Cat politics experts: I've got 3 against one

[supernova]

I'm not sure what to make of this.

I have four cats:

Nancy
Sid
(Brother and Sister ~ 9 months)

Constance
Penelope
(Sisters, ~ 5 months old)

Mostly they all get along... no big fights or anything. But I sense that Constance is being ostracized. :wtf:

They all like to spent time on the sun porch. They can soak up the sun and enjoy the birds in the yard, plus the occasional deer. But just now, I went out there and while trying to pet Constance, Nancy (Miss Queen Bee!) wanted to get between me and prevent me from petting Constance. She scratched and bit at me, not seriously, but enough to let me know she was serious.

:wtf: is this about? Anybody know?


edit: I should say that Sid has shown no interest in her either. I was in bed this am and Constance went over to groom him. He physically pulled away from her. I don't know what to do. Constance is a perfectly pretty and agreeable little black cat with almond eyes.

[Bertha Venation]

1. It just happens in multi-cat families

and there's really nothing you can do about it. My guess is that Nancy is very jealous of Constance. (I have a cat like that - every time I pet Harry, Petey has to horn in on it.) As for Sid's behavior, no clue.

There's just nothing you can do. Keep on giving Constance lots of love. I'm sure she knows she is loved. :)

[supernova]

2. She's such a little sweetie

She has the meow of a much smaller kitten. :loveya:

I just feel sad for her. I try, TRY to give them all special attention during the day. But maybe they think I don't.

[Bertha Venation]

10. They're fine wiht the attention and affection you give.

It's always like a bonus to a cat. They have such short memories; they don't remember the last time you petted them. So when you do, they're always like, "Score!"

[Roon]

3. I can't tell you..

without pictures. :-)

[supernova]

4. I'll do my best

They all zing around here at lightening speed all day. :P :rofl:

[Roon]

5. awww, don't knock yourself out

If you had them already hosted, that would have been cool. In the meantime,try and get some pictures for our next kitty thread! :-)

[Demoiselle]

6. Cat politics! I've got six indoor cats and no clue.

But I'll bet that alliances will shift over the course of time. And you don't mention what Penelope's role in this is. Are she and Constance friends?

[libodem]

7. Kitty pecking order

Must be on the lowest rung of the hierarchy. Poor kitty. Cats like to pair up either with a hooman or another cat. My black kitty is paired up with me and the other two hate her for it. Bob and Ralph stay out of my room and live in my son's room with him. They love to try and get in here to fight it up with Toonsie.

Did I mention that she seems to have gone blind in this last year? She's twenty and knows her way around the room well enough that I hardly noticed that she can't see any more.

The boy took her into his room and she couldn't find her way back to mine. Usually a 20 second dash. Kept running into walls and such on the way. Poor baby. I have my fears that this signals the peak of the decline.

Love up your little black kitty for me.

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. I have _two_ and there is a boss. LOL Pickles is much smaller than

her littermate Pretz, but when push comes to shove like at feeding time she is the boss. Perhaps it is because she is the female??

Poor little Constance, though. Just keep paying her some attention. Play with her and whatnot, I guess?

[tonekat]

9. Sid 'n Nancy...luv it.`

Reminds me of my late Jello Biafra.

[applegrove]

11. There was a cat documentary on the TV. They showed a home

in Florida that was Hemingways. It was a museum I think. Anyway they had a cat colony there and talked about how each cat has a special friend. They showed pairs of cats grooming each other and the like. One cat had bonded with the woman who took care of all of them.

You can be that friend in Constances life.

[Catshrink]

12. I have a Ricky and a Lucy -- they hate each other.

It wasn't as noticable when I had my two older cats. Now that they're gone (:cry:) these two go at it all the time.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. Cat politics are complicated and the rules are not evident

to mere humans. My three have some sort of loose, very fluid hierarchy with no obvious boss cat, although Milo, the oldest and largest, would probably be the main contender. Jeoffry, the other boy, is less assertive and usually tends to back off rather than try to establish dominance -- except that he sometimes "humps" Milo (who finds this annoying). Pixie, the little girl, is small but fierce and pointy. She gets her way at the dinner table, and she starts fights.

Right now all three are sleeping together on the couch. I love them. :loveya:

[kimi]

14. I think it's cool that you notice and try to even the playing field

Nancy sounds like the alpha kitty but as long as Constance gets some love, she should be okay. Kittehs tend to work these things out over time. I have 8 and their affections towards each other wax and wane from day to day but they stay buds through it all, in spite of the occasional hissy fit.