Problems With Our Cats Getting On

Question
Hi There

Two years ago we bought 2 Bengal cats, one Male (Chocolate) and one Female (Snowflake), they were extremely close and together all the time, and practically always in our house with us. The Male is very large, and has been Neutered, the Female is quite small and got pregnant before we had her spayed. She has had the litter and now been spayed. We decided to keep 2 of the kittens from the litter and they are now 14 months old.

Chocolate and Snowflake do not get on at all well any more, it has got gradually worse since the kittens were born, and has now got to the point where he wont come in the house unless we are there, and even then only stays for some food and a quick cuddle before he's on his way again, I have been worried about where he has been staying, and I went looking for him last night to find that he has been sleeping in our hay shed,(we have goats too). If I try to bring him into the house and try to get him to settle down he growls at me, and whenever he is eating he is on guard, and hisses at the other cats when he sees them, initially he was fine with the kittens and in the garden he play fights with them and they get on well, but just not in the house.

With Autumn coming, I really want him back in the house at night, and I was wondering if there was anything i could do, I have heard of a relaxing hormone spray, but I was unsure what to do.

Any help you could give me would be great

Thanks

Craig

Answer
Hello Craig,

You're right, using something like Feliway would help him be calmer about things.  It also comes in a plug-in, which is good for larger areas, and a more constant emition.  Either form should be perfectly fine in your situation.

Let me ask you...what are Chocolate and Snowflake's ages?  If Chocolate is over the age of, say, five, it might be something as simple as the kittens being irritating enough for him that he'd rather be alone.  If he's under the age of five, I would say that a re-introduction would be in order for the situation.

Here's my recommendation, in addition to the Feliway (or similiar product):

I would set up a space that Chocolate can go into where he can be alone, and have it contain all his necessitites (food, water, litterbox, etc.).  Try to make it a space that has somewhere he can hide (like under a bed or in a closet), and see if you can have it be your bedroom.  I would even suggest possibly shutting the door at night, so he can be in there alone, without any disturbances, through the night.

Having him have his own space ought to really help the situation.  Also, you might try changing things so he cannot go outdoors, as I cannot guarantee that he will choose his new space over the outdoors as an escape from the kittens.

There is definitely something about the kittens' presence that bothers him, and if he's a bit older (like I said, over 5yrs), it's most likely that their exhuberance irritates him.  You don't have to rehome the kittens, just try changing things so they stay indoors (possibly), and set him up with his own space (with the Feliway sprayed throughout the space), and let me know how things go, ok?

If things don't progress nicely, write me again, and we'll see what else we can do, ok?  :o)

Hugs to you all!

Rosie*