Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We have 4 cats. Two are older females (13) and two younger males (3 and 2). The males are best buddies - they snuggle and bathe each other and do everything together.

Today we gave all of them a bath. Now, the younger male (it was his first bath) is hissing and growling at his buddy. Very aggressive and howling like I've never heard from him before.

I know that their smell is now "off", but any other ideas about why the one now hates the other? Is this temporary? The upset one is also being very skittish. Just barely lets us get near him.

I feel horrible that I traumatized him so badly!

this has everything to do with smell. Try rubbing one cat and then the other with a towel to exchange scents. Also consider getting a Comfort Zone plug-in with Feliway.

Good luck!
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

Thank you for the response.

I'm so distraught over this! The male that is not stressed (and the dominant cat in the house) is trying to lick the other one and "make nice" with him, but the stressed out one has an agressive stance on him that I've never seen in a cat before. Head is cocked to the side and moving back and forth a little, hair all completely on end - it's so upsetting, as I've never seen any agression in this cat before!

I read about the Comfort Zone - and it says it doesn't work on humans - darn! Cause *I* really need it now!

Also, he does not express the same behavior to the females - he is completely oblivious of them. Just the other male.

I did run out to Petco and picked up a Comfort Zone plug in - here's hoping it works!

How did the towel rubbing and comfort zone work? My cats get that way with each other after a vet visit.
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

The towel thing - eh, I'm not sure. Since they were both just bathed, they both smell like shampoo to me - but I do realize their sniffers are more sensitive. I have them separated and I've been letting each into the other's "space" while removing the other one.

The Comfort Zone seemed to work right away for general anxiety - the stressed one seemed much calmer with me and my husband and much like his own self again. But the minute he sees the one cat (and not the others - he's oblivious to them), his hair stands on end and the howling and aggression begins.

If the hissing is still going on come Monday, you might think about contacting your vet and seeing if s/he will prescribe an antianxiety drug for the hissy kitty. These very often work wonders - the cat calms down and forgets why he is upset. Then you gradually withdraw the medication under the vet's supervision.

A more natural remedy is Rescue Remedy - folks swear that four drops a day in the drinking water will do the trick - or rub a drop onto the eartip. And Rescue Remedy is safe for humans too - follow the label directions. This is available at most health food/vitamin places.
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

I have had a similar experience with my cats. I took one of them to a cat show, and when we returned home in the evening the other one was - well, not agressive but very curious and at her all the time chasing her and sniffing her constantly, and she of course was tired after a whole day of exitement and wanted to be left alone. They are usually best friends, but not that night. I suppose she brought home a lot of strange scents. So now I take them both to cat shows. I do not want to repeat that evening.
On the other hand, I have bathed them without problems.

Please let us know how it goes.

Anne

Could it be that the cat is angry at the humans and not at the other cat but is taking it out on the cat? Haven't you talked about redirected anger before MA?
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

Well, we're not back to "normal", but things are MUCH MUCH better.

I did notice that the Comfort Zone helped with his general anxiety. After plugging it in, he went back to his normal self with us. It took another 24 hrs or so to stop him from attacking his buddy. I haven't seen them snuggling like they used to, but they have touched noses. The only problem now is that the object of the scorn is a little gun-shy of getting too close to the aggressor. But, I'm confident another day or so will fix that.

THANK YOU to everyone for their advice and support! It's been a looong weekend.

jami

Jami,
Glad things are starting to get back to normal.
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

Thanks for the update. Things will probably be back to normal soon...whatever normal is anyhow!
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!