AboutJessica Expertise I have bred Siamese cats and have years of experience caring for homeless, feral, orphaned, and terminally ill cats. I am knowledgeable in cat behavior, health, history, troubleshooting, breeds, coat patterns and colors, and trivia.
Experience I have extensive experience with cats ranging from breeding to at-home medical care to rescuing homeless cats and placing them in homes. I have assisted cats giving birth and hand-nursed kittens who were neglected by their mother from 2 days old through weaning. I have given supportive care to cats suffering from diabetes, terminal cancer, feline leukemia, feline infectious peritonits, and kidney, liver, and heart failure. I have been through chemotherapy with two of my cats who had lymphoma and have also been through many cutting edge surgeries with my special needs cats.
Question QUESTION: I have 1 dog and 2 cats. The older cat and dog have lived together for 6 years. The younger cat has been around for 4 years. Today, out of the blue the older cat started hissing and screaming at my dog after the dog had been outside. THe younger one joined in as well. I haven't heard the cat do this except for one time when she had a UTI but has no other signs of a UTI at this time. Do you think my dog got a scent on her outside that the cats are reacting to? If so, how do I get rid of it?
ANSWER: Hi Beth. I think it does make sense that your dog could have picked up a strange scent outside. You could try bathing your dog or dusting her coat with a cornstarch-based baby powder, or a combination of both (just be sure she’s completely dry before dusting her coat with baby powder). Baby powder is non-toxic, and the fragrance will help mask any scents that your dog may have picked up outside.
However, it may be past the point of the scent itself being the cause of their aggression. They may now associate the dog with the strange scent, and the dog’s simple presence may be causing the fear is feeding itself. If the baby powder trick doesn’t seem to work, you should keep the cats completely separated from the dog for a couple of days. Once the cats have had a chance to relax, you can try reintroducing them to your dog.
You may also want to try using a product called Feliway during this time. It can help reduce anxiety and prevent anxiety-related behaviors, such as aggression. You can learn more about how it works at www.feliway.com Feliway is available at most pet stores.
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QUESTION: Thank you so much! I didn't know about the baby powder trick! I did wash my dog last night (3 times actually to try and really get rid of the scent). So far today, they seem to be ok. Not completely their normal selves but better. It makes sense to think they now associate the scent with just the sight of her. I didn't think of that. Any idea what kind of scent would make them act that way? I'm nervous each time I let my dog back in from outside now! Thanks again!
Answer I think your dog most likely picked up some sort of animal scent, perhaps from the grass or bushes outdoors. The scent of other cats is most often the trigger of this sort of reaction. It could be a cat had just been spraying in the area and your dog came in contact with some of the vegetation that was sprayed. But cats have such sensitive noses that they may have picked up on anything your dog came in contact with! Hopefully this was an isolated incident. At least now you have a couple tricks up your sleeve. Good luck!
