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Hi, Tom, Try checking out this web site: http://users.erols.com/thevet/html/body_aggression__territorial___int… Hope that helps this poor little picked on kitty, Paige – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have five cats – all females, all neutered.  Eldest is 9, then 7, then the > sisters who are 3.  The youngest is a year now.  She came into the family last > August.  A really wonderful little kitten, but she has not been accepted by the > others in nearly 11 months, and I have had to keep her mostly in the bedroom, > with her own catbox and food bowls.  She began as in-your-face as any kitten, > and is now faily timid. > There are days when nothing happens.  As I write this, the most persistent > resister is innocently asleep on the bed, while the little one is asleep in the > closet.  I can bring the little one out into the front of the house, but she > gets scared out of the kitchen,  and then makes a run for the bedroom, which > means she gets chased. > A friend mentioned she might not have been taught the "rules" of > dominance/submission.  She hisses when the others come close, and that starts > it off. > Tom Cleaver

Response:

Hi, A few thoughts come to mind. I wonder whether isolating the little one isn’t actually reinforcing the situation and her role as an "outsider". I also wonder whether a "re-introduction" of sorts wouldn’t be worth a try. One thing I’d try is the "vanilla trick" – dab a tiny bit of vanilla extract on all cats on their foreheads and at the base of the spine where the tail starts (top). Smells being so crucial to cats, smelling the same might calm everyone down and make the little one more acceptable to the older members of the clan. I would very slowly give her more space in the house, letting her mingle more and more with the others while always letting her run back to wherever she feels safe. Generally, I don’t think it is a good idea to interfere when they are "sorting things out". I know it looks awful to us, but if they are not hurting one another, it is crucial for them to work out the dominance hierarchy. If there’s real bullying going on, you can admonish whichever cat is doing the bullying by saying the bullying cat’s name with a firm tone – the objective is to surprise her and to stop the behaviour. Re the timid one, when she hisses which I’m sure is a defensive manoeuvre, when you are there to supervise, speak to her in gentle tones; she may eventually feel comfortable enough to stay and stop hissing when approached by the others. If she runs to safety, let her. I don’t know whether any of this will help, but I think it’s worth a try to make everyone, at least, more comfortable. M.

> I have five cats – all females, all neutered.  Eldest is 9, then 7, then the > sisters who are 3.  The youngest is a year now.  She came into the family last > August.  A really wonderful little kitten, but she has not

been accepted by the – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> others in nearly 11 months, and I have had to keep her mostly in the bedroom, > with her own catbox and food bowls.  She began as in-your-face as any kitten, > and is now faily timid. > There are days when nothing happens.  As I write this, the most persistent > resister is innocently asleep on the bed, while the little one is asleep in the > closet.  I can bring the little one out into the front of the house, but she > gets scared out of the kitchen,  and then makes a run for the bedroom, which > means she gets chased. > A friend mentioned she might not have been taught the "rules" of > dominance/submission.  She hisses when the others come close, and that starts > it off. > Tom Cleaver

Response:

Wow, I wish I did have some help.  I’m your mirror opposite — 5 neutered male cats in one household.  They all get along very well, with the exception of Cosmo and Sabra.  We have had Sabra almost four years now, and he still picks on Cosmo, and Cosmo still hisses.  However, they have settled down some, and it doesn’t happen all that often.  They can even sleep on the same couch (at opposite ends) at the same time.  It’s just the occasional flare-up that seems to do it. We recently introduced Wolfie, the newest cat, who is just over a year old.  Trill completely freaked out initially, but now they are buddies. I’m wondering if keeping the kitten away from the other cats is really helping, or if it may be somehow underscoring her "different" status with the other four cats? In my experience of introducing new cats (which is fairly extensive by now), I’ve found that the timid cats eventually stand up for themselves, and the "herd" (they do seem like that sometimes, don’t they?) gain new respect for the timid one and start relating better.  That didn’t happen with Cosmo and Sabra, though, so it isn’t assured; it has been true 90% of the time in my experience, though. How do you respond when the timid one hisses?  Do you go pick her up and separate her?  If so, you might want to try ignoring it, and letting them work it out on their own.  As long as they are not getting too destructive (i.e., inflicting serious damage on each other), I tend to feel that it’s best to let them work it out amongst themselves. Best of luck to you. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have five cats – all females, all neutered.  Eldest is 9, then 7, then the > sisters who are 3.  The youngest is a year now.  She came into the family last > August.  A really wonderful little kitten, but she has not been accepted by the > others in nearly 11 months, and I have had to keep her mostly in the bedroom, > with her own catbox and food bowls.  She began as in-your-face as any kitten, > and is now faily timid. > There are days when nothing happens.  As I write this, the most persistent > resister is innocently asleep on the bed, while the little one is asleep in the > closet.  I can bring the little one out into the front of the house, but she > gets scared out of the kitchen,  and then makes a run for the bedroom, which > means she gets chased. > A friend mentioned she might not have been taught the "rules" of > dominance/submission.  She hisses when the others come close, and that starts > it off. > Tom Cleaver

