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PHAbymom: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us at Cat Hobbyist, I'm very pleased to welcome Pam Johnson-Bennett to our Ninth Annual Chat Week.

PHAbymom: Pam Johnson-Bennett is a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant and one of the most well-known experts on feline behavior. She is a clinical member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She is also on the Board of Directors as well as being the Founder and Chair of the IAABC Cat Division. She is the author of six award-winning books on cat behavior and training.

PHAbymom: Thank you so much for joining us, Pam and welcome!

PamJB: Thank you.

SimplyTorti_nr: Ok, 6 cats here, 1 is the problem child who is only picking on 1 other cat - Saki is a 3 y/o DLH from the shelter. Daisy is a 7 y/o DSH stray. Daisy started having seizures about 6 months ago. Prior to that, the girls got along - Saki now wishes Daisy nothing but ill will. Saki's also had a full vet check - healthy - put Saki away, she goes on a war path and sneaks out to whip on Daisy. Put Daisy away - Saki thinks she's won and will sneak in the room to whip on Daisy.

PamJB: There are a couple of things that might be going on. First, Saki may still be in the social maturity phase, and also Daisy's medical issues may be causing her to be unfamiliar. It's important to separate them and do a total reintroduction.

SimplyTorti_nr: Do we seperate them both from the boys?

PamJB: The aggressor must NOT be the one who has access to the premium areas of the home.

PamJB: If they get along with the boys then you can do a dual-citizenship. This separation is not a punishment so they can share time with the boys.

SimplyTorti_nr: The boys move back and forth?

PamJB: Then, reintroduce them using treats.

PamJB: Yes, move the boys back and forth.

SimplyTorti_nr: Except Squirrel would have a nervous breakdown if he wasn't in the primo areas.

PamJB: I would also use clicker training on each cat so you'll have a bargaining chip. I don't know your particular situation but however you have to work it out, you should have the victim in the prime areas.

SimplyTorti_nr: We can do that, Squirrel can just stay with Daisy.

PamJB: If you just separate the cats without giving them a reason to like each other then the process will fail. That's where positive association comes in. They should see each other for a treat - 30 seconds or so. Use clicker training to let them know the good behavior you want from them.

SimplyTorti_nr: So break out the bonito flakes and roast chicken to bribe them to get along?

PamJB: Yes. They'll see that they only get the good stuff in the presence of one another. It's important to keep them far apart though. They need to be on opposite ends of the room. Do several short sessions per day to build up their tolerance of each other.

SimplyTorti_nr: We'll give it a try - thanks.

PamJB: Good luck.

PHAbymom: Comment - Is Daisy on meds - phenobarb

SimplyTorti_nr: Potassium Bromide

SimplyTorti_nr: Phenobarbital made her liver values skyrocket.

PamJB: Whenever a cat is ill, it can change the behavior or even her scent and that's threatening to other cats.

SimplyTorti_nr: Less seizure control - maybe 1 a week now - but she's not kindling, so we'll accept it as is vs her not having a functioning liver.:

PHAbymom: Exactly what I was thinking Pam

SimplyTorti_nr: That makes sense, but I'd have figured Squirrel to have problems then also - and he doesn't.

PamJB: Cats are individual and one cat may have more of a problem with scent recognition or unfamiliar behavior.

PHAbymom: Some cats get protective when another is ill, some get aggressive.

NYC_NYIfan: I adopted Justin from the ASPCA in July 2005. He had been surrendered after 4 years by his first family, who had him declawed. He has been bitey (low overstimulation threshhold) to me, but is making lots of progress. But I am worried about some of his behavior towards Cathy. He started out mounting her and harassing her when she used the LB. But now he doesn't fight as often but he seems to go after her throat more. Cathy has been standing up for herself more lately.

PamJB: How old is Cathy?

NYC_NYIfan: Going to be 10 in July. Her health has been good lately, is due for checkup tis month. Has history of liver trouble and bladder stones. I adopted her as an adult (her first human died)

PamJB: It may be a status-related issue, especially since she's standing up more. Mounting is often a dominance display.

PamJB: Do you have two litter boxes?

NYC_NYIfan: Justin has changed another behavior

NYC_NYIfan: Yes, and they are at different parts of my studio apartment. I originally had them near each other but realized that Justin could close off both of them at once.

PamJB: Make sure you are making the most use of levels in your apartment since he may be feeling threatened.

NYC_NYIfan: After her surgery for stones, I moved the other Lb

PamJB: Also, consider putting a collar with a bell on it to give Cathy more warning of his approach.

NYC_NYIfan: Thing is when they are not fighting, they are getting along better

PamJB: You have to watch closely for the triggers. What is happening right before the attacks. Is she entering his territory, is her body language different, etc. When I work with clients, we try to pinpoint if there's a pattern to the behavior - time of day, place, and so forth.

NYC_NYIfan: My apartment is so small, I don't think they have any fulltime sections divided up

PamJB: That might be the problem in itself. They may be overlapping their turf too much. If there's any way you can increase vertical territory it might help.

