Strange Machines

The last two nights had me worried. Wolf would wake up but when given the boob, he’d wail some more. He’d then turn on all fours and wail sometimes with his eyes closed. I never found an answer to that strange behaviour. Maybe it is time to email Moxie.

This has been rethinking gentle sleep training methods. I’ve always been against any kind of training, whether sleep or potty. But lately I’ve been so buggered being up nursing him all night that I am considering revisiting it again.

That said, sleep training takes energy and patience, little of which I have right now, so it might not be the best idea. Well, as I have done since the day he was born, I will wait and see… and decide when I am there and then.

After reading quite a bit online today about multicat family conflicts, I have learnt much.

This evening, all were well-behaved till close to supper time. Tux sat on the couch head in the living room with me and had a nap. Buffy on the floor although she ran in and out of the room. Boy remained on his chair next to the shoe cabinet and took a nap. Sam walked in and out without disturbing him at all.

At one point, he leapt up to lie with Tux but Tux wasn’t in the mood. He left Sam there and went to lie on the floor. Could that be the problem? Rejection from the object of his affection? Shortly after, the movie ended and I turned off the TV and started packing up. All the cats came into the living room then and I called to Kaku while Boy jumped off his chair and wandered near the door.

Sam didn’t hesitate to rub himself against the chair legs and understandably, Boy leapt up again onto the chair. Sam immediately swatted his legs and Boy jumped down. Boy moved into the doorway next to Tux and I walked through to go to the bathroom.

When I returned, Boy leapt to the ledge under my computer table where he likes to rest, probably feeling safer even a few inches off the ground (vertical territory). Sam paused and stared at him briefly as he walked past and then walked away.

Clearly Sam tried to claim Boy’s territory and then remove him from it. It is also possible that rejection from Tux (yes there was something in one of the cat psychology books I read last night about gay cats, although they never engage in sexual activity) caused him to vent his frustration on Boy (or Buffy, which he is doing right now).

Both are possible as I noticed that Tux, especially recently, is usually the one who ends their physical contact, leaving Sam high and dry.

Solutions I discovered online and pieced together:

* I should keep a close eye on their interactions from now on. With new insight, I understand better what is going on.

* I should give Boy more attention, but preferably away from the jealous eyes from Tux, Buffy, and Sam.

* I should give Sam more attention to distract him from his spurned or short-lived and unsatisfactory advances towards Tux.

* I should use a towel and rub Tux, rub Sam, and then rub Boy to mix all their scents up.

* I should bathe all the cats (at least the boys) to mix their scents up.

* Should none of the above work, separate Boy from the rest for a while to give him some peace and quiet.

After a spate of chasing Buffy, he just went up to Boy, sniffed Boy’s nose and then ran off. It is evident it isn’t a perpetual conflict. Just only when he is most likely feeling unloved and unimportant.

Reviewing the evening, Boy makes me smile. While I watched telly and he sat on the chair, he looked at me most lovingly, blinked, and I blinked back. Who says cats are incapable of love has surely never lived with a cat.

This morning it was Sam’s turn to block (from entering the kitchen), swat, and get the better of Boy… twice. Boy just edged into a corner and winced. I felt terrible for Boy but he didn’t hesitate to jump up onto the counter as always to have his breakfast. I have him half a can of Merrick’s and the remainder to the rest. No one bothered him right up to till the end of his meal and he was contently licking his paws when I saw him.

I remember reading somewhere that cats are less territorial when they have sufficient food to go round and don’t have to fight for food. Could this be primarily a breakfast thing? Is that why Boy never comes into the bedroom when I open the door? Perhaps Sam can’t battle Tux (his lover) and Buffy (more aggressive) for territory so he has to vent his frustrations on Boy. He does seem to be very insecure, probably because he lost his natural mother so young.

Why didn’t Boy fight back this morning? It wasn’t that he wasn’t bothered. He was. What made him fight back last night? Confidence or nonchalance? How can I raise his confidence without the rest’s ire? I must study more cat psychology I think. The eternal conundrum of balancing the attention I shower to all the cats (or rather lack of) and giving Boy the confidence he needs to fight for his rights. The solution must be out there.

Kaku attempted a little territory grabbing after breakfast. I suspect Sam stole her food again while she was eating and edged her out. She sat on the bedroom ledge for around 5 minutes, even allowing me to pet her albeit warily, before jumping off. She seems to be gaining confidence these days and I am just so proud that she is not a bully like Sam.