Expert: Brandy - 1/4/2007

Question
"My cat lollipop has been staying overnight having a drip at the Vets as she was dehydrated and lethargic.  On returning home today, our other cat Gem who is a sibling has done nothing but hiss & spit at her at times even batting at her!  How can we stop this behaviour as they've usually got on with each other."

Answer
Dear Nigel - Do you remember the weird smells of a hospital, or specifically, the vet hospital, and how it does not smell like home? Poor Lollipop smells like the vet's, plus she may also smell 'sick', and Gem may not recognize the odors. Lollipop's need for medical intervention (and from experience with our own cat needing treatment for dehydration, this was likely drastic, though I am glad she seems to be well enough to come home) could also change her behavior, making her seem 'out of it'. You didn't list how long Lollipop was at the vets, but she may have been gone long enough for Gem to forget her smell, and when she returned home, she may have lost a bit of weight and not looked the same (I could be wrong on how cats deal with each other in interpersonal relationships, but I'm relaying what I recall how my cats behave to each other).

At this time, your main focus should be Lollipop, and her condition is still fragile. Don't think it too cruel to keep the cats apart, even placing Lollipop in a spare room or bathroom, or even crate where she can stay warm and free from stress. A crate could also allow Gem to see Lollipop and become reacquainted with her without harming the sick kitty.

Don't forget to also cater to Gem (hey, who says we can't baby our cats?), feeding her near Lollipop so they still notice each other. Again, keep your focus on Lollipop, and as she recovers, I'm sure things in the household should return to normal.

Good luck.