Smokey the Bully and Zeus the submissive

[knolet]

Smokey the Civie is a bully, and Zeus the FD is submissive by nature. When we all first got together about 2 + years ago, Smokey wouldn't allow Zeus to receive any attention from anyone, she'd hiss and growl at him, and she didn't like him on the furniture if he was sitting beside someone. Smokey has gotten better about that, but she swats at Zeus when he walks by sometimes. But then other times they're both on the bed together peacefully. Lots of times, she'll just walk up and sniff in Zeus' direction and he immediately leaves the area.

Smokey has never been a wet food fan, I've tried all kinds. Usually she'll just lick the juice and leave the rest. Now that Zeus is strictly eating canned food, I've been trying to give Smokey some of the same canned food; she still doesn't eat much of it (from her own dish anyway). I'm also trying to feed Smokey on Zeus' schedule - 4 x/day. A couple of times recently, I've caught Smokey move Zeus away from his dish so that she can eat it.... and because he is so submissive he just sits and waits. I do feed them in different rooms, but they're free to roam throughout the house as they please. I can monitor three of the meals, but I'm worried about that second meal of the day when I'm at work. I leave frozen food out, but now I'm afraid that Smokey is not letting Zeus eat it. Zeus has been really hungry the last few days, that's probably why; plus he's not regulated yet, and I'm sure it doesn't help if Smokey is stealing his food. Zeus also needs to gain some weight.

Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

Awwww poor Zeus...Sorry I wouldnt know what to do either besides maybe just putting more food down. :/ I'm interested what others will suggest.

Good luck,
jeanne

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

When you aren't home, is to put them in separate rooms with the door closed. This way you can leave the food out for Zeus without concern that Smokey will eat it. When you get home, you can give them free run of all rooms.

If you put out several bowls in various places (far away from each other) and lots of food (maybe more than normal), this will allow Zeus a fighting chance to eat, while Smokey is engaged in another bowl and if Smokey does move to Zeus' bowl, he can walk to another area and get a few bites in before Smokey appears.

You could even challenge Smokey with food, by using some of those special bowls or toys that will take time for her to eat all the food and/or get it all out. I think Cats From Hell had a bowl that was up in the middle and the food went around the sides (kind of like what a bundt pan looks like), the intention was it would take longer for the cat to eat all the food and would have to walk around the bowl to get at it all.

 

[knolet]

My house is set up kind of weird, so locking either cat in a room doesn't really work. The living room is the main room of the house, three bedrooms, the bathroom, the basement and the kitchen all connect around it. And then there is the enclosed porch which both cats love, but have to walk through my bedroom to get to. In addition, it's an old house so the only door that really closes is the very tiny bathroom and the one to the porch or to the dirt basement (I don't allow the cats to go to the basement). So to recap, I have 7 doorways and 2 windows in my living room, but only 2 doors really close all the way, LOL.

I guess I will have to leave more bowls of food out in different rooms. I do worry about them gaining too much though. Smokey is a few ounces short of her ideal weight. Zeus has a pound or 1 & 1/2 pounds to gain.

You could even challenge Smokey with food, by using some of those special bowls or toys that will take time for her to eat all the food and/or get it all out. I think Cats From Hell had a bowl that was up in the middle and the food went around the sides (kind of like what a bundt pan looks like), the intention was it would take longer for the cat to eat all the food and would have to walk around the bowl to get at it all.

I like that show - Cats from Hell :smile: I saw a bowl similar to the one that you mentioned in the pet store. It had 3 raised blocks around the inside of the bowl. You know, Smokey would probably love that. I have a plastic treat ball that has holes in it, and I used to put Smokey's dry food in that. She would prefer to push the ball around to get the food instead of eating from her bowl. Too funny. Maybe I will try that - thanks for the suggestion.

 

[hmjohnston]

Or you could build a food house for Zeus. We had a topic here lately about it.

You put the food in the box and it has a locked cat door with Zeus wearing the collar that unlocks the cat door so Zeus can get his food but Smokey can't.

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

If you happened to see the latest installment of Cats from Hell, this couple had one cat Gigi then brought in a kitten. Gigi was attacking the kitten. Jackson said from feeding aspect, that the cats needed to be in separate areas but still able to see each other and Gigi needed to be fed first - the food placed in front of her first. Then after a minute the other cat could be fed.

this showed everyone the hierarchy of the house and respect for Gigi being the dominant cat.

You could try this and see if it works.

 

[knolet]

If you happened to see the latest installment of Cats from Hell, this couple had one cat Gigi then brought in a kitten. Gigi was attacking the kitten. Jackson said from feeding aspect, that the cats needed to be in separate areas but still able to see each other and Gigi needed to be fed first - the food placed in front of her first. Then after a minute the other cat could be fed.

this showed everyone the hierarchy of the house and respect for Gigi being the dominant cat.

You could try this and see if it works.

Maybe that's the problem, LOL... I used to always feed Smokey first, but she eats in the living room - always has (even before I inherited her, she was my Aunt's cat). Now, if I bring her food into the living room without putting Zeus' down first (he eats in the kitchen), he runs in front of me, swerving back and forth between my legs and meowing. Have almost stepped on him/tripped many times, so lately I put his dish down first and then I have a clear walk into the other room. I'll try to go back to the other way around and see if it helps. Lots of times I notice even after I give Smokey her bowl, she sits and watches Zeus eat instead of eating her own food.

You put the food in the box and it has a locked cat door with Zeus wearing the collar that unlocks the cat door so Zeus can get his food but Smokey can't.

That's kind of interesting... I'll have to look for it. Has anyone had any experience with this?