Reply To: Super-aggressive “play” in foster

[Melina]

Hi Shane

Thank you for reaching out. There’s a lot to unpack here, and it might be worth having an in-home consultation with a cat behaviorist in your area.

Here are a few of my observations and suggestions:

Marvin – Although he is 15 and a little frail, if he is food-driven, you can target-train him to touch a target stick so you don’t have to worry about picking him up or luring him with food alone. Alternatively, toss treats into the dedicated room so he can walk/run straight into it.

Buffy – She is a young female who is very energetic and wants to play and interact with her new friend Eddie, but only on her terms. Although it’s been four months, some cats require more time (months to years) to adjust when a new cat joins the family. I know it’s a lot of work shuffling the kitties around; however, Buffy does seem happy to have a younger brother to play with. This requires more patience on your part.

Eddie’s strong food motivation is a great advantage for enrichment and training. I recommend increasing individual playtime to 2-3 times daily, introducing puzzle feeders and foraging activities to keep him engaged, and starting clicker training to help manage his boundless energy. Keeping Eddie confined to a harness/lead or crate may only add to his frustration and be counterproductive. Instead, I suggest taking him for outdoor walks, teaching him brain games, including agility exercises, and encouraging more stimulating activities. Additionally, you can work on basic cues like “sit,” “stay,” “come,” and “go to your mat.” to teach him good manners.

You are on the right track, just need to use the right tools and have more patience. I don’t feel you should give up on Eddie, and I see a bright future ahead.

I hope that helps

Melina