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feline social behavior
Nov. 6th, 2007 11:05 amAn interesting dinner experience with the cats last night.
I don't feed Luna and Jupiter canned food every day; they get it a couple of times a week. Last night, though, I decided to try and get Penelope's interest by opening a can. Adam said that if I did that, I'd have to give gooshyfood to all three. So I scooped gooshyfood onto three plates and placed the plates strategically on the kitchen floor. Penelope's was in the middle.
Luna, being an alpha, immediately dug in to her plate. This is what Adam has suggested: Jupiter, being a subordinate beta, would have normally waited until Luna began eating before tucking into his own meal. However, he has been showing subordination and submission to Penelope since she arrived. Therefore, in his mind she is above him and he cannot eat socially until she does. However, Penelope didn't want to eat. Adam and I kept gently guiding her to her plate and she kept trying to run away. Eating can be an interesting social occasion if there are two or more cats in a house. But when one of the alphas refuses to eat, the beta won't eat either. It was a sight: Jupiter sitting perfectly still in front of his plate, paws lined up prettily, watching Penelope and occasionally glancing at his own food. Finally, when Penelope ran back into the living room, Jupiter decided he could eat. Luna had already left by this time.
I've suggested that for now, we just leave Penelope alone. She's still scared, confused, uncertain. She jumps onto our bed and cries and cries at the window, thinking it is a Way Out. She cries and cries and cries. She growls and hisses at the other two, but seems to accept their presence. She lets us hold her. Neither of us has dealt with a cat like her before. It's fascinating. Over time, I think, she will get used to being an indoor cat, with two cat companions who acknowledge her as an alpha.
I think what melts my heart is Jupiter's gentle attempts to engage Penelope. He will trill, chirp, chatter, purr, and make otherwise inquisitive, soothing noises, while she will hiss and snarl in fear. They're around the same age. I think the age proximity might help.
Maybe I'm wrong about all of this. I've never seen alpha and beta behavior in cats, but this is very clear. Jupiter seems to see the females as higher up than him socially.
The vet was right. We need to wait to get her spayed. She is under enough stress without surgery and recovery. I don't want her to get so overstressed that she starts developing health problems. Normally I would have wanted her spayed along with her initial vaccinations, but when the vet said it would be best to bring her back in a month for the second distemper shot, and get her fixed then, it sounded best. The poor thing. At least she eats the Castor & Pollux dry food. She doesn't seem at all interested in treats. But she loves catnip mice.
I don't know what to think. It's only been four days, I know. But I wish I knew how to help her feel more comfortable, secure, safe.
I don't feed Luna and Jupiter canned food every day; they get it a couple of times a week. Last night, though, I decided to try and get Penelope's interest by opening a can. Adam said that if I did that, I'd have to give gooshyfood to all three. So I scooped gooshyfood onto three plates and placed the plates strategically on the kitchen floor. Penelope's was in the middle.
Luna, being an alpha, immediately dug in to her plate. This is what Adam has suggested: Jupiter, being a subordinate beta, would have normally waited until Luna began eating before tucking into his own meal. However, he has been showing subordination and submission to Penelope since she arrived. Therefore, in his mind she is above him and he cannot eat socially until she does. However, Penelope didn't want to eat. Adam and I kept gently guiding her to her plate and she kept trying to run away. Eating can be an interesting social occasion if there are two or more cats in a house. But when one of the alphas refuses to eat, the beta won't eat either. It was a sight: Jupiter sitting perfectly still in front of his plate, paws lined up prettily, watching Penelope and occasionally glancing at his own food. Finally, when Penelope ran back into the living room, Jupiter decided he could eat. Luna had already left by this time.
I've suggested that for now, we just leave Penelope alone. She's still scared, confused, uncertain. She jumps onto our bed and cries and cries at the window, thinking it is a Way Out. She cries and cries and cries. She growls and hisses at the other two, but seems to accept their presence. She lets us hold her. Neither of us has dealt with a cat like her before. It's fascinating. Over time, I think, she will get used to being an indoor cat, with two cat companions who acknowledge her as an alpha.
I think what melts my heart is Jupiter's gentle attempts to engage Penelope. He will trill, chirp, chatter, purr, and make otherwise inquisitive, soothing noises, while she will hiss and snarl in fear. They're around the same age. I think the age proximity might help.
Maybe I'm wrong about all of this. I've never seen alpha and beta behavior in cats, but this is very clear. Jupiter seems to see the females as higher up than him socially.
The vet was right. We need to wait to get her spayed. She is under enough stress without surgery and recovery. I don't want her to get so overstressed that she starts developing health problems. Normally I would have wanted her spayed along with her initial vaccinations, but when the vet said it would be best to bring her back in a month for the second distemper shot, and get her fixed then, it sounded best. The poor thing. At least she eats the Castor & Pollux dry food. She doesn't seem at all interested in treats. But she loves catnip mice.
I don't know what to think. It's only been four days, I know. But I wish I knew how to help her feel more comfortable, secure, safe.
