mean house cat

[April west]

I have three cats, one cats terrorizes the timid one while I'm not home. The timid one is becoming more and more withdrawn. The third cat is indifferent. I'm seriously considering getting rid of the mean cat, but no one would want this adult cat when there are so many to be adopted. I'm considering a cat santuary where he could run free or at my very last choice putting him down? Any suggestions?

[tomd]

Take it out into the moors and leave it.

[FP]

Please ignore the stupid and juvenile response of tomD! Probably the mean cat needs to be an outdoor cat. He may need to be an 'only' cat. Is he OK with you or is he generally aggressive. There could be all sorts of reasons why he is acting like he is with your timid mog. Personally, I would have a word with a local rescue centre, and your local vet to see if they can suggest anyone looking for an adult cat, either as a farm cat or with no other pets. Many vets will let you put an add in their waiting rooms. If you get no luck with this then you will probably have to consider putting him in a cat sanctuary. Personally, I would only consider putting him down as a final option. I can understand why he probably has to go because he is making your timid cats life unbearable, but somewhere there must be a home for Mr Meany! Good luck.

[Yinzer]

Lay him in a basket and float him down the river. Moses seemed to have good luck with that.

[natalie_1982]

Can't you put the mean one outside when you're not at home? And how on earth do you know what they do when you're not there?

[FP]

I assumed, Natalie, as April said they were house cats that her home environment wasn't suitable to leave the cat outside, e.g. top flat! Of course, if the cat is able to go outside I would agree Natalie that what you say is probably the best option all round.

[partyqueen]

Sounds to me like a classic case of dominance. You haven't said what sex the problem cat is, if it's a tom (a male with his bits still intact) then i would suggest neuturing before anything else

[partyqueen]

sorry, i've just noticed that you have said its male, so what i should have put is, is he neuteured?

[zgma]

I also have a mean cat and a timid cat, and the mean one, Zibet, terrorizes the timid one, Fipple, whenever she is hungry (which is most of the time) or just feeling like picking a fight. Fipple has gotten pretty good at finding cozy hiding places that Zibet is too fat to find. I really think that this is happening because Zibet would honestly rather be an only cat... she's very nice to me (mean to my husband, who is mean to her back), and really thrives when she's curled up on my lap with no other cat/dog/human to distract her. We're not planning on getting rid of either cat, since Fipple can find ways to escape when she needs to, but if we did, I think Zibet would be just fine as an only cat. Do you think your mean cat would be happier as someone's only pet? Maybe you can ask around and find someone who wants one? I don't think you should necessarily assume no one would want him just because he picks on another cat.

[zgma]

Another note - when we had a baby, we were very wary of Zibet around the baby, thinking that because she picks on the other cat and my husband, she would pick on the baby. Not so. She is as gentle as can be with my toddler who likes to poke and prod her (until we stop him, of course!). That's just to say that a cat who's vicious to someone isn't necessarily vicious to everyone.

[MichaelCee]

April, Put the mean cat in a crate while you are not there. When you are home, correct the behavior- scold her - cats know whats going on. Female cats have a hierarchy. The mean cat is establishing herself as the alpha.