Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have two cats: Ben, who is 9 years old, and Hazel, who is 8 months old. They usually get along very well. Yesterday, she suddenly began acting like a psychotic kitty. Hissing, spitting and growling. She would not allow Ben near her. Once when he approached, they actually got in a tussle. That ended with poop all over. Another incident, later in the bathroom ended with poop all over the walls and floor. It was her poop. At first I wondered if she might be reacting to another animal outside. However, nothing seemed to calm her. I separated them last night and no one got much sleep. She is at the vet, who is planning to keep her at least four days. He is testing her for estrogen levels, even though she is spayed. He has given her a progesterone shot. Her blood work, taken to compare with that done in January when she was spayed, is okay. Has anyone any comment on this kind of behavior? If you have dealt with it before, what was the result? Thank you

I have sent you some links and replies via private email. I have also summoned the troops so I hope you'll get loads of answers and insights here!!!
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

First, no, I've never dealt with exactly that kind of behavior before coming out of nowhere. It sounds like you are doing everything right though by separating them and having her thoroughly checked out by the vet. When she comes home I would definitely continue to keep them separate for quite some time.

Is the vet she is with now the same one that spayed her? It is possible that some vets go too quickly and leave some ovarian tissue behind, causing the cat to still get those horomones flowing and to have periods of their heat cycles. We all know cats in heat can sometimes act crazy and she is at an age where she could be in a sort of heat cycle.

Once the vet has ruled out any physical cause for this behavior, definitely contact a certified behaviorist to see what can be done to re-introduce your kitties.

And, when you do find out something please let us know. I'm very curious to see what's going on with her.

This is an update on the problem I first described. Hazel was alone at the vet's office from Monday until Thursday. The first blood panel compared favorably with that done when she was spayed in January. The estrogen test, done to determine whether ovarian tissue remains, will not be back for two weeks. The lab in Detroit sent it to Cornell University in New York State. I took Ben in on Thursday to be reintroduced. What we had all hoped would go well did not. The vet was startled to see that as he put it "I did not expect this at all. There is obviously bad blood between these two." He had, in fact, introduced Hazel to another male cat the day before, and all went well. However, Hazel and Ben would initially have nothing to do with our plans. She hid under the cages, and he used language and behavior I did not teach him. It was loud and nasty. We put Benny into a large cage near the floor, and allowed Hazel to roam. After she came out from under the cages, she spent a lot of time sitting next to me on the floor, glowering at him. We eventually put each in a separate carrier on the surgery table about a foot apart. The hissing and spitting continued. I left. Then the vet put the two carriers on the floor, 4 feet apart and opened the doors. One cat came out (I can't remember which one) and the other stayed put. Eventually the vet got them in the same carrier. All the time, he was in the room with them. Eventually he put them in a large boarding cage. They each staked out a corner and hissed and spit at each other. However, they calmed down and the vet left them that way for the night. (That would have scared me; however, I trust this guy totally. He has cared for my animals for a decade.) When he came in on Friday morning, they were cuddling. The game plan now is that I am allowed to call and check in but not visit at all until Monday. This is because I am afraid that they be arguing over who owns ME. I got this idea after she was sitting so close to me in the cat room when he was closed in a cage, as if to say "Nanner,nanner, she's mine." The last thing I said to the vet was "Unless I hear otherwise, I am to assume everything is going well. Right?" The answer was "yes." I am trying to remain positive about this, but truth to tell, I am afraid she may not be coming home. If it comes to that, the vet and I are in agreement that he will find her a good home. I adopted her from his office in the first place, and all of her medical care has been given to her there. They all say that she is a lovely little animal. However, I have owned Benny since he was 6 weeks old, along with his brother Jerry, who died in my arms at the same vet's office last summer. He had been treated for megacolon for two years, and his poor gut finally just quit and could not be revived. I will let you know more as I can.

This is very difficult.

Sheila

I am hopeful that the cuddling together is a good sign! They may both surprise you! At least you have done a lot for Hazel and you know that she will end up in a good home if it doesn't work out!

Good luck!

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

How long have Hazel and Ben been together in your home? Even cats that have been together for years sometimes turn on one another for no apparent reason. One time 2 cats that I had together for 8 years since they were both 8 weeks old, started fighting and hissing everytime they were in the same room. They used to be so close and cuddled together all the time. I had to keep them apart for quite awhile, but slowly they came to tolerate each other again. They have never been best buds like they used to be, but at least the fighting has stopped. The female will still hiss at the male on the way past him, but that I can handle. I hope for the best for your two. I have to say that you have a fantastic vet if he is willing to take the time to reintroduce them for you like this.
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Munchie

Thank you for your input. I agree that the vet is being wonderful throughout all of this.

Ben is 9 years old. I adopted him as a kitten, along with his brother, Jerry. Jerry died last August. Hazel was meant to be company for Ben. She is now 8 months old, and they have been together just over six months. Until a week ago Sunday, they appeared to be getting along well.

I have an appointment tomorrow. At that time, I will probably release her to go to another home. I was not supposed to visit until Monday. However, I called Saturday morning, hoping for an update over the phone. When I spoke with the vet, he asked if I had time to come in and visit, without taking them from the cage. The idea was that I would say "hi" and leave.

When I arrived, Ben was at the back of the cage. Hazel was at the front, pleading for attention. One question I need to ask tomorrow is whether she is always reacting to anyone coming into the room, or if it only happens when I am there. From comments that have been made, I suspect that it is the former. (That would make it easier to allow someone else to adopt her.)
When I put my fingers through the bars of the cage, she wanted all of my attention. When Ben approached, she pushed him aside.
Even when I put fingers from both hands into the cage, she would not allow him easy access. There was no hissing; she just pushed him away. He retreated and looked sad.

