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.