Hi,

Maybe someone can help us.  We live in the country and have 3 house cats.
They have been housemates all their lives.  We have 2 males and 1 female all
neutered and spayed all around 5- 7 years old.  They have always gotten
along.

Since we live in a rural area we do let them outside as there are many
predators.  Once or twice a year by accident they may get out and are
usually around the house. One evening about 2 weeks ago I left the screen
door open by accident. We heard a cat fight in the garden and ran out to
find our 2 males fighting.  We got them right into the house (maybe they had
been out an hour at most).  When they came in they started fighting again.
Our female who did not escape also started fighting with one of the males,
named Mickey.

Since that night the female and the male that escaped with Mickey will
attack Mickey viciously.  Mickey who has a very easy going temperament we
now has to stay secluded in a separate closed room.  Mickey is so scared of
being attached he will hide under the bed all the time and has defecated and
urinated with fear if the other cats approach.

I thought that perhaps Mickey had had an encounter with another cat
(although we have none on our Road) or perhaps another animals.  I bathed
Mickey and the other cats twice in the following days.  That has not helped
at all.  Mickey is scared to death, the other cats wait outside the closed
room for the chance to attack.  This is so strange for years they have been
friends.

Any suggestions?  Should we let Mickey out and just let the cats fight it
out.  I have tried to bring Mickey out and keep Mickey in a carrier in the
living room while we watch TV so the cats may all get use to each other, but
that seems not to be helping.

Thanks for any suggestions!!

Gene