by Pam Hilts

Created on: June 29, 2009   Last Updated: June 30, 2009

When Felix Hates Fluffy, What Do You Do?

Perhaps you brought a new friend home for Fluffy and everything didn't go as you planned? Was it hate at first sight? Or have Fluffy and Felix been living in relative harmony and all of a sudden decided that there was only room for one cat in the house?

The first step might be to let them fight it out and see if they don't eventually come to a mutual understanding. But if that does not seem to be working, fur is flying and someone is going to get hurt ... what do you do?

In human psychology, phobias are often treated with a program of systematic desensitization. It falls under the general heading of behavior modification. And, indeed, we certainly want to modify Felix and Fluffy's behavior. You may even hear it referred to as counter-conditioning. This technique can be used to change other forms of feline behavior. Karen Sueda, DVM points out that, "the goal is to replace an unwanted emotional reaction - such as fear, anxiety or aggressive arousal - with a more relaxed, comfortable reaction".

*Separate the cats into two separate areas of the house.

*Try to eliminate their awareness of the other even if you have to put rags up against the door so they cannot smell one another.

*Keep them in isolation for a week or two.

*Now slowly begin a reintroduction process.

*Start by placing them in separate rooms where they can sniff under the door and detect the others presence.

*The next move is to put down a tempting morsel in front of each cat. Something they really want - tuna, special canned cat food, or whatever their heart's desire. Leave a large open area between the two treats.

*Now open the doors. If they show any signs of aggression, hissing, raised hackles, etc, shut the door and take away the food.

*Repeat the process but move the food back further in each room and try again.

*When you have zeroed in on the amount of space each cat requires in order to remain calm and eat their treat begin to create less distance between the two animals. Keep bringing the food in closer and closer until they are tolerating each other while being near each other.

*After a few weeks hopefully they can eat their treats without feeling the need to intimidate the other. If this is the case then try brief face-to-face encounters.

* Very slowly, lengthen their time spent together.

*At the first sign of aggression, separate them and back up a step or two and then move forward from that point.

This may take some time, no, a lot of time, but with persistence, peace should eventually reign supreme.

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