
12/07/2025
So Lord Anthony and Snowman did really well together yesterday. Not bffs or anything but no hissing or aggressive body language. I do separate them for meals and don't leave food out, until they're on friendly terms.
Then this morning Snowman began growling at Anthony.
Usually when you put two neutered males together, there is a working out of hierarchy. This may be according to who lived in the space first, who is older, who is bigger, or just a matter of one having a dominant personality. If the power imbalance is obvious and acceptable to both then when the dominant male approaches, the submissive will lie down and roll over like a kitten with paws up towards the dominant. If they don't agree or they're equally matched, there will be some hissing, then growling and hopefully one backs down and it's decided. If neither does, there's yowling and if one c***s their head to the side a fight is eminent. If no one is backing down, I separate before this happens.
Here is the odd dynamic between these two. Snowman is doing the normal posturing and sorting out of who's is charge but Anthony seems to have no idea what's happening or what to do.He just begins rubbing all over Snowman and purring as though Snowman were his littermate. Snowman doesn't know how to take this and keeps growling but Anthony doesn't back down but is affectionately trying to share scent not be assertive. Which is so very sweet but misguided and confusing for Snowman. Its clear Snowman is the dominant of the two. I think they can be friends if I can figure a way to get Lord Anthony to communicate submission in a way that makes sense to Snowman. Both of them being newly blind isn't helping communication either. For now I've tried brushing them with same brush to share scent and giving them time together supervised.
I'm a nerd for animal behavior, always curious about their culture, communication, ways of interpreting the world around them.
BTW doesn't Snowman look so much cleaner? Finally got mealtime less messy. Now he really looks like a Snowman.