Cat Help Please?

[House Cat]

I have a very friendly little kitty named "Mouse" that lives strictly outdoors. She was a starving stray that I found outside of Starbucks about ten years ago and she has been with me ever since. She's a wild woman! She doesn't want to live indoors. I've tried. But she is social, loves the neighbors and in every other neighborhood we've lived in, she has had several kitty friends.

Well now we have a problem...

There is this long haired black cat that I have named Bellatrix Lestrange. Bellatrix has been pouncing my little Mouse everyday and eating her food. I thought I could solve the problem by giving Bellatrix a bowl of food and Mouse a bowl of food, but that didn't work. B pounced Mouse anyway and ate BOTH bowls of food. I have started feeding my girl in the garage. I thought feeding her in the garage for a couple of days would inspire B to look for food elsewhere. No, that didn't happen. She stayed on my porch, begging for food. She is getting very possessive of our porch, my cat's home.

Here's the problem... Bellatrix has been abandoned. The neighbor told me that our old neighbor on the other side of us moved and didn't take her!!

After two days, I had to feed her. I didn't know what else to do and of course, that started the fighting again.

Do you have any advice for me to stop this fighting between the cats? I'm totally fine with keeping B around if the fighting stops....

 

[missy]

Is Bellatrix a house kitty then? Does she want to come inside? I get that Mouse is an outdoor kitty and will only be happy as an outdoor kitty but it sounds like Bellatrix needs and wants a new home...is that a possibility? That would solve both problems if you can bring Bellatrix inside and adopt her or find someone who would adopt her.

And thank you for caring and doing what you can to help them both!!!

 

[OreoRosies86]

Water pheromones (drops) helped Oreo a lot. She was peeing next to the sliding glass door where apparently a cat was hanging around our trash cans at night. If the other cat was abandoned and you have the ability to trap, could you find kitty a new home?

 

[Matata]

Missy's advice is great. If Bellatrix cannot be made an indoor cat, your options are limited because you're restricted in how you can attempt a proper introduction so they both become comfortable sharing the outside in peace. And that may not be possible at all if one cat is dominant and the other is overly submissive. The risk is that the overly submissive cat will go elsewhere -- that would be Mouse. If you can't broker peace between them, be sure to create a safe space outside for Mouse to retreat to when she feels threatened.

And, if Bellatrix isn't spayed, that's the first place to start. Hormones make a girl very territorial. It could take a few weeks to a few months for the effects of hormones to disappear after spaying.

 

[House Cat]

I would bring Bellatrix inside in a heartbeat! The problem is that she runs whenever I get close to her. She will let me feed her and she will walk right across my feet to attack Mouse, but that's it.

I was hoping that I wouldn't have to put out a trap.

SOMEONE sprayed my front porch. I smelled it the other day. There is definitely a fight for territory going on here.

 

[Matata]

I would bring Bellatrix inside in a heartbeat! The problem is that she runs whenever I get close to her. She will let me feed her and she will walk right across my feet to attack Mouse, but that's it.

I was hoping that I wouldn't have to put out a trap.

SOMEONE sprayed my front porch. I smelled it the other day. There is definitely a fight for territory going on here.

If the smell singed off your eyebrows and gave you a major case of stank face, it could be that males are starting to hover -- assuming she's intact of course. Female cat urine is stinky and male urine is a gazillion times stinkier. Regardless, once your abode is sprayed, it will attract the attention of all the free-roaming cats in the neighborhood.

 

[sonnyjane]

Infuriating about her being abandoned. You can't hold her behavior against her. She's probably hungry and just doing what she feels she needs to in order to survive. I agree that Missy had great advice. What would happen if instead of feeding on the porch you open your front door and put the food across the threshold with the door remaining open (assuming you don't have indoor animals that will run away)? Would she come inside then (vs. a trap)?

 

[House Cat]

Ok, Bells has decided that she likes me. It has taken lots of singing and tentative head scritches, but finally, today, she voluntarily walked up to me while purring and asking for love. It was pure heaven to give her love!!

She runs like a bat out of hell whenever anyone else comes outside...

I'm going to start having my son give her morning feedings to see if that will build trust.

She's a sweet cat, she's just stressed. The fighting between she and Mouse has stopped. I think she's realized that she has a regular source of food.

If I can get her to trust the other members of the house, then, MAYBE I can introduce her to the dogs and make her my indoor kitty! They are very enthusiastic though. I'm afraid they will scare her to death. If I can get her to relax enough, my dad might take her. He said cuddling is a must. At this point, she wouldn't go near a stranger, let alone cuddle one.

 

[BeekeeperBetty]

Since she is used to you feeding her, what if you slowly start moving the food bowl closer to your door until you can get her inside and then shut her in? That is, if you really want to keep her. Outside is a dangerous place for cats were indoor cats and don't have street smarts.

I just don't get how people throw their cats away like this. When I was a kid we moved into a home that came with the previous owner's pregnant cat. Humans can be so cruel.

 

[asscherisme]

Since she is used to you feeding her, what if you slowly start moving the food bowl closer to your door until you can get her inside and then shut her in? That is, if you really want to keep her. Outside is a dangerous place for cats were indoor cats and don't have street smarts.

I just don't get how people throw their cats away like this. When I was a kid we moved into a home that came with the previous owner's pregnant cat. Humans can be so cruel.

I agree. Someone abandoned a pregnant cat when they moved? That's so cruel. When I got my cats, the contract said they were to remain indoor only cats because of how dangerous it is outside for cats. If you are able to make her an indoor kitty, when you are able, I would also get her checked out by a vet to make sure she is healthy and didn't pick up any parasites outside.

 

[House Cat]

Hi, yes, I would love to get her inside but she's very shy and timid at this point and I have two very enthusiastic dogs. I couldn't get her near the door with her level of fear and my dogs. Whenever she hears my dogs bark, she runs. This is still a work in progress.

 

[missy]

Housecat, I am sending you continued good wishes for Bells and Mouse. I hope somehow you can convince Bellatrix to come on in where it is safe and warm. It's gonna be challenging with dogs since she doesn't seem to be a fan. But good work getting her to trust you more.

 

[chrono]

You are a good soul; I hope B will come to view your home as her permanent home soon.