Shock Collar for Attack Kitten?!

Oh goodness gracious – where-oh-where did this nice lady Christine ever get the idea that there was a shock collar you could use on a cat? Or that cats – who can only be taught with positive reinforcement techniques – could have inter-cat problems managed with a punishment tool? (I guess that’s what I’m here for!) Spirit Essences to the rescue!

Sorry, I didn’t see this in your other already answered questions. We’ve having trouble introducing a new kitten that we found on the road to my dad’s older cat, 12-ish. The kitten is now 3-1/2 months old. He’s trying to dominate her now. He chases after her when she walks away. He actually gets up on her back. For all her growling, hissing, and swatting, he still doesn’t leave her alone. We just had him neutered. She would be fine if he wouldn’t chase after her. When I brought my cat over for Christmas, he’s 16, and the kitten didn’t mess with him much because my cat wouldn’t run from him. He stood his ground and established his dominance. Any ideas? This is so unfair to the other cat that’s lived there for years. It feels like we’re taking years off of her life but we just can’t give up the kitten. We just want them to get along, even to the point that they just ignore each other and go their separate ways. Are we just out of luck until the kitten grows up? What about using some kind of shock collar? Thank you for any suggestions and for your time!

–Christine

Oh dearie me – please never say “shock collar” and “cat” in the same sentence! There is no such piece of equipment for cats, but even if there were, all you would do is escalate the issue by giving an unpleasant unforeseen stimulus to a cat already in pounce-mode, because the cat would redirect his aggression to the nearest creature, which would be the very cat you’re trying to protect! There are some basics about introductions and relationships between cats that THE CAT BIBLE explains and I really think it would change your whole perspective if you could get your hands on a copy (if you do, send me your mailing address and I’ll send an autographed bookplate inscribed to the Attack Kitten to put in it!) The fact that you just neutered the kitten is a big tip-off that his anti-social behavior was probably inspired by hormones – which might explain why he didn’t mess with an older male cat. In any case, the thing I would tell you to do immediately – if not sooner – is go to the Spirit Essences page on my website (www.TheCatBible.com) and choose two of the essences which best describe the kitten’s behavior. My suggestion would be to get “Bully Remedy” as the baseline one to put in his meals, and then “Safe Space” to diffuse his territorial domineering behavior to rub on his ears, paw pads, and spray on the cat tree or wherever he hangs out most of the time. Read some other BLOGS if you need to get a better idea of what these Bach flower remedy based solutions can do to change the kitten’s emotional state. You might want to get a third essence – for example “Self Esteem” for the older cat who had allowed herself to be bullied. Then promise me you’ll get in touch a week or two after you start the essences and tell me if you’ve gotten as incredible results as I have with my dogs.

Tracie