– Home Page:  http://www.spiritrealm.com/summer/

Response:

I have five cats – all females, all neutered.  Eldest is 9, then 7, then the sisters who are 3.  The youngest is a year now.  She came into the family last August.  A really wonderful little kitten, but she has not been accepted by the others in nearly 11 months, and I have had to keep her mostly in the bedroom, with her own catbox and food bowls.  She began as in-your-face as any kitten, and is now faily timid.   There are days when nothing happens.  As I write this, the most persistent resister is innocently asleep on the bed, while the little one is asleep in the closet.  I can bring the little one out into the front of the house, but she gets scared out of the kitchen,  and then makes a run for the bedroom, which means she gets chased. A friend mentioned she might not have been taught the "rules" of dominance/submission.  She hisses when the others come close, and that starts it off. Tom Cleaver

Response:

Hi, Tom, Try checking out this web site: http://users.erols.com/thevet/html/body_aggression__territorial___int… Hope that helps this poor little picked on kitty, Paige – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have five cats – all females, all neutered.  Eldest is 9, then 7, then the > sisters who are 3.  The youngest is a year now.  She came into the family last > August.  A really wonderful little kitten, but she has not been accepted by the > others in nearly 11 months, and I have had to keep her mostly in the bedroom, > with her own catbox and food bowls.  She began as in-your-face as any kitten, > and is now faily timid. > There are days when nothing happens.  As I write this, the most persistent > resister is innocently asleep on the bed, while the little one is asleep in the > closet.  I can bring the little one out into the front of the house, but she > gets scared out of the kitchen,  and then makes a run for the bedroom, which > means she gets chased. > A friend mentioned she might not have been taught the "rules" of > dominance/submission.  She hisses when the others come close, and that starts > it off. > Tom Cleaver

Response:

Hi, A few thoughts come to mind. I wonder whether isolating the little one isn’t actually reinforcing the situation and her role as an "outsider". I also wonder whether a "re-introduction" of sorts wouldn’t be worth a try. One thing I’d try is the "vanilla trick" – dab a tiny bit of vanilla extract on all cats on their foreheads and at the base of the spine where the tail starts (top). Smells being so crucial to cats, smelling the same might calm everyone down and make the little one more acceptable to the older members of the clan. I would very slowly give her more space in the house, letting her mingle more and more with the others while always letting her run back to wherever she feels safe. Generally, I don’t think it is a good idea to interfere when they are "sorting things out". I know it looks awful to us, but if they are not hurting one another, it is crucial for them to work out the dominance hierarchy. If there’s real bullying going on, you can admonish whichever cat is doing the bullying by saying the bullying cat’s name with a firm tone – the objective is to surprise her and to stop the behaviour. Re the timid one, when she hisses which I’m sure is a defensive manoeuvre, when you are there to supervise, speak to her in gentle tones; she may eventually feel comfortable enough to stay and stop hissing when approached by the others. If she runs to safety, let her. I don’t know whether any of this will help, but I think it’s worth a try to make everyone, at least, more comfortable. M.

> I have five cats – all females, all neutered.  Eldest is 9, then 7, then the > sisters who are 3.  The youngest is a year now.  She came into the family last > August.  A really wonderful little kitten, but she has not

been accepted by the – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> others in nearly 11 months, and I have had to keep her mostly in the bedroom, > with her own catbox and food bowls.  She began as in-your-face as any kitten, > and is now faily timid. > There are days when nothing happens.  As I write this, the most persistent > resister is innocently asleep on the bed, while the little one is asleep in the > closet.  I can bring the little one out into the front of the house, but she > gets scared out of the kitchen,  and then makes a run for the bedroom, which > means she gets chased. > A friend mentioned she might not have been taught the "rules" of > dominance/submission.  She hisses when the others come close, and that starts > it off. > Tom Cleaver

