Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Cat agression

Advertisement

Expert: Dear Tabbi - 1/19/2009


Question
Hi Tabbi,
We have an 8 year's old indoor female cat (neutered) that we adopted when she was 3 year's old. We recently moved to a new apartment and even though it is not at all the first time we have moved to a new place, this time her behavior has changed drastically. She has always been very affectionate cat, quiet and very friendly. Since moving to the new place, she is hissing and growling all the time - day and night. She spends most of her time sitting by the corner where she has her water and food and doesn't like to be pet at all. We have no other pets and we live high enough so that she can't see other animals around. We took her to the vet and she said she doesn't have any health problems but the vet couldn't observe none of this strange behavior as our cat displayed none of the aggressive behavior she has at home during our one and a half hour visit to the vet. We don't want to give her away, please help us understand what is making her behave like this and how can we help her! We have purchased Feliway® Cat Pheromone diffuser as well but it doesn't seem to be helping.

Answer
Nia and John,

Your cat is very stressed by the move. At 8 years old your cat is approximately 48 years old in human years. As a cat gets older they do not take stress as well as a younger cat. Also she probably smelling the scents of animals that previously lived there.

The best thing to do when you move into a different home is to keep the cat in one room with a litterbox and food and water for a few days to let the cat get used to the move. Sometimes a whole house at once is too overwhelming. Then gradually let it out to investigate the rest of the house, leaving the door open to the room that it was in as a 'safe retreat'.

She will slowly come around as she acclimates herself to the new house. Just let her be and she will slowly adapt as she put her scent on things.

You may want to talk to the vet about putting her on a short term dose of kitty Prozac. It is commonly used to calm cats that are stressed or have emotional issues.

I hope this helps.
Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

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).

Education/Credentials
***********

Awards and Honors
* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.