Advice Please? Cat Behaviour.

Most of you on here will know about Oscar but I think I should explain a bit about him.

About five years ago he took up residence in our greenhouse in our heated propagator. Daytimes were spent sitting on our front doormat where he greeted each of Mrs shiney's patients (she's a therapist) as they arrived.

He is an adorable cat and we had seen him in and out of the garden for about ten years before that. He loves people and 'demands', silently, to be petted and never extends his claws. Although he had obviously adopted us, we didn't adopt him and didn't feed him or allow him indoors. After 18 months he was still around - which included us being away for a long time during two winters. The second winter we were away for five weeks touring New Zealand and visiting friends and relations. He said goodbye to us when we went off in the taxi and was waiting on the doorstep when we arrived back. Mrs shiney decided then that we should feed him in future.

He now has a cat house in the propagator (bought by one of Mrs shiney's patients) and is a very permanent member of the family - but still lives, very happily, outdoors.

About 2-3 years ago a neighbour up the road adopted Monty, a rescue cat, who was extremely nervous but occasionally came down to visit and Oscar went to his house. Over a period of time Monty got bolder and came more frequently.

Oscar gets fed in the greenhouse but isn't a greedy cat or all that interested in food. So when we put his sachet of food in his bowl he will sometimes only eat small amount. Monty is a greedy pig :D and happily comes around shortly after Oscar's feeding time and goes into the greenhouse to finish the food and Oscar rarely seems to mind. He's a very laid back cat, physically and mentally.

They occasionally had fights or hissing and growling matches and at one time Monty ended up in hospital. Although they don't seem to have fights now I sometimes here them howling at each other (they never seem to look directly at each other when they do this) and then I will go out and chase Monty away.

The usual situation when this happens is that Oscar is in his normal position lying on the patio and Monty is standing over him (in what seems to be an aggresive posture) and they both make a horrible noise.

Question: is it real aggression or is it a matter of each of them just saying 'I'm not going to be bossed by you'?

This is Oscar sitting in his front porch



and this is Monty



Here are a couple of series of photos showing different situations.
This first lot are where Oscar is on the patio and happens to be blocking the way to the door of the greenhouse. Monty is trying to get past him and there wasn't a sound from either of them.







'let's try this leg down first'



'No, I think I'll try this one'




'I'm not too sure Oscar will let me'




'So let's take the long way round'



and he went and ate what was left over.

Now it seems to me as though Monty deferred to Oscar.

Here is the latest set of photos I have taken. I heard their horrible caterwauling outside the kitchen window and grabbed my camera.

Monty was standing over Oscar and from the look of his mouth it appears to be aggresive. Oscar was making a similar noise - but quieter.



Monty turned away a couple of times and turned back and did the same thing. The third time he turned back he layed down very gently and then changed positions a few times before settling.











After having chewed at his paw for a couple of minutes he got up and went into the greenhouse to look for Oscar's food - but Billy from next door had already eaten it


This is the venerable Billy who is 16.

 

I think Victoria's pretty well got it right, Shiney. The Boys have met, bumped chests, and agreed to tolerate each other. Monty takes Oscar's food as part of the deal!!

I did ask my two Lady Cats, Jenny just closed her eye's and thought of Oscar, but Sally looked at me then walked away with her tail in the air, and I could have sworn I heard her mutter "Men!!".:kittykiss:

 

I wondered why Shiney get's noisy every now and then, chitting Kaz, now I know:D:kittykiss:

 

We've no idea if Oscar has been neutered - or Monty.

The only cats that come into our garden are males.

 

I was told by a Vet that you can tell the difference between a non neutered cat and one that has been neutered:

a. The non neutered cat goes Miaow.

b. The neutered cat goes Mia-ouch.:D

 

Oscar rarely speaks. Most of the time he opens his mouth and a little squeak comes out - and I don't think it is because he has swallowed a mouse :D

 

Oscar says that as Felix is black and white he will be very welcome . There is plenty of room on his patio or one of his benches or tables.

 

I'm not sure it's possible, for a number of reasons. First of all Monty is not ours and we know his humans don't approve of 'adjustments'. Secondly, Oscar is an 'old man' now and he is very settled with us (we don't know why he adopted us) and will not go near a car or the road.

Mrs shiney would never allow him to be adjusted and would not upset him by trying to take him off his territory. Since he has been with us he rarely goes outside his kingdom apart from an occasional state visit to Monty's land or when he is hunting rabbits.

He very occasionally has a scratch or small bite which he allows Mrs Shiney to treat for him - she knows when he has come to her for treatment of an ailment :kittykiss:and he lets her clean any wounds and takes his remedies without a murmur.

I suppose, if he ever has a more serious injury she would take him to a vet (she's more likely to get the vet to come here ) but up to now he is a very relaxed master of all he surveys and all the other males that visit tend to just sit near him.