Response:

Wow, I wish I did have some help.  I’m your mirror opposite — 5 neutered male cats in one household.  They all get along very well, with the exception of Cosmo and Sabra.  We have had Sabra almost four years now, and he still picks on Cosmo, and Cosmo still hisses.  However, they have settled down some, and it doesn’t happen all that often.  They can even sleep on the same couch (at opposite ends) at the same time.  It’s just the occasional flare-up that seems to do it. We recently introduced Wolfie, the newest cat, who is just over a year old.  Trill completely freaked out initially, but now they are buddies. I’m wondering if keeping the kitten away from the other cats is really helping, or if it may be somehow underscoring her "different" status with the other four cats? In my experience of introducing new cats (which is fairly extensive by now), I’ve found that the timid cats eventually stand up for themselves, and the "herd" (they do seem like that sometimes, don’t they?) gain new respect for the timid one and start relating better.  That didn’t happen with Cosmo and Sabra, though, so it isn’t assured; it has been true 90% of the time in my experience, though. How do you respond when the timid one hisses?  Do you go pick her up and separate her?  If so, you might want to try ignoring it, and letting them work it out on their own.  As long as they are not getting too destructive (i.e., inflicting serious damage on each other), I tend to feel that it’s best to let them work it out amongst themselves. Best of luck to you. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have five cats – all females, all neutered.  Eldest is 9, then 7, then the > sisters who are 3.  The youngest is a year now.  She came into the family last > August.  A really wonderful little kitten, but she has not been accepted by the > others in nearly 11 months, and I have had to keep her mostly in the bedroom, > with her own catbox and food bowls.  She began as in-your-face as any kitten, > and is now faily timid. > There are days when nothing happens.  As I write this, the most persistent > resister is innocently asleep on the bed, while the little one is asleep in the > closet.  I can bring the little one out into the front of the house, but she > gets scared out of the kitchen,  and then makes a run for the bedroom, which > means she gets chased. > A friend mentioned she might not have been taught the "rules" of > dominance/submission.  She hisses when the others come close, and that starts > it off. > Tom Cleaver

– Home Page:  http://www.spiritrealm.com/summer/

Response:

I have five cats – all females, all neutered.  Eldest is 9, then 7, then the sisters who are 3.  The youngest is a year now.  She came into the family last August.  A really wonderful little kitten, but she has not been accepted by the others in nearly 11 months, and I have had to keep her mostly in the bedroom, with her own catbox and food bowls.  She began as in-your-face as any kitten, and is now faily timid.   There are days when nothing happens.  As I write this, the most persistent resister is innocently asleep on the bed, while the little one is asleep in the closet.  I can bring the little one out into the front of the house, but she gets scared out of the kitchen,  and then makes a run for the bedroom, which means she gets chased. A friend mentioned she might not have been taught the "rules" of dominance/submission.  She hisses when the others come close, and that starts it off. Tom Cleaver

Response:

Hi, Tom, Try checking out this web site: http://users.erols.com/thevet/html/body_aggression__territorial___int… Hope that helps this poor little picked on kitty, Paige – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have five cats – all females, all neutered.  Eldest is 9, then 7, then the > sisters who are 3.  The youngest is a year now.  She came into the family last > August.  A really wonderful little kitten, but she has not been accepted by the > others in nearly 11 months, and I have had to keep her mostly in the bedroom, > with her own catbox and food bowls.  She began as in-your-face as any kitten, > and is now faily timid. > There are days when nothing happens.  As I write this, the most persistent > resister is innocently asleep on the bed, while the little one is asleep in the > closet.  I can bring the little one out into the front of the house, but she > gets scared out of the kitchen,  and then makes a run for the bedroom, which > means she gets chased. > A friend mentioned she might not have been taught the "rules" of > dominance/submission.  She hisses when the others come close, and that starts > it off. > Tom Cleaver

Response:

