Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Brotherly love

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 9/2/2008


Question
We have 2 male cats who are brothers and are now just over 3 years old. Recently one of them went missing and the remaining cat was pinning for him and constantly crying for him. 5 days later the other cat returned and now his brother is very off with him, hissing and growling and generally stalking him around the house. His brother can't understand this agressive behaviour. Any tips on why this may be happening and how/if we can get them to get on with each other again?

Answer
Stewart,

A cat goes by smell and not by sight recognition. The cat that was missing came home with different smells on him and the brother thinks he is a different cat.

As he licks himself he will replace his own smells. Though I've never tried it I've heard people have good luck in that situation by putting a tiny drop of vanilla on each cat's forehead so they smell the same. Also rubbing the non-missing cat with a towel and then rubbing the cat that came up missing with that towel helps.

Keeping them separated and doing introductions like they were new cats meeting may be necessary, but the problem should resolve itself in a few days when the missing cat smells like himself again.

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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