NYC_NYIfan: They have vertical choices. Desks, headboard, cupboards, radiator.

PamJB: Also, as with the previous question, use clicker training. Operant conditioning is a powerful behavior modification tool and I use it often with aggression cases.

NYC_NYIfan: Can clicker training work on cats who are adopted as adults?

PamJB: Absolutely. The concept works with everyone.

NYC_NYIfan: Justin has made a lot of progress, but that is with food rewards.

PamJB: Well, you're halfway there then because you'll use food rewards with clicker training.

NYC_NYIfan: cool, g/a ... btw I hope to move to a larger (1BR apt within a few months).

PamJB: I've watched cats change the way they think through clicker training. They actually want to exhibit the behavior that will get them the positive reward.

PamJB: A move may help greatly.

NYC_NYIfan: Yes and it might also help them to move into an apartment together.

PamJB: Neutral territory.

PamJB: Good luck.

faustcorpus: I have a question related to aggression and declaws. I notice a lot of the cats I foster that have misdirected aggression issues are declawed. Have you any experience with this? And is there any way to work with calming them?

PamJB: You need to provide lots of positive stimulation to raise their confidence.

PamJB: Lots of interactive play, puzzle feeders, exploration games will help raise their level of security so they don't overreact so much. I find that many declawed cats are very reactive because they've lost their first line of defense.

faustcorpus: I do agree

PamJB: I've worked with many of them and the more you can trigger the prey-drive through activity and playtime, the less reactive they seem to be.

faustcorpus: Ok thanks... These are all rescue animals that were either strays or from actual neglact cases

faustcorpus: I tend to the the long timers that need work

PamJB: You're very kind to give them the love and attention they need.

faustcorpus: We love your books as well...

PamJB: Thank you.

NYC_NYIfan: True. ASPCA gives new adopters a handout with alternatives to declawing. Justin initially had a lot of fear behaviors which are declining.

faustcorpus: To rescue folks, you give us a lot to work with our issues

PamJB: That's wonderful that the ASPCA does that. I wish more veterinarians would do that.

fireladie: I have a cat, Diesel, who seems to have episodes of bitey behavior, and it seems to be an aggressive bitting instead of playful biting, any idea as to cause, and what can be done about it?

PamJB: Does it come out of nowhere? Does he ambush you?

fireladie: Yes, it turned from play biting, to actual agressive behavior, and Diesel is a she, if that makes any difference.

PamJB: She may be getting too stimulated during play. Make sure you aren't getting her too revved up...

fireladie: Okay, that my be it

PamJB: Hunting for a cat involves more mental work than physical work. It she gets too revved up or views the toy more as an opponent, she'll bite.

fireladie: She is a prima donna.. i think that is her biggest problem

PamJB: If she's mouthing you it might be a status related behavior.

PamJB: Just watch how you play with her and ignore her if she bites and reward her if she plays nicely.

fireladie: Okay, she seems to be getting better.. but it still is happening, I spoil her to much MOL

PamJB: Spoiling is fine...accepting bad behavior is not.

fireladie: I agree.

PHAbymom: No such thing as a spoiled cat... just a well trained human

PamJB: LOL

SimplyTorti_nr: You mentioned puzzle feeders before - are they the same idea as the ones for dogs and if so, are they any safer than the dog ones - one of the K9kids got his jaw stuck in one, I'm a wee bit cautious now.

PamJB: Puzzle feeders are a great idea. Play-n-Treat balls are great. You can even make homemade ones...

PamJB: You always have to watch how the animal reacts to the feeder before leaving him unsupervised.

PHAbymom: Jaime, your question please

PamJB: You can even just hide dry food in small containers around the house.

JaimeMarie: I have an 8 yr old DLH, and a 3 yr old DSH. Both are females and both are spayed. Until recently they lived at my mother's house with 3 other cats. Crash the 8 yr old, was fine with the other cats until Gabby the 3 yr old came into the picture (at 8 weeks old). She than started hissing at all the cats. In return they all started picking on Crash. Now it’s just Crash and Gabby. Crash still growls and hisses at Gabby. Most of the time Gabby just ignores her. Sometimes she just run up behind her and hit Crash. But I think she is just trying to play. Mya (the dog) than chases Gabby upstairs. Gabby stays up stairs and crash down stairs most of the time. What can I do to get Crash to stop growling and hissing and being scared of Gabby?

PamJB: Follow the same advice I gave about separating the cats.

JaimeMarie: I don't have separate rooms

PamJB: You have to give them a reason to like each other and change their negative association.

JaimeMarie: I have tried interactive play with them both.

PamJB: It's almost impossible to do without separate rooms because they each need safe territories. You also can't have the dog chasing the cat because just heightens the reactivity.

JaimeMarie: So I should wait until I have a bigger place

JaimeMarie: She chases the cat that isn't hissing and growling.

PamJB: Do clicker training and lots of playtime and watch how they are with each other so you can distract them at the first sign of tension.

JaimeMarie: Ok thank you.

PamJB: It's very hard to do without a separate room to create a sanctuary but you can make progress if you try.

PamJB: I wish you the best.

