What do you do when your pets don’t get along?
One of my clients had two cats that didn’t get along at all – in fact one of them attacked the other if they were ever in the same room! My client created a system that kept her cats from ever getting near each other but it was starting to take its toll on her. She just wanted to live in peace with her cats – or at least have them not trying to kill each other!
She had talked to a vet, an animal behaviorist and trainer, and still had no relief.
When she called me, she said, “I’ve tried everything! I’m so desperate I’ll even try a pet psychic!”
Of course I laughed out loud at that!
When I came to her house to do the reading, two things were very clear to me. First, the energy of each cat needed to be calmed and grounded. Second, the cats needed to re-learn to trust my client and each other.
My guidance brought forward a 3 part solution for my client:
First, energy work on the cats.
Second, alternating cats in the living room, which had previously been the domain of only one cat.
Third, once the cats were comfortable in the living on their own, my client was to feed them (separately) the best treat in the whole wide world. This way, they would have a positive reinforcement and a distraction for any time that they were together. Gradually, they will get more comfortable with each other and my client will find some peace in her home with the two cats that she loves.
What would you do if you had pets that didn’t get along?
What have you done in this situation yourself?
Click on the REPLY button above or fill in the Reply box below and share the wealth of your experience and insight, too!
23 Comments
Victoria Donahue
Love this Cara! I know you will be my go to person if I need help with my cat.
Cara
Thanks, Victoria! I loved meeting you and I know I’ll love meeting your cat, too!
Susie Mordoh
That’s fantastic stuff, Cara! With 2 labs (male & female) and I have found that they each need there time with us individually to get along better together.
Cara Gubbins
I love how aware you are of that, Susie!
Ferris Jay
Great work Cara. Occasionally my two cats ”fall out” with each other. When that happens it is upsetting to me, so the first thing I do is calm myself, so I’m not adding to the tension. Then I help calm and soothe them. EFT tapping is my ‘go to’ tool for that. Normality is then quickly restored, thank goodness.
Cara Gubbins
Brilliant, Ferris! It’s so important to calm ourselves before we try to calm anyone else! I love that that is your first step. Do you tap on your cats or do you use surrogate tapping to diffuse the situation?? Thanks for your insight!
Ferris Jay
I tend to do surrogate tapping Cara – as not all cats like the tapping on their physical body and it means that I can help them at a distance. That being said some cats love the tapping, so it can be done hands on too. The tapping is also what I use on myself first, so I’m calm before addressing their energy.
Maria Davis
Hi Cara
This is so interesting. This is why we received our beloved Molly (a jack russell dog). She was living with her sister and they will not getting along – to the point that they were hurting each other. After many attempts to satisfy territorial needs – nothing worked. So the sisters were separated. The upside is that we received Molly as a gift and she has been an absolute delight. A solution that I am grateful for everyday. Molly is loved and her sister is queen of her home (equally loved). I know not the desired solution but a solution nevertheless. Spreading the love.
Cara Gubbins
Maria, It sounds like a win-win situation now with everyone feeling the love. You never know what the highest good for all concerned is – and sometimes it’s giving everyone their own home. I’m so glad Molly found you!
Marg
Hi Cara. I love that you’re a pet psychic! As a house sitter I come into contact with many and varied pets. Fortunately I have a lovely rapport with animals, so all’s been well thus far. But if the need arises, it’s great to know there’s someone I can turn to. Thank you.
Cara Gubbins
Awesome, Marg!
Bon
Oh, Cara, I have two kitties who don’t love each other. Well, that’s not true. One is just so hopeful that the other will love her (and he will have NONE of it).
We’ve created rituals at home that involve the both of them in the same space (treats, catnip, getting brushed, playing with THE best toy — together) and we’ve found the old boy has a higher tolerance for the little girl due to these shared spaces of joy/fun.
Now, when they “get into it,” it’s more like sibling spat stuff (over very quickly) and almost sport-like. Phew! No more hissing when she comes around, on the part of the old boy. That’s a relief!
Great post! Thank you!
Cara Gubbins
Brilliant solution, Bonnie! I’m so glad it worked! And maybe he will come around and learn how to your girl….
deb
Love that you grounded the cats!!
I guess you grounded the owner too!! or if you didn’t make sure you go back and tell her to make sure she is grounded!!
Cara Gubbins
Deb, yes, I totally LOVE grounding cords. I taught my client how to ground herself and then the cats, too, so they can add that to their daily routine. The cumulative effect can be so strong with daily grounding cords.
Heather
Hi Cara, I have a 2 year old golden and a very friendly cat who loves my dog regardless of the fact that he harasses her at any given moment. I sort of leave it alone, assuming that if she wanted to she could probably do some real damage to him? On good moments when he is lying down resting she will come over to him and clean his face!
Cara Gubbins
Sounds like they do work it out for themselves, Heather! Way to be hands off and let them figure it out!
MIchelle
Luckily, my dog plays well with all others canine and feline, so this isn’t an issue for me.
However, she is a rescue and was terrified of men when I first took her in. Since she is extremely food motivated, we got over this by treating her every time she was calm around a man. Also, when she would meet a man in my home or in another’s home, I would ask the man to give her treats so she would associate him with her favorite thing in the whole wide world — chicken! 🙂
Cara Gubbins
Genius, Michelle! I’m so glad it worked for you!
Zoe Richards
Fabulous – wish I’d had this knowledge when I had to get pets to get along … one sadly moved out and lived with a neighbour.
april
interesting, cara. my two cats get along quite well with each other – most of the time. they have an occasional spat now and then, but it’s usually short-lived. i guess their situation is similar to people who are around each other all the time – sometimes it helps to clear the air. 🙂 i liked your suggestions for your client – have you heard how things are going for her and her feline companions?
Elizabeth MacLeod
Love this post. I have 2 cats. The 2nd came in as a kitten when the first was 4 years old. I got bad advise on how to introduce them. So that set the ground work. It’s taken years to work this out. The older one, dominating. But, they do love each other. And I got a second because the first really was lonely when I wasn’t there. Now…. they seem to be with one another. And today, we are travelling and they totally are good with it.
I remember in the beginning of breaking the pattern, I would go and love up the older one, then go and love the younger one in front of her. She found that so hard. BUT, then I’d come back and love up the older one. They really started to get it… and now… we’re good. The older one, does run the show still… but they have it all worked out. Love your ideas…. Will keep them in my back pocket, just incase.! although I do think we are all okay now. 🙂
Lynn Flowers
Hi Cara,
You came to our home when we had this exact problem – only with three cats instead of two. The third one, Ivy who arrived last year was just not welcomed by the first cat, Daisy. The middle kitty, Poppy is a pleaser and she was caught in the middle. After using some of your techniques…especially the grounding cords and incorporating equal play and treats while in the same room. Well, we’ve come a long way since your visit last summer! It’s still not PERFECT, but I no longer fear for Ivy’s life any more. I can live with them not adoring each other, as long as they can coexist! You told us it would take time and patience…and your were RIGHT! 🙂