Cat behavior advice needed

In My Humble Opinion
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Feline Cast of Characters (Sorry folks, the computer ate my pictures. As soon as Mouse_Spouse transfers copies from his computer, I’ll post requisite kitty pics.)

Jake: The Oldest Cat (Gods only know his age, was fully grown when I rescued him 10 years ago). The former dominate male and foster father to many kittens – including our other 1.75 cats. Sadly, Jake has been ill for several months with a cancer. It pains me to say that on Friday, he will move on from this world.

Elwood: Next oldest, 9 years, and the Infamous Three-Quarters Cat, lost his left hind leg to an act of cruelty as a kitten. Looks a lot like Jake, found in the same area, I think they may be related but there is no way to know.

Astrix: Youngest cat, 2 years. He’s full of energy and physically intact (except for neutering). Mouse_Spouse’s cat, just ask him (Astrix, that is).

Things have been tense at the Mouse_Pad. Summer heat, third trimester of pregnancy, work stress, and a sick cat has created a perfect storm for arguments between Spouse and me. Also, we have been rearranging the spare bedroom/office in order to make a nursery and I have been cleaning like mad. (Can’t kill the people who aggravate me, but it’s perfectly fine to commit bacterial genocide.)

Elwood and Astrix have been acting very bad recently! Astrix has destroyed two potted plants. Not just knocking the pots over, but tearing the plants apart. He has always enjoyed playing with small objects, but now he’s taken up carrying off larger important things: cell phones, wallets, and watches are his main targets. Leave them on a counter, and he’ll move them somewhere else. (Getting ready in the morning has become much more difficult.)

Elwood cannot cause as much trouble as Astrix, but his behavior has changed as well. Beating up on Astrix is his new hobby. (Despite the missing limb, Elwood is the biggest cat in the house.) Astrix now avoids him like the plague, but El tracks him down. When we’re home, Mouse_Spouse or I break them up. This morning, I discovered a large scab under El’s chin. I don’t think Astix inflicted the wound, so I suspect that El has been scratching himself until he bleeds.

Could these two boys be reacting to the tension in the house? Is there anything we can do to calm them down?

Thanks for your help.

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Requisite cat behavior response: Cats are weird.

Aside from that, there is a lot going on in your house and the cats know it. You could ask your vet for some kitty prozac, and/or try some Feliway, and/or try to spend some quality time with each cat. Astrix sounds like he needs a toy that will hold his attention, that may have to be a trial and error thing, maybe one of those cat condos with several levels and attached toys if you can manage it. Ellwood may be thinking that it’s time to assert himself as boss because of Jake’s illness, it might take a while for that to settle down.

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That’s not a very good answer on Ellwood, aggression is a little more complicated to explain and to solve. Sorry, but I am exhausted, it’s been a long day. I’ll try to look for some other info for you later.

The spending time with each cat and getting some stuff to amuse Astrix is still good advice though so start with that.
My sympathies on Jake.

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No problem, thanks for the answer. :slight_smile:

I’ll spend some more time with Elwood. (Sadly, it will be easier once Jake has moved on.) The loss of his leg was traumatic - someone hung him on a fence by the lost limb. It became infected and had to be amputated. The vet estimated that he’d been up there for at least a day by the time I found him. He’s a shy cat and only seems to trust me.

I bottle-fed Astrix and his siblings, so I have Mom-power. However, Astrix loves Mouse_Spouse as a playmate. I’ll talk to Spouse about giving the Phone Thief some more one-on-one time.

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Have you tried Feliway? Some dudes swear by it.

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Elwood and Astrix know that Jake is not long for the world and are both stressed by it, and attempting to work out their new relationship.

Elwood will now be the dominant cat and he’s trying to show it and gain Astrix’ submission.

Astrix is showing his stress by taking it out on lesser objects like your plants, and by trying to gain your attention (hiding things important to you).

They are both additionally stressed by your making changes to their environment. Cleaning, moving stuff, getting rid of stuff. Big things are afoot and they’re going to be stressed by the changes. If you can, you might want to let off for a few days, especially with Jake’s farewell looming.

Then too there is the stress between you and your husband. This is just fuel for the fire and your cats are confused and stressed by everything that is happening all at once.

Solutions;

Show lots of love for all parties now, but especially Jake. These are your last memories of him. Make them good ones.

Once Jake has moved on, shower Elwood and Astrix with attention for a good week until things settle down. One at a time, and even then you’ll probably have some jealousy issues. Break up fights (squirt bottle handy) as soon as they occur, so as to let Elwood know that it isn’t acceptable.

Hell, break up a fight with your husband by using the squirt bottle on him. It might break some of the stress between you two and amuse the cats.