JaimeMarie: Thank you

PHKellen: My problem 'child' is a 5-year-old DSH. He's been aggressive and had spraying issues since he was about 1-1/2 years old, which was also about the time he started having eye problems from herpes. He's on amitriptylene for the spraying. 8 of the 9 other cats are afraid of him because he pounces on them, steals their food, and generally bullies them. Vet says it's behavioral. What's the best way of dealing with him?

PamJB: Don't let him continue the bullying behavior. Feed the cats separately so everyone has a safe place.

PHKellen: I do, I've been putting him in another room for feeding. ga

PamJB: If you have a separate room, put him in there and then gradually reintroduce him to a couple of cats at a time.

PHKellen: And if they run ...?

PamJB: You'll see that throughout this chat I've mentioned reintroduction. This method is the best way to change the way cats view each other.

PamJB: Let him out for a minute or two while you offer a treat. You have to desensitize the others to his presence.

PHKellen: So keep him separated for the most part?

PamJB: If he's distracted with a treat, the other cats will see that he's not a threat. Do that several times a day and they may start to relax.

PHKellen: Okay, I'll try that. Thank you. ga

PamJB: Yes, keep him separated unless you are doing a traiining session with him. Gradually increase the time he spends out and about.

PHKellen: Is it okay for him to be with the cat and dog he does get along with?

PamJB: With aggression, you have to stop the cycle and give the cats a breather so they can calm down and then let them get to see each other in a whole new way.

PamJB: Yes.

PHKellen: Sounds like a plan to try. Thanks.

PHAbymom: I have a recently rescued 2-3 year old aby girl. She is food aggressive... and has even pulled her ears back and clawed at me over food. She's not overweight, but if I give in to her appetite, she will be.

PamJB: She needs to learn that nothing in life is free. She needs to earn her food. It may sound harsh but you need to offer her food for good behavior and not because he shows intimidation.

PamJB: Offer her food when she quietly sits or when she lets you pet her, etc, - anything positive.

PHAbymom: I know that abys are particularly food driven, but she is worse than any I've had in the last 20 years.

PamJB: The general rule for behavior modification is to reward the behavior you want and ignore the behavior you don't want. By giving her food when she displays unwanted behavior you are reinforcing it.

PHAbymom: I don't give in...

PamJB: Nothing in life is free - that's the method for food aggresive cats.

PamJB: An Aby is a very intelligent cat. You can train her to work for food. Clicker train her to sit or jump to a chair or whatever you want and then offer food. She'll soon learn that being good will give her more food...

PHAbymom: Good idea

PamJB: Finally, offer more frequent meals. Cats have small stomachs so they do best with frequent small meals.

PHAbymom: I might try that.. going to 3 meals instead of two.

PamJB: I use this method with cats who display status-related aggression. They quickly learn that their intimidation results in no food but good behavior gets them the chow.

PHAbymom: Thanks, Pam.

PamJB: I would try 3-5 meals a day. Don't increase the total portion, just the # of meals.

PHAbymom: Oh, right... she doesn't need more calories...

fireladie: Is there any breed more prone to aggressive behavior than others? I would say that Ragdolls are on the one end of the spectrum, but what would you say would be the more aggressive breeds?

fireladie: LOL aby

PamJB: More than a specific breed issue, it has to do with socialization, environment and training.

PamJB: In general, Persians are very docile and not prone to aggression but then they have other problems as a result of that.

fireladie: I was just hearing horror stories about the hybrid cats like Savannahs and Bengals, especialy early generations

PamJB: Siamese can bring out their inner tigers on a moment's notice as well.

fireladie: LOL... sounds like Diesel

PHAbymom: An unhappy aby is no pleasure, either.

PamJB: F1 cats are very special cases. They have a high prey drive and many people don't understand their needs.

PamJB: Bengals are not for everyone.

PHAbymom: Nor are any of the hybrids

fireladie: Yes, I have worked with bigger cats in rehab... and can understand that answer

PamJB: Sadly, many people get them for their wild look but don't supply the stimulation and proper training.

PHAbymom: That's true of many people who get cats... domestic or purebred.

PamJB: Cats with high prey drives such as Bengals need a mission or they turn destructive.

fireladie: There was an awesome serval in rehab that was turned over after it was done breeding... beautiful, intelligen animals in itself, i can see why people want one... but alot of people shouldnt have them.

PamJB: You're absolutely right. That's why I stay in business.

PamJB: I have a friend in California who spends her days working with Bengals and the stories she tells me are heartbreaking.

fireladie: Awww, thats horrible. Bengals are great cats.

PamJB: They're amazing.

fireladie: No one would want one though if they ever worked with pure asian leopard cats MOL

PHAbymom: Here's Pam's website, and her books are featured in our bookstore tonite. http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com

fireladie: *breeder asian leopard cats

PHAbymom: On behalf of Cathobbyist.com, Jeff B, and myself, I want to take a moment to thank Pam Johnson Bennett for being part of our chat week. Pam, thanks for taking the time out to chat with us on Cat Behavior and Aggression!