-
Hello, and thank you for reaching out. I’m sorry to hear about Izzy’s passing.
It seems that Tinkle has taken over the house and is dominating every space, while timid Phoebe has learned to avoid him as a coping mechanism. She must be feeling anxious, the sweetheart.
To address this situation, I recommend the following strategies:
- Ensure Tinkle is neutered if he isn’t already.
- Modify the environment to provide ample
resources for both cats, such as food, litter boxes, vertical spaces, and
hiding spots, to prevent competition and territorial behavior. - Avoid punishment since it can increase stress
and worsen the behavior of a dominant cat. Only give attention to a relaxed cat—not hissing, swatting at another cat or person, or displaying aggressive behavior. - Start behavior modification using clicker
training to minimize dominance and redirect competitive behaviors into
constructive actions. - Add more trays until Phoebe feels comfortable venturing out and using them. Moreover, place litter boxes in different parts of the house to minimize Tinkle blocking access to Phoebe’s litter tray.
- If they have outdoor access, supply two
separate entry and exit points (such as a cat flap, window, or door) to
avoid being blocked by Tinkle. - Provide daily opportunities for play and
predatory behavior to help reduce harassment or annoyance between pets. - Invest more time in building Phoebe’s
confidence through activities she enjoys, like brushing, play, catnip or Silvervine sticks and introduce clicker training.
Please keep in mind that if none of the above strategies works, you may need to consult a cat behaviorist in your area.
I hope that helps.
Melina and my clowder.
-
This reply was modified 1 month ago by Melina.