kieren1234 Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Hi all, i have had my two indoor cats for around 2 years now. They have always been very close and well behaved. They have the occassional scuffle but have always been fine with each other after. Yesterday me and the missus got in from work to find the appartment an absolute mess, there were carrier bags ripped to shreds, one of the cat have poo'd under the bed and wee'd on the window and window sill. We got the whole place cleaned up and then noticed that niether cat would go near each other without really growling and hissing. We thought they would be ok once they both calmed down but one of the cats will not leave my side now and is petrified of the other one. Does anoyone know what could have happened and why they are acting like this all of a sudden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supra_aero Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 that is interesting. My girl friend has fostered over 7 cats in her time (had 4 at the same time once). I'll run this by her when I get home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kieren1234 Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 That would be really appreciated. The missus is worried that we may have to get rd of one if it carries on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pabs Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 We have similar issues at home as well - 3 indoor cats and 1 of the 3 is the "odd one out" - always fighting with the other 2. Usually just a minor scuffle, but I'm sure it's getting worse recently. The "odd one" (lol) is also still putting on weight (perhaps depression?) and we can't get her to lose it. Would like to see what is suggested on here also! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
broomie Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Are they both tom cats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spidermonkey Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 do the cats share the same food/litter/water etc, if they do try seperating them at meal times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkR Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 We've had many cats over the years and all of them got on, as they were all females. Since we had a mixture of male/female, the males are the troublemakers. We got the latest batch all at the same time 2 males, 2 females (so they grew up together). The males do bully the females quite a lot. Just reread this and it sounds like we're killing them. Sadly they all died from either old age or cars have run them over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kieren1234 Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 Thanks for the help guys. The cats are both females from the same litter. Both have been spayed. Milly has always been the bossy one and is slightly bigger/more agressive than Felix, who has never attacked us or bitten us before as she is very laid back. It seems that Felix just wants to go to Milly for love but Milly is so agressive it is like she is posessed. They have a bowl each for their food but have a joint water bowl, they share an enclosed litter tray. I will seperate their food etc and try to reintroduce them gradually. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spidermonkey Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 also are they free to go where they please inside the house, maybe you could separate them at night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 How old are they? What sex are the cats? Do they have seperate litter trays? Seperate food and water dishes? Are they neutered? Do you spend time with them both each day (playing, grooming etc) or are they left to their own devices? Has one of them been out to a vet recently? Sometimes they pick up new scents and the other cat can't recognise them so thinks they are a new cat and gets defensive. In the short-term you need identify any changes in the house (inside or outside) that could have triggered this and possible seperate them for a while, keep each one in a different room and then swap them around as necessary, feed them close to each other but on either side of a door so they can smell and hear the other but not feel threatened. It could be something as simple as a local cat wandering past and them feeling threatened about their space but more than likely it'll be them deciding which one is more dominant. If they seem to have calmed down try opening the door a little to see what happens, if they fight again move them apart. The house wrecking could be as a result of them running away from each other but if they are tearing things up it suggests they are static and just simply bored - more toys, more time spent with you on an evening / morning may be needed. You might also want to look in to Feliway products as a way of calming them, it can help chill them out a bit. Probably lots of info on the 'net if you bother to google "indoor cats fighting" I would imagine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkR Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 ...and for crying out loud stop feeding them cat-nip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 We have two cats (boy/girl) and they both really didnt like each other at first. Growling, hissing fighting and wouldnt stay in the same room. Then, after reading an online cat site I found a spray which our vet had recommended. If your interested I'll find out the name when I get home tonight. (PM me to remind me) Anyway,.. After using spray the cat flap, toys, bed etc.., both cats completely changed over night. Cleaning each other, sleeping together and sharing food. One cat is just about to have kittens. Result Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkR Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 We have two cats (boy/girl) and they both really didnt like each other at first. Growling, hissing fighting and wouldnt stay in the same room. Then, after reading an online cat site I found a spray which our vet had recommended. If your interested I'll find out the name when I get home tonight. (PM me to remind me) Anyway,.. After using spray the cat flap, toys, bed etc.., both cats completely changed over night. Cleaning each other, sleeping together and sharing food. One cat is just about to have kittens. Result Do they make this for humans? