Expert: Kate Tilmouth - 4/15/2010

Question
One of my female cats had a litter 4 weeks ago and she has been kept in a separate room with her kittens but everytime our other female cat comes in contact with the mum or kittens she hisses and growls at them. Also recently the same female cat has also started growling and hissing at our male cat and although usually they are kept separate unless either myself or one of my housemates is in the same room with them, Unfortunately however there was one day again about 4 weeks ago that my housemate left them alone together. Could this behaviour mean that my second female cat is now pregnant? And if so will this agressive behaviour stop once she has had a litter? If it turns out that she is not pregnant, what can be done to calm her behaviour? She has never had a problem with either cat prior to the last 4 weeks even when my other female was pregnant!!

Answer
Hi
well this sort of behavior is not associated with a cat being pregnant as far as I am aware.

i would say it is more likely that she is feeling a little insecure and perhaps a little uncertain about her position in the home now that new kittens have arrived.

cats will often display aggressive behavior when they are afraid.

i would say that she may need some time alone so that she can calm down a little and then to be slowly reintroduced to the other cats over a period of days.

If the behavior continues you can try those faraway room scenters which are supposed to help calm cats down. Although i have never tried them myself.

My final advice would be that if the behavior continues then a i would have her checked at the vets in case there is some medical reason which is causing this behavior. She may be not feeling well and again fearful because of it.

i would say though that having so many cats especially un spayed or neutered ones in the same home is always going to cause friction.

i hope she is Ok again soon

best wishes Kate
http://www.our-happy-cat.com