Kitty Corner
Keep your feline fine. Read Bideawee's cat behavior tips to learn how!
Cat Fight?What are caring pet parents to do when their cats begin behaving like mortal enemies, instead of two peas in a pod? Sometimes cats who have been buddies for years begin hissing, swatting, and even fighting with one another. Their human friends may have no idea what has brought about the unhappy change and may, sadly, even think of re-homing one of the cats. This need not be the case. Solving this mysterious behavior may simply be a matter of doing a little detective work.
Has one of the cats recently visited the vet or the groomer? The other feline might simply not recognize her buddy's scent. Cats are extremely sensitive to smell. Their noses contain three times as many scent receptors as humans' noses do. Familiarity is also of paramount importance to a cat, as is territory, so any unfamiliar scent may result in a turf war of sorts. Try rubbing a washcloth on the cat that remained at home, and then gently rub it on his former buddy. Do this several times to thoroughly mix their scents, then give them both delicious treats while they are clearly within site of each other. Shared play time with a feather teaser or other favorite interactive toy may be substituted for the treats.
If neither cat has recently traveled, then the cause may lie closer to home. Perhaps a loud noise frightened them both, and in the confusion, one lashed out at the other, viewing his friend as the source of the noise. Now one or the other continues to associate her housemate as a threat.
Another possible cause of sudden aggression may be the presence of an outdoor cat in your neighborhood. Maybe one of your cats has seen this intruder in your yard, and frustrated by the inability to defend his territory, is taking it out on his pal. Block off your cats' view, or move his favorite perch to another window.
Temporarily separating the cats may be the best course of action in either of these two scenarios. Keep them apart for several days, and then switch rooms. Do not let them see each other at all during this time. Make sure both cats have their favorite bedding, toys, and plenty of attention from you, of course!
During this time, feed them their favorite food and treats on opposite sides of the connecting door. Try stringing a toy on each end of a kitty teaser and let them pull it back and forth under the door. The key is to get them to associate each other with positive experiences.
Now open the door a tiny bit, but wedge something under the door to prevent access, and continue the previous routine. Always praise the cats when they interact peacefully with one another. Never scold them as this will only cause them to be more stressed and confused, and may exacerbate the situation.
If all is going well, you may start letting them be in the same room, under supervision, of course. If any hissing or fighting begins, return to the previous routine. This process may take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. If you are patient and thorough in your approach, your cats should return to their former feline friendly selves!
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Building Kitty's Confidence!
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Play Nice
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The Verticle Scratcher
What to do with Kitty while on vacation
Let's Talk Litter!
Let's Talk Litter, Part Two
Getting Kitty Ready for Baby
Moving With Your Cat
How to Get Some Sleep If You Have a Noisy Cat
Playtime for Seniors! Older Cats Are Frisky Too!
Ideas for Inexpensive, Homemade Cat Toys
Sew Velcro strips into the sock opening so it can be closed up and easily reopened. Next, fill the sock with batting, scrap fabric, or dried catnip, and seal shut. In no time, your kitty will have a new favorite plaything!
