Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 5 cats. Several months ago, one of them became ill, and spent several days at the vet. When we brought him home, one of the other cats became aggressive with him, to the point that we had to lock them up in separate rooms.
Reading through this message board, the common answer seems to be to make them smell the same and reintroduce them... the problem is, after all this time, they should already smell the same, and I'm assuming the cat's behavior is now running off his memory, not his nose.
So is it too late to make them get along now? Should I try putting a similar scent on both of them anyway? It's getting exhausting trying to make sure one of them is safely locked away at all times.
Thanks for your help!
-Alyssa

There are a few things you can try:
1) Rescue Rememdy (found at a natural food store). You put it either in the cats drinking water or on their ear tips.

2) comfort zone plug-ins by Feliway or the feliway spray. (found either at a pet store or online)

3) if all else fails talk to your vet about an anti-anxiety medication for the aggressive cat.
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

Besides doing what Jaime said you can also try reintroducing the cats gradually as if one was a new pet - check out the info at this link:

Putting one in a carrier and letting the other sniff around is also a good idea, then reverse the situation.
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

I read somewhere that if a cat spends time at the vet's, they come home smelling differently. (They'll smell like the vet's office, other animals, etc.)

I read that if one cat becomes agressive toward the cat you just brought home from the vet (even if they were friendly beforehand), keep them separate for a few days until the cat no longer smells like the vet's office.

In the meantime, give the agressive cat something to sniff that smells like the other cat, and slowly reintroduce them.

Good luck! I'm in the process of introducing a six week old kitten to my adult cat -- and it is tedious! I know how you feel.