So odd, cats not getting along

[nursegirl6572]

Hey everyone!

I cannot figure this out, it's too weird.  I have the two cats, a fixed male and fixed female, from the same litter, brother and sister.  They're 1.  These cats grew up lying together, playing together, eating together, all of that.  Well, for the last week or so, Sassy is very nasty with Caesar, swatting at him and hissing at him anytime he gets anywhere near her.  SHE is definitely the one being the aggressor.  He just usually walks away.  This has been happening every day, and pretty much most times when he's near her.

Any ideas?  It's just so weird!  They're indoor/outdoor, probably about 50/50, and they come in at night.

Thanks for any help!

[h4567]

Hope Sassy calms down.  I had one cat and two kittens not related to the cat.  The kittens were feral, but we rescued them as soon as they were weaned.  The kittens were vaccinated, spayed and complete entertainment.  The older cat, Isabel tolerated them but her feelings were hurt.  The kittens still rolled in the floor, wrestled and played hide and seek.  The bad/sad news is that they are all 50/50 indoor/outdoor, and one of the kittens got into the neighbors yard and did not make it (the dog).  My older cat has resumed the alpha role and the 18-month old kitten has never regained her care free attitude.  Cali plays but she is not happy!  It has been 6-months, and I have purchased her toys, play time....any suggestions???

[nursegirl6572]

Well, vet visit was not very helpful.  Both kitties got a "clean bill of health" minus their blood work (which I'm waiting on).  The vet and vet tech pretty much told me all the same things YOU guys did, as far as to explain away her sudden behavior change towards Caesar.  The vet asked if Sassy had changed her behavior towards anyone/anything else, like us, the dogs, etc.  I haven't noticed any other behavioral issues, except with her brother.

I just really hope, besides the obvious, that nothing is wrong with my kids, that this is not a permanent thing.  :0(

[nursegirl6572]

Sigh, I spoke too soon.

She's right back to being a nasty thing.  He cannot get anywhere near her without her hissing and swatting.  Poor little dude will just be walking by and she's hissing at him.  Ironically, she sits next to him when they're eating, with no issues.  It's driving me nuts, it's just SO strange.  I really hope it's nothing, and I hope she shapes up!

I'll let you know what the vet says (besides "ca-ching!" lol).  Appt is later today.

[Pebbles5]

oh, wanted to add that we use a spray bottle to break up any fights. Pooba is fixed and he never had interest in his female friend Pebbles that way.  He does think she is pretty and copies her behaviors sometimes.  

[Pebbles5]

My 2 indoor cats (not related) get along fine but will react against each other on occasions where there is an "intruder" outside the window.  One will meow at the outside kitty and then if the other cat approaches he will be aggressive to her almost like they are confused as to who is who or maybe it's like "stay away, this one's mine!! " type thing.  It is always just a few minutes though whereas yours sounds more long term which is strange. Another time I brought one cat back from the vet and the other got mad at it like it was brand new kitty I brought home!  This gives me the impression it could be another scent issue.  Checkups are good to be safe though just to make sure not a health concern. (especially since brother & sister).  

[zodiacqueen]

Hi, glad to hear that Sassy is doing better.  I am also hoping that she was just being, uh....."hormonal"!!!  LOL

[nursegirl6572]

Just an update, as I promised one....  ;0)

I called the vet, they weren't overly concerned, but I booked an appt anyway for both of them this week.

Sassy seems to be doing a little better, she doesn't seem as aggressive as she was being.  Fingers crossed she was just being bi**chy!  LOL

Thanks again for the advice and concern!

[nursegirl6572]

Thanks ladies.

Sassy isn't doing the wood pile thing anymore, but I agree it was out of character.  I might as well just take both of them in and see what the vet thinks.

I'll let you know what I found out.

BTW, Sassy actually ate out of her bowl while Caesar ate out of his next to her tonight.  Lately she's been waiting til he's done.  She was definitely apprehensive though, not like before when they would both run and eat, sometimes even sharing a bowl if they felt like it.

[AnnieBrooke]

One last possibility is if Caesar has an odd smell, like (if it were our dogs) getting skunked.  

Anyway, in your shoes I'd check the Sassy health angle first.

Another thing for fighting cats -- drop a blanket over them, throw water on them.  Usually, though, cat fights are more posture and vocals than they are bites.

[zodiacqueen]

Hi, when you said that she's spending a lot of time under the wood pile and she doesn't come when she's called tells me that it's out of character for her and it is time for a vet visit.

