Territorial cat

sparklysaver

Hello all, am looking for a bit of advice......

I got a cat from a shelter about 4 months ago, I'd wanted to get one for ages but couldn't because I worked away so much. She's my first cat so I'm a bit like a nervous new mum, always fussing over her!

She's young, probably about a year old, and had been living wild before the shelter took her, although she's used to people & litter trained etc, so she's not been feral from birth. In the house, she's not happy to be picked up but otherwise she's really affectionate, playful and generally brilliant. :j

Outside, however, she's MASSIVELY aggressive to all other cats, and there are quite a lot of cats around. I know that cats are naturally territorial, and part of the reason I got her was that I'm the only one in the street without a cat so my garden was pretty much the local litter tray, but she's so much more aggressive than I'd expected. She's tiny - less than 2kg - but she's forever chasing big old cats into their own gardens and trying to fight them. I think she thinks she's a tiger! It's sort of funny, but also a bit worrying because she's bound to get into bother sooner rather than later, and it's also a bit embarrasing when you're standing speaking to your neighbour & your cute little butter-wouldn't-melt kitty starts growling and attacking her elderly arthritic cat right in front of you.

Is this normal? I'd like to think this is just a phase and she'll soon settle down, but honestly I think she might be getting worse!

Thanks for any advice.

vl2588

I am inclined to say it is natural and there isn't much you can do, however, others may disagree. Cats are territorial and it is fairly stressful for them as a species to live in such close quarters. Perhaps the other cats will learn to give her her space and then she won't have to chase them off, but cats don't have a hierarchy like dogs so it will be harder. If they don't come to actual blows then I wouldn't worry too much!

I wonder if in time it will become better as their smells disappear from your garden where they have previously been using it as a litter tray.

spike7451

Congrats on getting a Purrball! Cant offer any advice per se but apart from the are some good reading below;

http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk

http://www.catchat.org/forum.html

sparklysaver

There certainly haven't been many instances of cat poo in the flower beds in the last few weeks, so hopefully that means the other cats are keeping clear.

I wouldn't be so bothered if she wasn't heading off out of my garden into the alleyway at the back and seeking out other cats to hiss at! Little reprobate....

Thanks for your reassurance.

sparklysaver

Oooh, further reading...... there goes my evening, thank you!

vl2588

Lol I'm sure she will calm down just by virtue of getting used to her new life and home!

rising_from_the_ashes

Congratulations on your new addition! It's great being owned by cat(s)!

She may well settle down given time, there's lots of new smells around (esp if other cats have been "frequenting" the garden) and she'll be learning the boundaries/rules/letting the others know she's not to be messed with.

My big lad is dominent and is fine if he meets other cats in neutral territory but will defend should they be stupid enough to come in his garden. My wee girl tho' .... she hates other cats and will go absolutely nuts if she sees one (anywhere).

Can I ask what colour she is? (this may seem silly but, for example, torties (like mine) are known to be a bit on the fiesty side!)

vl2588

I always think it's long haired cats who are feisty as well!

sparklysaver

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Congratulations on your new addition! It's great being owned by cat(s)!

She may well settle down given time, there's lots of new smells around (esp if other cats have been "frequenting" the garden) and she'll be learning the boundaries/rules/letting the others know she's not to be messed with.

My big lad is dominent and is fine if he meets other cats in neutral territory but will defend should they be stupid enough to come in his garden. My wee girl tho' .... she hates other cats and will go absolutely nuts if she sees one (anywhere).

Can I ask what colour she is? (this may seem silly but, for example, torties (like mine) are known to be a bit on the fiesty side!)

Yup, she's a tortie too (short haired though)..... didn't know that about them but, having just watched her chase the big lad from next door across 4 sets of garage roofs, I'm not surprised to hear it! :rotfl:

Thanks for all your input everyone. She's quite happy snoozing on my lap right now, looking like a little angel. Very deceptive! :A

rising_from_the_ashes

sparklysaver wrote: »

Yup, she's a tortie too

:rotfl:That explains a fair bit!

sparklysaver wrote: »

She's quite happy snoozing on my lap right now, looking like a little angel. Very deceptive! :A

I call mine the schizophrenic cat:rotfl:She's an angel too (butter wouldn't melt, a total lap cat who adores being cuddled) but .... omg when something upsets her ...... (stay out the way)

Fridaycat

Well done on getting yourself a new fur ball! And it's great that you got one from a local rescue.

Cats are territorial, and up to the point where you got yours, the other cats in the neighbourhood obviously saw your garden as part of their territory. That is now different with the new girl in town, and it sounds like they are now cottoning on to that fact!

So I am sure that things will settle - your cat may always be aggressive towards others, that is just feline nature, but the instances of her needing to use that aggression will reduce as the other cats realise that your back garden is no longer a safe place to be