Hi, A few thoughts come to mind. I wonder whether isolating the little one isn’t actually reinforcing the situation and her role as an "outsider". I also wonder whether a "re-introduction" of sorts wouldn’t be worth a try. One thing I’d try is the "vanilla trick" – dab a tiny bit of vanilla extract on all cats on their foreheads and at the base of the spine where the tail starts (top). Smells being so crucial to cats, smelling the same might calm everyone down and make the little one more acceptable to the older members of the clan. I would very slowly give her more space in the house, letting her mingle more and more with the others while always letting her run back to wherever she feels safe. Generally, I don’t think it is a good idea to interfere when they are "sorting things out". I know it looks awful to us, but if they are not hurting one another, it is crucial for them to work out the dominance hierarchy. If there’s real bullying going on, you can admonish whichever cat is doing the bullying by saying the bullying cat’s name with a firm tone – the objective is to surprise her and to stop the behaviour. Re the timid one, when she hisses which I’m sure is a defensive manoeuvre, when you are there to supervise, speak to her in gentle tones; she may eventually feel comfortable enough to stay and stop hissing when approached by the others. If she runs to safety, let her. I don’t know whether any of this will help, but I think it’s worth a try to make everyone, at least, more comfortable. M.

> I have five cats – all females, all neutered.  Eldest is 9, then 7, then the > sisters who are 3.  The youngest is a year now.  She came into the family last > August.  A really wonderful little kitten, but she has not

been accepted by the – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> others in nearly 11 months, and I have had to keep her mostly in the bedroom, > with her own catbox and food bowls.  She began as in-your-face as any kitten, > and is now faily timid. > There are days when nothing happens.  As I write this, the most persistent > resister is innocently asleep on the bed, while the little one is asleep in the > closet.  I can bring the little one out into the front of the house, but she > gets scared out of the kitchen,  and then makes a run for the bedroom, which > means she gets chased. > A friend mentioned she might not have been taught the "rules" of > dominance/submission.  She hisses when the others come close, and that starts > it off. > Tom Cleaver

Response:

Wow, I wish I did have some help.  I’m your mirror opposite — 5 neutered male cats in one household.  They all get along very well, with the exception of Cosmo and Sabra.  We have had Sabra almost four years now, and he still picks on Cosmo, and Cosmo still hisses.  However, they have settled down some, and it doesn’t happen all that often.  They can even sleep on the same couch (at opposite ends) at the same time.  It’s just the occasional flare-up that seems to do it. We recently introduced Wolfie, the newest cat, who is just over a year old.  Trill completely freaked out initially, but now they are buddies. I’m wondering if keeping the kitten away from the other cats is really helping, or if it may be somehow underscoring her "different" status with the other four cats? In my experience of introducing new cats (which is fairly extensive by now), I’ve found that the timid cats eventually stand up for themselves, and the "herd" (they do seem like that sometimes, don’t they?) gain new respect for the timid one and start relating better.  That didn’t happen with Cosmo and Sabra, though, so it isn’t assured; it has been true 90% of the time in my experience, though. How do you respond when the timid one hisses?  Do you go pick her up and separate her?  If so, you might want to try ignoring it, and letting them work it out on their own.  As long as they are not getting too destructive (i.e., inflicting serious damage on each other), I tend to feel that it’s best to let them work it out amongst themselves. Best of luck to you. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have five cats – all females, all neutered.  Eldest is 9, then 7, then the > sisters who are 3.  The youngest is a year now.  She came into the family last > August.  A really wonderful little kitten, but she has not been accepted by the > others in nearly 11 months, and I have had to keep her mostly in the bedroom, > with her own catbox and food bowls.  She began as in-your-face as any kitten, > and is now faily timid. > There are days when nothing happens.  As I write this, the most persistent > resister is innocently asleep on the bed, while the little one is asleep in the > closet.  I can bring the little one out into the front of the house, but she > gets scared out of the kitchen,  and then makes a run for the bedroom, which > means she gets chased. > A friend mentioned she might not have been taught the "rules" of > dominance/submission.  She hisses when the others come close, and that starts > it off. > Tom Cleaver

– Home Page:  http://www.spiritrealm.com/summer/

Response:

I have five cats – all females, all neutered.  Eldest is 9, then 7, then the sisters who are 3.  The youngest is a year now.  She came into the family last August.  A really wonderful little kitten, but she has not been accepted by the others in nearly 11 months, and I have had to keep her mostly in the bedroom, with her own catbox and food bowls.  She began as in-your-face as any kitten, and is now faily timid.   There are days when nothing happens.  As I write this, the most persistent resister is innocently asleep on the bed, while the little one is asleep in the closet.  I can bring the little one out into the front of the house, but she gets scared out of the kitchen,  and then makes a run for the bedroom, which means she gets chased. A friend mentioned she might not have been taught the "rules" of dominance/submission.  She hisses when the others come close, and that starts it off. Tom Cleaver

Response: