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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Suddenly aggressive kitty
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Question
I hope you can help me! I have two kitties, my female is about 6 years old and the male is 4 or so. They've lived together almost incident free for the last 4 years but for some reason last night she turned hostile towards him. Hissing, growling, swatting..it's really bizarre. They've always play fought but never anything agressive like this.
The only thing I can think is that my neighbours cat across the hall is causing this disention, it howls almost constantly (either outside to be let in, or inside and lonely I'm assuming) I'm not sure what to do to calm her down! Any help would be appreciated!
Epiphany,
That is normal reaction that is called "Redirected Aggression". She is probably taking the neighbor cat's howling as a threat but she can't get to him to protect her territory so she is turning to your other cat and is behaving toward him as she would the cat out the door. If the cat is a tomcat (not neutered) then she could also be having the same reaction from that. She is not actually attacking your other cat....in her mind she is attacking the outside cat.
The best thing to do is to put her in a room by herself when she gets like that to let her calm down. I would also speak to the neighbors. They may not realize what their cat is doing and how it is upsetting yours.
Maybe you can let their cat in and let him get to know your cats. It would help his loneliness, quiet him down, and calm your cat (maybe!). Or put up some type of screen where your cats can see this 'threat'.
Tabbi
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Answers by Expert:
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
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Awards and Honors
* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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