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky-Ricky Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 I'll ask the misses about the spray, we have used it to stop our Siamese toms spraying, didn't work, but it does have a calming affect, other than that, i would be inclined to take both cats to the vet and get them checked over, it could be that one of them is ill, cats will pick up on that and go for the weaker/sick one, will see what the misses says. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Do they make this for humans? yep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kieren1234 Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 The cats are free to roam wherever they like in the appartment apart from the spare bedroom where the Bearded Dragons vivarium is. Michael - They must be coming up to around 3 years old, female as stated, have one litter tray that they have always used and never done it anywhere else untill now, they have both been spayed, they have seperate food bowls but are next to each other. Its hard to spend 'alot' of time with them as i work a split shift at work but Kirstie is with them all the time after 5 and i am with them after 9 for a while before bed. We play with them alot and brush them and give both equal attention. None of them have been to the vet recently. There have been no changes in the house at all and nothing outside either. We live above the ground floor and my cats sometimes spot the cats that live below us out of the window but seem more curious than threatened. Milly has always been the dominent one but if she pushes felix too far, she will fight back and put her in her place. I will have a look into these feliway products. I have been told to go to 'Holland and Barrett' to get some sort of tablet that alot of people use for dogs on fireworks night to calm them down. Suprastar/trickyricky - if you can get me the name of this spray please it would be great. We have catnip sprays/treats etc which i will try with them both tonight. We had alot of problems with Felix when we first got her, she had two lumps in her undercarriage the size of tennis balls and was told by the vet it was a hormonal reaction and they ad filledwith milk. After getting her spayed it sorted this and she has been fine since. Many thanks to everyones help. I will do a little research and see what happens but fear one of them will have to go if they dont begin to get along again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 It could simply be that they had a scuffle that got a bit too rough. We have a boy and girl, brother and sister, both snipped, they clearly love each other cos they lay next to each other and stuff, but when they fight (which they do regularly) they look quite aggressive, we know they're not because if one gets a bit too rough the other starts yelping and will get away and run off, then it's back to normal. It could be that one was playing in a carrier bag and the other started attacking her, and because of being in the bag she couldn't fight back properly and it all got a bit out of hand. If this is the case they will eventually get over it and go back to normal, believe it or not cats do remember stuff for some time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kieren1234 Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 It could simply be that they had a scuffle that got a bit too rough. We have a boy and girl, brother and sister, both snipped, they clearly love each other cos they lay next to each other and stuff, but when they fight (which they do regularly) they look quite aggressive, we know they're not because if one gets a bit too rough the other starts yelping and will get away and run off, then it's back to normal. It could be that one was playing in a carrier bag and the other started attacking her, and because of being in the bag she couldn't fight back properly and it all got a bit out of hand. If this is the case they will eventually get over it and go back to normal, believe it or not cats do remember stuff for some time! Very reassuring mate. Thanks. I hope you are right, i just want them to get back to normal because the missus will be worrying too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 The first time I had to FrontLine Scamp, it was hard work getting him to stay still while we got him with the squeezy thing, so I had to hold him tight stopping his front legs moving. He wouldn't let me go near him afterwards, always ran past me in fear, even hissed at me once. Took about 3 days but he eventually went back to normal and forgave me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keancy Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 The first time I had to FrontLine Scamp, it was hard work getting him to stay still while we got him with the squeezy thing, so I had to hold him tight stopping his front legs moving. He wouldn't let me go near him afterwards, always ran past me in fear, even hissed at me once. Took about 3 days but he eventually went back to normal and forgave me! They hate that don't they lol? Mine gets propper moody when I frontline him too, so I tend to do it just before bedtime. Come morning he has forgotten Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkR Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 yep http://www.general-anaesthesia.com/images/chloroform-bottle.jpg Love your work.. how about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkR Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 I'd be careful with cat-nip. We tried it and it made them mental for about an hour an then they went to sleep. It's like Ecstacy for cats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kieren1234 Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 What do you mean 'frontline' ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spidermonkey Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 What do you mean 'frontline' ?? drops you put on the cats neck for killing fleas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 One cat is just about to have kittens. Result Yours, I assume? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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