Rescue Tails / When The Fur Flies

When the FKSPCA Behavior Helpline received the following message, we knew both the humans and the cats in the family were in big trouble:

“Desperately seeking help for our 2 rescue cats we adopted from the Key West shelter 2 years ago. I know it is your mission to help pets remain in their homes, but we have been dealing with some issues for a while now and so we are hoping you can help us so we don’t have to re-home one of our beloved cats.”

The family went on to explain that their now 2-year-old female cats, Cookie and Luna, were adopted from us as kittens.  Although Luna was a chaser and “rough player” with Cookie, the kittens appeared to get along and continued to do so as they matured. But now they were getting into serious fights. Cookie also launched at least three unprovoked biting and scratching “attacks” against family members.  Fighting cats are not to be taken lightly, and when the aggression becomes directed toward humans, things typically don’t end well for the cats involved. But this family was far from typical. Their love and commitment to their cats was remarkable!

Deneen and Mark wanted to do everything they could to keep both cats. Although it may appear so, behavior is not random. The couple understood that Cookie’s aggressive behavior could be a reaction to either physical pain or emotional distress. They were motivated to figure out the underlying reasons for Cookie’s behavior and to provide relief.

Given Cookie’s history, medical causes were the first area to consider.  Undiagnosed pain is a frequent cause of aggression in animals.  Cookie had severe skin issues that prompted her to lick her belly until raw. Possible causes were allergies, an autoimmune condition, and/or stress caused by growing incompatibility with Luna.

The couple attempted to address her medical needs with veterinarian-prescribed medication, a cone to prevent her from licking, and a prescription diet. To prevent the fighting between the cats and give them both a break, Cookie was moved next door with another family member. Cookie fared well in that new environment; she no longer needed the cone, and her belly healed. It was uncertain whether it was the change of environment, the effect of medical intervention or both, but her overall condition and behavior improved. But soon the re-emergence of a cat allergy forced the family member to return Cookie to Deneen and Mark. At this point, the couple had two options: return one cat to us, or risk reintroducing them over time with the ultimate goal of a successful reintegration. Being the people they are, they weren’t ready to give up hope, which is when they contacted the FKSPCA Behavior Helpline.

Between conversations with our FKSPCA behavior counselor who provided some credible resources and referrals to other professionals, and their own efforts and creativity, Deneen and Mark set the stage for Cookie and Luna to rebuild trust and a sense of safety with each other. With every small step, lots of patience, commitment, and time, this steadfastly dedicated couple demonstrated how to heal a relationship; the proof of which is in a recent photo the family shared with us!

If you are facing a behavior challenge with your companion animal or just have a behavior question, contact our Helpline at [email protected] or call (305) 294-4857

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