cat hissing/growing the other cat (eating, vomiting, smells, furniture)

[flyingsaucermom]

I just want to get confirmation as to what's going on tonight.... I have two boy cats. Younger one was brought in as a 8 week old and now he's almost 3. Both cats get along just fine... usually...

It's been kind of a weird 24 hours... we had been boarding some friend's cats for a month and younger one, Twinky, pretty much wanted nothing to do with our room (they were in the master suite). Thomas, the older, was far more curious and we allowed him to come in from time to time and hang out.

So last night the cats left and I went in and cleaned the room and moved our stuff back in. First time in a month I've left the area open. That's a change...

Also, too, I had to take Thomas to the vet because he's been vomiting (likely it's UBD, but the kind that makes them vomit, not poop). When I brought Thomas home he went and hid for a few hours like usual, but when he decided to come out for dinner and Twinky came too.. the odd thing happened: Twinky was hissing and growling at Thomas.

My husband says it's because Thomas smells like the vet. I think he's likely right.

I was just wondering if this has happened with other people's cats.

[savoytruffle]

Yep, your husband is right. Cats rely hugely on scent and sometimes act like they don't recognize their friends at all when they come back from the vet. I don't think it's uncommon.

I would separate them for a while and then see if Twinky gets over it in due time. If not, you might have to reintroduce the cats completely. I had to do this with my cats after we moved - one cat acted like he didn't even know his brother. I think he reacted that way because of the stress of the move and the fact that my parents gave us some furniture that had their own cat's scent on it. After about a week of being separated and then reintroduced, my cat was fine.

[CSD610]

Cai does that to Suze when Suze has been outside for a few minutes or an hour then comes back inside.
Cai also hisses and carries on at Suze when she can see her through the door outside.
They go to the vet together so we don't have that issue.

[Rene S]

Oh yes, it's used to happen all of the time at our house when our Tucker was alive. When we brought the cat(s) who had been to the vet, we would feed everyone separately and shut Tucker in a room for an hour or so. After eating and a little time alone, things would calm down.

[CatwomanofV]

Yup-whenever one or more would go to the vet, they would start growling. Sometimes when they ALL go. They don't like the vet and that smell just reminds them of it. It will go away before long and all things will go back to normal-well, as normal as it can be with cats. lol



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