Problem with two indoor cats.

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Cknott - 20 May 2006 03:32 GMT

I've got two indoor cats, brothers and we have had them since they were
about 8 weeks old. They have always gotten along great....

Until today...

Last night, one of them got outside for a few hours and we got him back
inside in the morning. But now, the one cat who was indoor is violently
wanting to fight with the cat who escaped outside. They have never done this
before. Not play fighting but real fighting. They are doing nothing but
hissing and spitting at each other and even getting into major fights.

Both cats are neutered.

is this normal cat behavior and will it pass?

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Catnabbit - 20 May 2006 04:00 GMT

> Last night, one of them got outside for a few hours and we got him back
> inside in the morning. But now, the one cat who was indoor is violently
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> is this normal cat behavior and will it pass?

This is normal. The cat who escaped probably acquired a new scent and it has not worn off yet, and your other cat hasn't gotten used to it. Since the cats have spent their entire lives together, it will probably pass within a few days or a week. If they get especially hostile you might want to try and separate them and re-introduce them slowly.

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sriddles@aol.com - 20 May 2006 06:09 GMT

> I've got two indoor cats, brothers and we have had them since they were
> about 8 weeks old. They have always gotten along great....
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> is this normal cat behavior and will it pass?

I don't think that's too unusual. Your kitty who was outside came in
with strange smells about him, and the other kitty doesn't like it.
Mine always hiss & spit when one comes back from the vet's office. I
bet they're buddies again by tomorrow.

Sherry

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oldhickory - 20 May 2006 20:34 GMT

Heck, one of ours tried to beat the stuffing out of the kitten (more
exhuberantly than usual) when she returned from spaying at the vet. It's
definately the smells. It wore off the next day and the hissing and
nastiness was finished. But we had to keep them apart for a week to keep
them from knocking the stitches out in their 'usual' rough housing.

>> I've got two indoor cats, brothers and we have had them since they were
>> about 8 weeks old. They have always gotten along great....
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> Sherry

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Pamela Kinloch - 01 Jun 2006 20:08 GMT

Hi there,

I thought I'd let you know a similar thing happened to my 2 cats a few
months ago. I did some research on it and here's what I've come up with.

Firstly, when a cat gets a fright (mine fell out the window) their anal sac
can burst excreting a really strong smell which is offensive to other cats.

Secondly, if they don't get outdoors and one does, it can bring in the
scents of other animals and the cat that hasn't been outside automatically
takes this as a threat.

We solved the problem by getting an old towel and rubbing the cat who was
outside with it and then rubbing the other cat to get it used to the scent.
Leave the towel around for them to play with and roll in. It will probably
take a few days for them to get back to being friends.

Hope this is of use and try not to worry too much. They'll work it out.

Pamela

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