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Post by bogmyrtle on Sept 24, 2008 9:10:31 GMT 1
Poor Poppy is still being bullied by every cat in the neighbourhood. She is very sweet and happy but timid. She is ok if we are there because we sort them out (with a very large pump-up type water pistol - even squirted through the letterbox!).
Last night I heard cats screaming and Poppy ran in when I opened the front door. I didn't see another cat but there was rustling in the hedge and so I threw things in and bashed around with a stick. Also, when I opened the front door there was a very strong smell of excrement.
This morning when I moved my car off the drive there was excrement in a couple of places.
We have noticed that Poppy will lie down and put her paws in the air if one of the cats come near. Is this to say be friends or please don't hit me I'm frightened or what? The book we have says this behaviour can happen if they are taken away from their mother too young. When Poppy was first brought to the office, the guy said she was about 8 weeks old but the vet said she was probably about 3 weeks younger!
Sorry to go on but if anyone has any ideas that would help I would be grateful.
(PS we are both used to dogs not cats!)
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Post by 4pygmies on Sept 24, 2008 10:08:46 GMT 1
Poor little soul.......I think she needs a lot of cuddles....but I can't think of anything to make her braver I'm afraid. You need to find a way of keeping the bullies out of your garden don't you? Could your OH do a bit of territory marking??  I dunno if that would make any difference.. |
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Post by debbiem on Sept 24, 2008 10:23:26 GMT 1
If she lays down in a subservient position do you think it may mean 'Look, you can beat me up, OK? So please don't as I don't want a fight.'? When we first moved here the cat next door used to terrorize our cats and there was always a lot of banging and crashing going on throught the cat flap as they got chased indoors. Poor Dodgy had a poorly head where she'd been bitten and this went on for a while, with other cats too until Snowy stood his ground and then it all changed. Nowadays if any cat comes anywhere near our garden I hope they know what they're letting themselves in for, as he see them off, every one of them.  Maybe Poppy will end up doing the same?  I would never have thought that Snowy would ever have done that but desperate means for desperate measures maybe.  |
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Post by bogmyrtle on Sept 24, 2008 10:29:14 GMT 1
If she lays down in a subservient position do you think it may mean 'Look, you can beat me up, OK? So please don't as I don't want a fight.'? When we first moved here the cat next door used to terrorize our cats and there was always a lot of banging and crashing going on throught the cat flap as they got chased indoors. Poor Dodgy had a poorly head where she'd been bitten and this went on for a while, with other cats too until Snowy stood his ground and then it all changed. Nowadays if any cat comes anywhere near our garden I hope they know what they're letting themselves in for, as he see them off, every one of them. Maybe Poppy will end up doing the same? I would never have thought that Snowy would ever have done that but desperate means for desperate measures maybe. I think you are right Mrs.B, and the vet has said she is still young and she may do in time. But we feel sorry for her! 4pygmies - the other cats run a mile if they see either hubby or myself, they only have to hear the door handle start to go ;D Hubby takes great delight in sneaking up on them (his past life coming to the fore again!). We are using the water pistol with the neighbour's permission on their cats - even they think it is a shame for her! Sorry, just had a mental picture of hubby in the dark of the night 4pygmies ;D |
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Post by bogmyrtle on Sept 24, 2008 10:39:22 GMT 1
Mrs.B, how old was Snowy before he stood his ground?