She came to me from this vet's office. Ben has had all of his care from this office. The vet states that this is "exciting from a behavioral perspective." However, he admits it is also untested territory for him.

He also says that she is very needy, which I am beginning to see all too well. Benny is a very sweet, mellow giant. He weighs about l8 pounds. I live in a tiny house and separating them would be difficult. I drove away on Saturday thinking it would be best for all three of us if she were placed elsewhere. She is a very engaging animal, extremely healthy physically, has been spayed and is up to date on her shots. I trust this vet implicitly. He is one of the kindest and humanitarian people I have ever known. In a way, it does not surprise me that he is willing to work on this this way. He has helped me through the deaths of two other pets: one from an injection-site fibrosarcoma and the most recent megacolon.
Both times he was wonderful.

Thank you for your interest. This is very difficult.

Sheila

First - wow, the vet sounds great.

It sounds like you've given this a lot of serious consideration. What does your vet think? It sounds as if they are getting along better now. Obviously, Hazel is a pushy, jealous, but loving kitty. Do you think it would help if you put her up for a bit during the day to give Ben private time with you all to himself? She's right at the peak of that kitten energy age when she's nearly a full-grown cat, but still has the kitten crazies. Do you think part of the problem is that she still has too much 'play drive' for Ben to be comfortable with?

I have six cats, seven total in my tiny house, and some of them are pushier about my attention than others. I find that the ones that 'back off' from me when others push them away do find their way to me later for their 'lovins' while the others are off snoozing or otherwise occupied. Perhaps Hazel doesn't have enough to keep her distracted from Ben?

It seems they all mine have their special areas of the house where they feel the most confident. I have two that hang out mostly in the bedroom and always expect me to take time for them when I'm in there, one that's my kitchen table cat, who asks for pets while she's on the table, and with the other three, my ultra-confident ones, it's wherever, whenever. I didn't really think about it until I was pondering your situation, but they almost never demand my attention unless they are in their favorite spots.

Anyway, just throwing some thoughts out there.

First of all, I agree about the vet. His is an incredible fellow whom I discovered mid-crisis about ten years ago. I adore him. Everyone in his office is like him.

The situation now is that all of us are home. I spoke with his office this morning, and was told that he wanted me to at least try bringing them home. I was quite apprehensive about this, to say the least. To add to the essence of the moment, the Detroit area is having a blizzard right now. (Welcome to spring in Michigan.) I woke up this morning expecting to have to say goodbye to her at the vet today.

I drove over with my heart in my mouth. He and I had a long conversation. He was at his office yesterday, even though it was Sunday, doing paper work and working with my two guys. He really "challenged" them; separating them for an hour and reintroducing them; walking them in a common carrier through the "dog" room; knocking on the side of the carrier while they were in it together. I talked about anti-anxiety meds for them, which he does not want to try.

He agrees that Hazel may just be a high-strung little girl. He assures me that if, need be, he would have no problem finding her a home. She is very engaging and solicitous of attention to everyone who goes into the cat room. I am to leave them in the carrier for an hour before letting them out, then watch them "Unobtrusively" and see what happens.

So...this is a test for all of us. I will keep you all posted.

Thank you for your interest.

Sheila

A real quick update. I let the two cats out of the carrier after an hour. They exited very tentatively and set out to explore. I have fed them, about a foot apart, and am "pretending" to just go about the business of running a household.

The blizzard rages outside: I can barely see the house across the street. This is like living in an Agatha Christie novel!!! Hazel did not like the sound of the neighbor's snowblower, but no extreme response.

So far, so good.

Sheila

Wow, it sounds so tense and spooky.

Wishing you continued good luck!

Well...The ending to my story is the one I tried so hard to avoid. Yesterday I returned Hazel to the vet's office so she can have a chance in a new home. The return home was peaceful for about two hours. Then, somehow the two cats found their way into the basement and all h**l broke loose. I then found her in the dining in the middle of a puddle of urine. Luckily, I have no carpet in there. She also flew to the window sill in the living and peed all over that. I can live with growling and hissing; I won't live with pee and poop all over. No one would be happy with that.

It was at that point that I realized she needed a new home. I threw in the towel. It was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make. However, I cannot live in a war zone and will not live with bodily fluids in inappropriate places.

There were lots of tears here yesterday and at the vet. She was still very hyped up when I got her there; even the vet commented on that. I was told "This is not the same cat who was with us for a week, even when Ben was here." There is obviously in this house that has her totally spooked. She did not settle down at all in the three or so hours she was home. I tried taking a nap with them both, and she was wired tighter than a spring.

This is extremely sad for me. I have been with pets at the times of their deaths. I had never before had to turn one back in. She was with us for almost seven months; I am trying to learn to see her as a "transition" kitty between the death of Ben's brother, Jerry, and whoever comes next. That will be a while. I need time to grieve. This hurts almost more than having a pet die. At least then, you know what happened and that nothing more can hurt them.

I hope Hazel finds a "soft spot" to land with someone who loves her as much as I tried.

Thank you for your concern.

Sheila

I am so sorry you had to give Hazel up. Those other kitties must have really scared her. I'm sure she will go to a loving home and warm somebody's heart.

Let yourself grieve, because it is a loss for you. I'll keep you and Hazel in my thoughts and prayers.