EVERY DAY she has the Blues

Ever since one kitty has to stay in the basement any given time, our house has become much, much noisier. It goes almost 24/7  - with sleeping breaks in between.
They sound exactly like Chicca here - and we too feel very much reminded of Mr. B.B. King.

Fight Manual for Unusual Conditions

Some may wonder how two cats who are kept in separate rooms can still manage to break out into a vicious fight.
Well, it's rather easy! Let Idi demonstrate for you.
You get as close as you can to the door and go like this:

From the other side it looks something like this:

You then ask your opponent to do the same. Start fighting. Be nice and noisy with lots of squealing, hissing, and rumbling. The louder, the better!

Here's two samples of what you can accomplish in a matter of minutes:

This was extremely easy, especially since there were no additional barriers in place

This too was a breeze! The "barrier", if you want to call it that, was clearly unsuitable.

It doesn't take much practice either, it comes quite natural to you once you set your mind to it.

I’m Mad...and that’s a Fact!

I try and I try and I try - but they always seem to find ways to start another fight. This time they even included me, thank-you-very much!
Leave me out of this, YOU HEAR?

Reunion Attempts Tomb Raider Style

So a few nights ago I was alone at home and I thought to myself: why not give another reunion a try. Maybe they are not mad at each other anymore. Who's to know?
I made the necessary preparations which means filling up a spray bottle with water, and most importantly: having it handy!
I then carried Ida (which is her 'legal' name) while I ever so carefully opened the door to the room Flecki was in. Everything seemed to be going ok. No growling, no hissing, no signs of distress.
I gently and slowly let go of Idi who went straight for Flecki's food bowl. Flecki ran the other way, she seemed to want a bit of distance. I picked up the spray bottle,  just in case, and tracked Flecki down. Didn't want to leave her alone just then. Her body language conveyed nothing but fear which was quite unsettling to see. That was the moment Idi had finished eating. She spotted Flecki from across the hall way. I was standing between the two  - armed with the spray bottle.
I remember the scene that followed in slow motion: Idi got into position and started running. First slow. Then faster. Faster!!  Really, really fast!!! 
"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god...", I prayed that the spray bottle wouldn't fail me. I took a good aim, exhaled and shot: *PSH! PSSH!! PSSSHHH!!!* 

It worked right away. Idi did a sharp left turn into my office. I ran to slam the door shut. Had to sit down for a minute and breathe heavily.

It was a lot like Hollywood.

In the House too long?

Since we've adopted them they've been indoor kitties. I've always felt a little bad about it. It seems unnatural.  Still, it surely beats having to scrape them off the road or finding half of them on the front lawn like we did the other cat a few years ago (cougars must have eaten the other half).

But does staying in all the time drive them insane? Are there well adjusted and truly happy indoor cats?

Secret Weapon Vanilla

So we did some research about fighting cats. One site suggested to rub a bit of vanilla extract on the back of their necks (where they can't clean it off), assuming the cats can't stand each others' smell and to cover it up. DH thought it was a great idea and worth a try: "Where's the vanilla in this house?"

I wasn't so sure myself as I think this only applies to felines who have recently met and just feel that the other one stinks. But sure, go ahead. Try it. Why not.
Here the result:

At least we have some lovely smelling cats now. The scent lasts for days!
Hmmm... cookie cats...

Shifting Cats Around

You really have to think now before you make a move or disaster strikes instantly. The other night I took a chance because dark kitty was sleepy and content on the sofa (plus I had a beer and got a bit careless). I thought I could just sneak into light kitty's room to get the litter box for the night. She slipped right out the door. I yelled to DH: "The cat's out, the cat's out, THE CAT'S OOUUUT!!!"
But, alas, she immediately got the beating of a lifetime...

What we are now doing  reminds me of this old riddle: crossing the river with a wolf, goat and cabbage.
There is a more fun version out there on the Net. I keep playing it to stay focused.
You should try it some time!

Could it be the new Male in the Neighbourhood?

We do have this new cat in the neighbourhood who likes to drop by for a visit on our deck and impress the two ladies with what his momma gave him.
Only through the window, though - the Missuses are indoor only (we have bears and coyotes in our town). They didn't seem very impressed or interested, though. Especially Flecki couldn't care less while Idi just gets kinda pissed, I think.

Was it the Brushing, maybe?

I asked myself the same questions Ronda, my first follower (Yay by the way :D) asked. What exactly had changed? Or was it a desaster long in the making?
Now, taking a good look at the situation I think it's fair to say that their relationship has deteriorated in the last few years. There have been issues of jealousy, fighting over territory and food, and competing for attention. Flecki was getting smacked around quite a bit in the process as she's smaller, more "sane", and younger.

I myself may have triggered this whole catastrophe. The evening proceeding the meltdown, I gave Idi a brushing. I usually never do this as Idi hates being brushed and Flecki, who loves it, gets soo jealous. Flecki feels that the brush is hers and hers only. So when she heard the familiar sound of the bristles rubbing against my thumb, she got super-excited as I've been so busy lately and haven't had a chance to treat her that way in a while.
How upset she must have been when she saw that it was Idi's turn!! She who doesn't even get it? She who was kind of trying to get away from it all. So I locked Idi in my room and tried it again as I was convinced that every feline simply must love being brushed.
That's when the fighting at the door began. They always stick their little paws underneath the crack and try to whack each other. This time it was accompanied by some serious growling and - oh my - even hissing!! :-o They were both extremely upset at what was going down.
I finally got it. Idi really, really doesn't like being brushed and Flecki wants some. So I did the right thing at last, gave Flecki a good brushing and left Idi alone.

The next day Idi started harassing Flecki in this unacceptable way. I think they both held a grudge against each other. I was just checking out some YouTube videos to demonstrate how bad it was. But there were really no two felines getting at it the way these two did. Most of them were kind of equally matched so it was a somewhat fair competition. Not here at my house. The closest resemblance is the following, I guess. Even though one's a snake. Especially the scene where the snake is throwing the kitty up in the air.  Just picture her being one ferocious feline. Flecki clearly did not win, though. And nobody was as calm as red cat or Jackie at the end of the match here at my place.

The Night that changed Everything

It seemed like just another mild spring evening. It had been a sunny yet very busy day.
The cats were getting on in the usual manner. Until the I've heard the commotion that came from the basement. There was squealing and hissing, things broke, there was rumbling and the sound of objects falling. What was going on?! 
I ran downstairs to find Flecki and Idi locked in a bitter fight. It was a ferocious one but I managed to separate the 2. I locked them both up to give them a little breather. That's when I noticed that Flecki's peed in the tool box! She's never done anything like that before. When I checked up on her she smelled like on of those European small town train stations where there are no bathrooms. Peeeuw!!  She'd peed herself as well.

Idi just wasn't herself at all that night. This gentle, loving cat I've known for 8 years now hissed and growled at me when I got near her. That was the first time I've heard her hissing in all these years!

What was happening to my cats? Was Idi losing her mind scaring Flecki sooo badly?