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Post by debbiem on Sept 24, 2008 11:53:03 GMT 1
Between 2 and 3 years old Myrtle but we'd only been in this house a couple of months before he started turning the tables on the other cats. He's a neutered tom and very into his home comforts and sooo docile so we all sat up and noticed when he started fighting back. I think he was put in the position of having to, maybe, fight or flight! I think there's only so many times they can turn tail before they have to stand their ground, maybe the bully giving them no choice but to fight back. Anyhow it's a sight to see, lovely soft white fluffy Snowy seeing 'em off! |
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Post by madonplants on Sept 24, 2008 12:49:48 GMT 1
Poor Poppy is still being bullied by every cat in the neighbourhood. She is very sweet and happy but timid. She is ok if we are there because we sort them out (with a very large pump-up type water pistol - even squirted through the letterbox!). Last night I heard cats screaming and Poppy ran in when I opened the front door. I didn't see another cat but there was rustling in the hedge and so I threw things in and bashed around with a stick. Also, when I opened the front door there was a very strong smell of excrement. This morning when I moved my car off the drive there was excrement in a couple of places. We have noticed that Poppy will lie down and put her paws in the air if one of the cats come near. Is this to say be friends or please don't hit me I'm frightened or what? The book we have says this behaviour can happen if they are taken away from their mother too young. When Poppy was first brought to the office, the guy said she was about 8 weeks old but the vet said she was probably about 3 weeks younger! Sorry to go on but if anyone has any ideas that would help I would be grateful. (PS we are both used to dogs not cats!) Doesn't the mother teach her kittens about bahaviour, so if Poppy was only 5 weeks old, this could be the cause. Has the other cat been neutered, do you know? As to solutions, I don't really know. Could you take some of Poppy's doings and place it in certain places? I don't know if that would work, but worth a go. Before you do, give the area a good wash, to get rid of any other cat's smell. My first cat (when I was a kid) was a semi wild one, from the nearby farm. She got herself in the family way, two after we got her. Our fault, my Dad had let her out, before she had settled!! As she was quite a feisty character, we then had her done and she did calm down quite a bit, no more dead rabbits, squirrels, etc. She got on well with our neighbour's cat, so we had no problems. Before we had a dog, Jennifer and I had a male cat, who was alright as well, though we knew the owner of the mother and only got him, when about 12 weeks old. Sadly he got run over, when about 2, so we then went onto dogs. Not sure what else to suggest, but she might get better as time goes on. |
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Post by madonplants on Sept 24, 2008 14:38:26 GMT 1
Just done some Googling, while having my lunch and found this site. I don't know whether it helps at all, but I was right about the kitten learning from it's mother. On the third page, it mentions Amitriptylline, for both the aggressor and victim! That was the medication that I was on, that because of a high dose, has given me the mild brain damage I have now!!  |
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Post by Sweetleaf on Sept 24, 2008 22:13:26 GMT 1
The lying down is subservient behaviour, also the behaviour of a female who wouldnt mind errr....you know. After all she doesnt know shes been done. She has, hasnt she?  Our Trouble is 13, and still a svelte little thing, the Toms still come after her, even though she is in no way fertile. She has developed a self defense strategy, and so will Poppy, Im sure. |
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Post by chickadeedeedee on Sept 25, 2008 3:12:34 GMT 1
Oh dear! Poor Poppy!
She rather be submissive than stand up for herself. That's her nature. The neighbourhood kitties take advantage of it. I doubt this little story would help Poppy but one of our kitties is submissive. She is at the bottom of the kitty ranks but ......
Her best friend is the German Shepherd. If any of the other cats pose a threat to her ... Rani will stand between her friend and the other cat. The other kitty ALWAYS backs down. There is no growling or vocalization but apparently the message is clear! Don't mess with my friend!
Maybe Poppy needs a friend / body guard too?
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Post by bogmyrtle on Sept 25, 2008 8:29:46 GMT 1
Sweetleaf, I hadn't thought of that but yes she has been done. She was sat at the front this morning when I left staring intently at the neighbour's house!
Chickadeedeedee - funny that, I suggested a doggy pal for her last night to hubby! There is a huge tabby who appears sometimes and I've told her to befriend him!
I've just mentioned on the bb, this morning she was sat on the bedside table and through the darkness I could see she had my watch in her mouth! Last week I took my engagement ring off and she started to make off with that!
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Post by bogmyrtle on Sept 25, 2008 8:56:46 GMT 1
Oh dear! Poor Poppy! She rather be submissive than stand up for herself. That's her nature. The neighbourhood kitties take advantage of it. I doubt this little story would help Poppy but one of our kitties is submissive. She is at the bottom of the kitty ranks but ...... Her best friend is the German Shepherd. If any of the other cats pose a threat to her ... Rani will stand between her friend and the other cat. The other kitty ALWAYS backs down. There is no growling or vocalization but apparently the message is clear! Don't mess with my friend! Maybe Poppy needs a friend / body guard too? My thoughts exactly C3D.  I did mention another cat as well as a dog to hubby.............. The witch, we would love to have a couple of dogs but won't at the moment because they would be on their own too long with us both working. If hubby was back doing shifts, it wouldn't be as bad but at the moment he does Mon-Fri 07.00 - 15.30hrs - can't have it all ways can we? |
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Post by maggyd on Sept 25, 2008 17:01:45 GMT 1
I dont know much about cats BM as Ive never had one but I would keep her in untill she is bigger and more able to fend for herself! she sounds a bit like my little monkey he still takes things belonging to me and races off with them its the chase they like Im sure. |
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Post by emseypop on Sept 25, 2008 18:14:07 GMT 1
My socks is a very timid cat, she never lets the kids get anywhere near her, she just keeps out of thier way all together, she is even weary of Sean and i really, she sleeps on the end of our bed and always has one eye open. I dont think other cats get the chance to bully her. She was fine with her brother Ziggy but when they were about 18 months we took another cat in and he bullied her rotten, made her life hell, so he went to live with Petal after a couple of months. Now the Kitten tries to 'play' with Socks but I do discourage it as sock is intimidated by Minni already! I want Sock to feel safe and happy in her own home, which I'm sure you do too Myrtle, but if she's not the type to fight back, she prolly never will bless her, they who she is, you and OH will ave to take it upon yourselves to guard her and she'll become better at avoiding certain situations, at least your neighbors don't mind thier cats being squirted! |
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Post by 4pygmies on Sept 25, 2008 22:02:40 GMT 1
You need a MASSIVE waterproof picture of a menacing lion (or similar) in your garden, Myrtle! Get Poppy used to it in the house and then put it in the garden whenever she's out there....with accompanying growling taped soundtrack too! The maurauders will think she's got a protector and Poppy will feel safer........that's the theory anyway.......OOO, better yet - hide somewhere and shoot them with a water pistol whenever they start on Poppy for a few days and they'll come to associate the picture with getting soaked and will leave poor Poppy alone..........just a little thought...... I wonder if it would work?  |
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Post by madonplants on Sept 25, 2008 22:21:33 GMT 1
When we were out tonight with the dog, was pondering this thread. What sort of things do you do to play with Poppy? I know getting a cat to fight something on a string, chase it etc. is designed to help them catch their prey, but was wondering if more of this type of play would build more confidence into her. Make sure she catches it sometimes, as a reward.
