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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/My cats suddenly became aggressive

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 11/14/2008


Question
HI yesterday we left the house and apparently someone did not shut the door tight enough so they may have gotten out. We came home some time later and found that our home had been the subject of some bizzare cat accident, it seems our female crapped all over the house so after cleaning up the mess we ate dinner then all of a sudden our female seen our male and went visciouly crazy and attacking him, now we have to keep them separated our male is so confused he does not know what is going on but as soon as she sees him she goes absolutely nuts and trys to tear him apart. What has happened did he hurt her or something to provoke this?

Help please this is distressing as she is still nursing her last kitten.

Answer
Suzanne,

Something has frightened her very badly, or threatened her kitten. Could another animal have gotten in the house? She may also have been bred if she got out? Because she is reacting like she is in pain.

I would put her and her kitten in a room by themselves for a few days with a litterbox and her food and water, and let her calm down. Your male may or may not have been the one that upset her. He may just be the victim of her reactions.

If she is not better soon, I would have a vet check her out.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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