectionate, so much so, that she won't let me sleep at night. I have had to block off a part of our home at nights so she can't get to me. During this same time, the dominant cat has suddenly become much more aggressive toward the other cat. Passive is afraid to go to her food and water as well as litter pan, which is causing a seperate problem.

I don't know what's going on with them. Dominant has been sniffing passive more than usual, so we thought maybe passive needs a good bath and that was what was pissig off the dominant one. We bathed her, but that hasn't helped quell the dominant cat's aggression. Nothing else in our home has changed. I was wondering if the dominant cat is sensing an illness or other weakness in the passive cat. Is that possible? Any hints?

FYI, the passive cat was taken to the vet about 6 months ago because my youngest said she thought that the cat was acting more "lethargic" that usual. At the time the vet said that the cat was fine. We haven't gone back to the vet yet. Any insight or suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!

whatchuwant

First of all- DON'T bathe your cat. They are instinctively clean animals, and there's just no reason to. And the second she gets dry, she'll just self-clean anyway and put her stink back on.

Are they both fixed? If not then that's your trouble. Assuming they are, however, this sounds like passive just needs some more lovin' and dom is getting jealous. I say open your door and let passive sleep with you but then during the day, make sure you give lots o' love to dom. It doesn't sound like a health issue, but it does sound like its psychological in which case cats try to send messages to their caretakers to change the CARETAKERS behavior. So, look at it from their angle. What are they trying to tell you?

nearnostrand

Ooooops. We won't wash her again. Yes, they are both fixed. The passive one doesn't want to sleep at night. She wants me up with her, awake, all night. I'll try to give them both more affection - although the dominant cat doesn't really like being bothered for more that 2 minutes at a time, and the passive one wouldn't ever let you go if she could have her druthers...But, I will try! Thank you for your reply. I was becoming very concerned. I am a little more at ease now.

sweet tea

i've had cats who have needed baths -- just once or twice in their lives.

it does happen.

bathing them was no picnic, but it's not like it caused them harm.

vanilla

if you have the means i would bring them both to hope vet. they use a lot of natural remedies there. maybe they could suggest something after ruling out anything else. let us know what happens- good luck!

nearnostrand

So, I have opened the bedroom door again (though my husband was kind of against it) and have been extra loving to both of the cats. The cats seem to be having good days and not so good days with each other. Right now, fopr example, they are both in my bedroom, passive is on the bed in my spot and dominant is laying on the floor - pretty much in the center of the path you must walk once in the room. Yesterday on the other hand, the passive cat was too frightened of the dominant cat to walk past her back into the apt. from the hallway. (She likes to roam.) But anyway, so far so good! Where is hope vet?