Male Cat Afraid of Dominant Female Cat
September 19, 2007 9:48 PM 
Subscribe
My male cat is afraid to use his outdoor house because my dominant female cat has claimed it. How do I get him to re-claim his house? How do I get her to relinquish control of the house?
Background Info:
Male Cat: My male cat was a stray and is approximately 6 years old. I've had him for over 2 years. He is timid and skiddish but loves to cuddle. He is neutered.
Female Cat: My female cat was also a stray and is approximately 2 years old. She is affectionate and full of energy. I've had her for approx 1 year. She is spayed.
Both cats are primarily outdoor cats.
The frontyard and enclosed front porch is the territory of my female cat and she is dominant there. The backyard and the inside of the house used to be the territory of my male cat. He used to be dominant in his territory.
A few months ago I made the mistake of letting the female cat spend more time inside of the house. She suddenly decided that the inside of the house and the backyard were now her territories. She also decided that she was going to be the dominant cat in those territories.
Her personality has changed. She used to be very friendly and walk the neighborhood with several of my neighbors cats and play with the neighborhood children. Now she is obsessed with being inside the house and patrolling her territory.
My cats used to stalk each other and play fight in both the front and backyard. Now my male cat acts terrified of my female cat. He runs away whenever he sees her.
I have two outside bungalow style cat houses in the backyard. My male cat and his neighborhood buddy (she's female) usually use them in the Fall through Early Spring. It's important for my male cat to have access to the houses because we have frequent windstorms and rain October - March.
My female cat has a "katkabin" (which she has never used) in the front yard and a cat bed (which she frequents) inside of our covered porch in the front yard. She now uses both her bed in the front yard and both houses in the backyard.
I've sprayed down the cat houses with enzyme spray. I've petted my male cat and placed his scent inside both of the houses. I even moved the houses to different locations in the backyard. My male cat seems very interested in the houses when my female cat isn't around, but as soon as she shows up he runs away again.
I need advice on how to help my male cat stand up for himself and claim his space. Thanks in advance.
posted by alleycatd to pets & animals (7 comments total)
Although, she may then try to claim that space, too. And they may work it out again before too long.
Best of luck to you and your kitties.
posted by lilywing13 at 10:19 PM on September 19, 2007