The boy has become a major hellion when it comes to harassing Willow! When he's good he's very very good. He will play with his toy mouse for the longest time and is perfectly content...but when he gets it in his mind that Willow is his play toy he is a persistent little bugger! He chases and wrestles with her endlessly and after a while she gets very annoyed and puts him in his place. Willow definitely has the upper paw...I just took notice of her holding him down with one paw sitting there looking around as if to say "will someone do something about this pesky little brat?" Does he learn? No! He keeps coming back for more punishment! The maternal instinct in her is not coming out at all...yet. When he tries to cuddle she just growls and hisses. The biggest problem now, aside from his persistence at bugging her, is he will not let her go to the litter box without harassing her and I've caught him a few times crouched outside as she sits there and growls at him wihle trying to go potty. Am I going to have to figure out a way to move her litter box to a place he can't get to? Pray tell how I'm going to do that? I know there is debate over whether cats have long term memory but I can't help but wonder if she has memory of the times Gizmo cornered her in the litter box...that happened quite a few times. I think a water bottle is definitely in the works!!
Other than that things are going well. Willow is not getting on my lap as much but she has done it a few times. She still loves cuddling with me at night too. She will not give up her warm spot next to the heat vent either! As you can see, I'm still championing Willow...because she will always be my girl (ala Forrest Gump)
Oh...Chunk LOVES catnip! I've never seen a kitten so young get so into catnip...we've taken to calling him a stoner
Tina B and "what a crew!"
How we behave towards cats here below determines our status in heaven ~Robert A. Heinlein
Yeah, I went with this with my girls. Eventually Izzy just decided to go with it and wrestle, but when she doesn't want to and Emmy does, there's some growling going on.
If it's obvious that Emmy has way more energy than Izzy does, I'll put Iz in my room, open the window, and close the door to give her a break, then come out with the laser pointer and tire Emmy out for a half hour or so. That's usually enough to get Emmy off Izzy's back and let Iz have some of her sanity back. She NEVER protests about being shut in the room, either... haha. She'll just hop up in the window and flop over like, "Oh thank God, finally..."
Mine did the litterbox thing too for a while. Squirt bottle for sure.
While this might not work for you, I do have a trick I've used with my cats during introduction stages. Particularly when the resident cat growls at the new addition.
Granted, the resident cat is entitled to growling and hissing and letting the newcomer know who's boss. However, I find when I teach the resident cat to calm down and "be nice", the introduction goes much smoother and faster and acceptance occurs sooner. I do this when the growling and hissing persist past 2 weeks. I feel the sooner they can accept each other, the better.
I simply sit next to the resident cat (with the newcomer in my lap or on the other side of my lap, keeping them close but not in biting or scratching distance), talk smoothly, and each time a growl is emitted, I look them in the eye, put a finger lightly on the forehead and simply and gently say "be nice". If the cat stops growling, I say "good (name)", then give extra petting. The finger on the forehead is not a tap, it is not pressure, it is simply there to remind them I am supervising. If the cat is overly agitated, I don't push it, but try again later. I find that the newcomer is almost always curious, stays stationary, watches the resident cat, and watches me. Eventually, and with persistence, both cats tend to be better adjusted and the resident cat is not so put-off by the newcomer's advances.
Of course, the normal routine on a daily basis also includes one-on-one attention and group playtime.
As for the ambushing near the litterbox, you'll have to be creative and nip this in the bud ASAP. Provide another box in another location, or use the squirt bottle consistently. Or, divert Chunk's attention to somethng else. Consistency is the key.
I truly believe cats have long-term memories. So, she very well could be remembering her prior experiences, which is why you have to accomodate and try to find the solution right away.
I guess my question about the litter box issue is HOW do I nip it in the bud when I can't be here 24/7? Should I keep them separate when not at home? There IS a second litterbox located well away from the original one for him...but when he hears her scratching in the litter it attracts him and he's there in a heartbeat. If I'm here I will distract him with a toy and that usually works, but what if I'm not here? What then? Willow's reaction indicates to me that she does remember the trauma she suffered at the paws (and teeth) of Gizmo. I also wonder if that is why she hasn't warmed up to Chunk as I had hoped she would.
As far as the growling goes, I will try your suggestion. Although Willow isn't growling or hissing a lot at this point. I've not seen her do it when they are play wrestling, although her ears are turned sideways (never flat back though) and she doesn't appear to be completely enjoying the "play" but she isn't growling or hissing. She mainly does this when she's in the litterbox or when she's trying to sleep or take it easy and doesn't want to be bothered. Once I hear her growl I'll usually distract him and tell Willow to be nice, especially if I see he's just trying to cuddle. It's hard to tell her to be nice when he's persistently annoying the hell out of her while she is just trying to take it easy, but I'll try.
That said, they are sleeping on the bed together right now. Chunk tried to nuzzle up to Willow earlier and she kind of did a little growl/swat at him. I really guess I was wrong at how she would react
Tina B and "what a crew!"
How we behave towards cats here below determines our status in heaven ~Robert A. Heinlein
Tough question. You have to make it very clear and meaningful each time you catch him ambushing Willow at the box.
When you see him going toward the box if Willow is already using it, either scoop him up (or block his path directly), and say "NO", then herd him to another area. Make sure he learns the meaning of NO and what is associated with it. The thing is, you don't want him associating your rule with NOT using the litterbox and thus, confusing him. Make sure he knows HIS litterbox is definately for HIS use.
Another option is placing the box in a more open area so Willow can easily escape if she feels intimidated.
And yet, there is a chance Willow will learn Chunk is not really a threat and will get over the growling and simply resume her litterbox duty.
As long as you make the environment friendly, create harmony in all other of their routines and activity, teach Chunk not to terrorize Willow at those times you feel she is terrorized, this soon shall pass. He's most likely testing her, to see what he can get away with.
He's beginning to learn what NO means, but he doesn't always listen. I can see him slightly hesitate when I tell him but then he does it anyway
Willow really is doing her best to teach him her limits and I'm doing what I can to intervene when it gets too out of hand. And today when I thought she had about reached her tolerance for the day what I do find her doing? Giving him a bath, just like a good mama...holding him down and licking his face clean
Tina B and "what a crew!"
How we behave towards cats here below determines our status in heaven ~Robert A. Heinlein