If you know this, forget I mentioned it.
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Post by Sleepy on Sept 25, 2008 22:42:37 GMT 1
When we were out tonight with the dog, was pondering this thread. What sort of things do you do to play with Poppy? I know getting a cat to fight something on a string, chase it etc. is designed to help them catch their prey, but was wondering if more of this type of play would build more confidence into her. Make sure she catches it sometimes, as a reward. If you know this, forget I mentioned it. I agree, a cat can learn to fight. You will have a scratched hand, but it is worth it. A little playful rough and tumble will help her I am sure. |
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Post by madonplants on Sept 25, 2008 22:51:24 GMT 1
When we were out tonight with the dog, was pondering this thread. What sort of things do you do to play with Poppy? I know getting a cat to fight something on a string, chase it etc. is designed to help them catch their prey, but was wondering if more of this type of play would build more confidence into her. Make sure she catches it sometimes, as a reward. If you know this, forget I mentioned it. I agree, a cat can learn to fight. You will have a scratched hand, but it is worth it. A little playful rough and tumble will help her I am sure. Tell me about it. When I had my first, Fluff was a semi wild cat living on the farm, so I had the honour of taming, sorry training her!  I got the odd comment from the teachers at school asking me if everything was OK at home. |
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Post by bogmyrtle on Sept 26, 2008 8:39:09 GMT 1
You need a MASSIVE waterproof picture of a menacing lion (or similar) in your garden, Myrtle! Get Poppy used to it in the house and then put it in the garden whenever she's out there....with accompanying growling taped soundtrack too! The maurauders will think she's got a protector and Poppy will feel safer........that's the theory anyway.......OOO, better yet - hide somewhere and shoot them with a water pistol whenever they start on Poppy for a few days and they'll come to associate the picture with getting soaked and will leave poor Poppy alone..........just a little thought...... I wonder if it would work? ;D Would a picture of hubby with the water pistol do? They only have to hear the door handle start to go and they run! Keith and Sleepy, we do play with her like that and we always seem to have scratched hands, perhaps it is just perseverance on our parts? She is quite rough with me - she ran after me biting my ankles last week! And this morning, hubby didn't put his slippers on and she was attacking his feet! Perhaps that's a start. Thanks for the suggestions. |
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Post by chickadeedeedee on Sept 26, 2008 12:44:01 GMT 1
WARNING! Don't mess with Poppy!If all else fails ... we have back-up.
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Post by madonplants on Sept 26, 2008 14:20:18 GMT 1
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Post by debbiem on Sept 27, 2008 13:38:13 GMT 1
WARNING! Don't mess with Poppy! If all else fails ... we have back-up. Wonderful C3D! ;D |
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Sept 27, 2008 21:00:17 GMT 1
Our Priya is a timid puss as well....she's smaller than your average cat, a mean hunter, but prone to being bullied by the Tom cats that live around here (all HYOODGE)
We keep the cat flap open all day...but bring her in at night and lock the cat flap....the bigger cats were sneaking into the kitchen at night and scoffing all her food.
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Post by floweringcherry on Sept 27, 2008 21:55:34 GMT 1
WARNING! Don't mess with Poppy! If all else fails ... we have back-up. That's great C3D  ------------On a serious note I really hope you come up with a solution. |
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Post by chickadeedeedee on Sept 28, 2008 1:44:52 GMT 1
Kitty sniper was trained by the United States Marines. (apparently) The photo was sent to me by a Marine!
Hope Poppy stays safe.
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I got the odd comment from the teachers at school asking me if everything was OK at home.