I honestly think that this is something you should look into.

Best wishes

[nursegirl6572]

Thanks again both of you!

If I hadn't have asked, I might have found myself posting in the dermatology section, ouch!  

Hopefully it never gets to that, but if it does, now I know what to do (and NOT do!!!)  ;0)

[AKC_75]

Throw a pillow on/at them. And by throw I dont mean with force!! The goal is to startle them enough that they stop, then u can direct their attention to something else.

[CML2014]

OH LORD, Nurse, NEVER but a body part between two fighting cats. You will be bit up pretty badly. You must use a broom or mop or something that  cannot be harmed if they want to tear it up.

Seriously, I have seen too many people with their hands completely ripped up thinking they could push one away to separate them.

That is what we resorted to at the shelter anyway.

Others may have better ideas....but a definite NO to YOU getting in between them, LOL!!!!

CML

[nursegirl6572]

Sorry for the multiple, rapid fire posts, lol, but I just thought of something, not sure if it's relevant.

A few weeks ago, sassy was spending a LOT of time under our wood pile (it has a tarp on it).  She loves it in there, but for a while, she was spending most of her time there, and wouldn't always come when I called her (which is out of character for her).  

Wonder if something had her freaked out or something?

[nursegirl6572]

IMO its something that will pass, but worth keeping an eye on...hopefully it will just be hisses and no out and out fighting:(

Ya know, I was reading through your replies again, and thought I'd address this.  What the H do I do if they start actually fighting????  Yikes.  I've never been in the middle of a cat fight, and I've never witnessed one.  Do you try to intervene?

Oh Lord, hope it doesn't come to that!  But, it's good to be prepared!

[nursegirl6572]

Wow, you guys are so smart!  Thanks for the ideas!  I'm going to keep a closer eye on both of them, to see if anything doesn't look quite right.  


"Other possibility is that they missed an ovary when she was spayed and she is going into heat.  A cat of mine had that happen once. "

I was wondering if it maybe had something to do with heat, etc...even though she was fixed.  I haven't noticed any other behavior from her that would indicate that, but I may have missed it too.  I'm obviously not watching them 24/7.  This may be a REALLY dumb question, but if Sassy wasn't fixed, and Caesar was, would he still be interested in mating?  Do male cats lose their drive when they're fixed, or not?

Thanks a million guys, for all of the ideas.  I'll definitely update you.  If it doesn't get better in another few days, they're going for a check up.

[AnnieBrooke]

My cat got like that when she had gotten bitten by a strange cat and had an abscess on her tail that I couldn't see.  I'd pat her and she'd hiss.  Try looking over the hissing cat (not the other cat) and see if she has any injuries.

Other possibility is that they missed an ovary when she was spayed and she is going into heat.  A cat of mine had that happen once.

Anyway, I would be less likely to think Caesar has the problem as Sassy.

[CML2014]

Hi Nursegirl.

Could be exactly what ZQ and Opus said....or you could check Ceasar out at the vets. Sometimes when a cat is sick we may not see it, but other cats can sense it, and will shun those animals ....sometimes!

That happened to a little cat in our rescue. We would have never known she was sick, but she kept sitting right in the middle of the room, and many of the cats hissed at her. Finally we thought, she is making herself SOOOO obvious, maybe she is trying to tell us something....DUH!!! Dumb Humans--she had a very a little tumor on her intestine. They removed it and she was good as new. Cats are so smart----they just put up with us.
Honestly they must think " and these guys are the top of the food chain"???

Just a thought and while your looking for answers might want to check Ceasar out.. Poor guy has lost his MoJo!!!

All the best and let us know what you find out, K?
CML

[zodiacqueen]

Could Sassy possibly be sick?  Anything you can think of that's a little off about her lately?  How is she eating?  Drinking?  Weight?  Hiding?  Sitting in an unusual position?

This sounds like an all of a sudden thing.  There most definitely is a reason for this personality change.  If everything is okay w/ the issues I mentioned above, then it could be that maybe her brother got a little rough playing w/ her and she's got an attitude about it.  Cats can and do hold grudges.  LOL

[opus88]

well that is kinda strange...my first thoughts since they are indoor/outdoor is could Ceasar have come across and picked up the scent of another cat and Sassy is not recognizing him b/c cats go strictly on scent.
or perhaps Sassy is not feeling well and being cranky?....maybe someone else will weigh in on their thoughts....
IMO its something that will pass, but worth keeping an eye on...hopefully it will just be hisses and no out and out fighting:(