I Need to Surrender My Cats

[athomas]

Well again, two male unneutered cats. I can't even get near them. Even with Feliway, over the last week they are VERY moody and they hiss constantly. I tried to get the one in his cage today for his vet visit for his shots - so he can be neutered, but he wouldn't have it. Just ripped my hand open and went and hid under the couch, after peeing on one of the pillows on the couch - ruining it.

I think these guys were strays, because they HATE people, they're more or less ferals. I'm about to turn them into strays again and get a real cat that likes people. I emailed the SPCA to see if they'll take them, but of course they're not open on weekends. Does Animal Control do anything with cats like this? I'm out of ideas! I've been working with these beasts for six months! They have not changed one bit.

[kittywitty]

OMG where did you get them? If they were feral, it is very difficult to tame them. Did you get them at the same time, did they get introduced properly? A little more background please.

[athomas]

Craigslist. The listing more or less said "they're brothers, I don't have time or money to take care of them. Here's a picture, send me an email.. etc." I don't have much more information than that.

Introduction, wasn't too much more than them hiding in the carrier when they brought them over, we kind of tiled the carrier so they come out, all they did was run into the bedroom and hide under the bed for a few weeks. I had to kick them out of my bedroom because their constant wrestling/fighting was keeping my neighbors below me awake all night long, as well as me. My wife has sat for hours with them, as well as me. But they still run away when you get close.

Sound feral to you? They sure do to me. I'm inches from calling Animal Control on them.

[kittywitty]

I am so very sorry about this. Maybe this is why they were given away due to their behavior issues. It sounds like 6 months is enough time to get a cat socialized but in your case it has not worked. It may be too late now, but is it possible to separate them so they are not together so much? Do you ever spray water on the agressive cat, the one who initiates the fighting? What kind of behavior techniques have you tried. Maybe some of the cat experts on this site will be able to offer some suggestions.

I wonder how just one cat would do in your household. I remember after my two older cats passed away, my remaining one loved being an only kitty. She was such a different cat but then she got lonely so I ended up adopting a kitten. And now they fight a lot too but they do have moments where they are so tired that they just ignore each other.

[athomas]

They're not all over eachother all the time, and they don't follow eachother all the time, sometimes, not always. The aggressive one is the one I was trying to have neutered. Obviously he won't have that. I have a one bedroom apartment, so the only separation could be one in the bathroom, and one out of the bathroom. I don't spray water, but I usually get a handfull and toss it on him when they won't stop fighting.

Already emailed Animal Control. They may just need to be put down, and put out of their misery. They're terrified of everything in here, even though it's as quiet as can be...

[kittywitty]

Hmm that is tough but consider keeping one? I am a cat person so I always need at least one cat living with me.

[athomas]

Yeah I'm a cat person too, not fond of dogs really. Smelly, needy, clunky, etc...

Keeping one, well maybe. The aggressive one definatley not. The other one won't even let me close enough to pet him. So he's just as bad, but the other side of the scale. Tedi attacks/hisses/growls/snarls at me, Bear just runs away and hides. He only comes out at night to eat.

[kittywitty]

Well I've heard some cats like when the agressive cat is no longer around. Maybe Bear would warm up to you and your wife if he were an only kitty.

[athomas]

Yeah he's the quieter one. Bear does get kind of defensive though, with the hissing and all. They have apparently always been together, since they're brothers, from the same litter. I almost think it's too late for them, they're 18 months old.

[kittywitty]

Well, maybe they were abused as kittens and they don't trust humans anymore. I hope you can at least keep one. If you do give them to the Humane Society, would you consider getting more cats? Maybe you can foster one before adopting to make sure it is a good match for you and your wife.