Attack In The Night

FetchinFelines

Purfessional Cat Lady
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 3, 2017
Messages
25
Purraise
61
Location
Fingerlakes, New York
I have two kitties, Ghandi and Kitten. Creative names, I know :p

I have had Ghandi for about 9 years now, he was a rescue and I'm not sure his total age but the vet would place him around 10 - 12. He is the best cat I have ever known. He looks forward to getting attention and will do anything to get it. He plays fetch all the time, loves tummy rubs, and he is obsessed with cheese! He has never scratched, bit, hissed, or done anything a 'bad cat' would do.

I decided about 6 years ago to get another kitten. I was working a ton and felt bad that Ghandi, as social as he is was left alone so often. Kitten was also a rescue from a terrible situation. I nursed him back to health and slowly brought them together.

They respect one another and even play together. Until about 6 months ago. Kitten will stalk and tackle Ghandi. At first I thought it was just them evolving and playing differently, nobody drew blood and it would stop as quickly as it started.

Last night, 3AM I was woken up by Ghandi just screaming ( I don't really know how else to describe it). I got up and ran out to investigate and separated them immediately. Ghandi looked terrified, his whole demeanor changed. I snuggled him and finally he fell asleep on the bed with me and kitten was in the living room. Even when I got up this morning 4 hours later Ghandi was afraid to leave the room.

The violence of these 'attacks' has increased and last night was just so terrifying. I don't want anything to happen to either of my kitties. I love them and I feel so helpless with this situation. I don't know why there was a sudden change of behavior in kitten. I haven't moved, changed their food or any other changes that could explain this behavior.

I will be taking him to the vet, but I've heard some scary things about vets prescribing incorrect medication to felines with behavioral changes. Has anyone experienced this? Does anyone have any recommendations?

Any help is so appreciated!
 

madzoya

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 19, 2017
Messages
226
Purraise
90
Location
Portugal
Take Ghandi to the vet too. Kitten can be sensing something wrong with Ghandi and attacking because of it.

Rule out sickeness first, in either cat, before you starting thinking in behavioral medication. Most agressive behaviours in cats that have bonded for a long time are due to some kind of ailment on one of them.

Try to keep them separate when you cannot surpervise.

Best of luck and keep us informed.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

FetchinFelines

Purfessional Cat Lady
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 3, 2017
Messages
25
Purraise
61
Location
Fingerlakes, New York
I hadn't thought of that, thank you! I will be making an appointment today for them both to go in. I didn't have the supplies to set up separate areas before work today so I'm taking a long lunch getting an extra litter box and food dish to get them set up. I hope they have been okay in the meantime.

I will keep you updated!:)
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

FetchinFelines

Purfessional Cat Lady
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 3, 2017
Messages
25
Purraise
61
Location
Fingerlakes, New York
Take Ghandi to the vet too. Kitten can be sensing something wrong with Ghandi and attacking because of it.

Rule out sickeness first, in either cat, before you starting thinking in behavioral medication. Most agressive behaviours in cats that have bonded for a long time are due to some kind of ailment on one of them.

Try to keep them separate when you cannot surpervise.

Best of luck and keep us informed.

Update: The soonest my vet can take them is Friday. I'm setting up the spare room as a kitty hotel in the meantime to keep them separated, at least at night and when I'm not home.

I will post another update as the week goes by.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

FetchinFelines

Purfessional Cat Lady
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 3, 2017
Messages
25
Purraise
61
Location
Fingerlakes, New York
They were ok when you got home? How is Ghandi, hopefully a little less stressed.

Hang on!
Thank you for asking! Ghandi is okay and nothing seemed out of place when I got home! So relieved!! Ill keep a close eye on them tonight though! I'm looking forward to the vet on friday.:)
 

susanm9006

Willow
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Messages
13,151
Purraise
30,218
Location
Minnesota
I have had situations in the past where the older cat did just fine with the kitten throughout its early kittenhood. But the older the older the kitten got the less tolerant the adult cat got until they reached the point where they simply couldn't be close to one another without the howling and slapping going on. No one ever got hurt but the noise drove me crazy. They lived this way for about seven years until the elder cat died.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #8

FetchinFelines

Purfessional Cat Lady
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 3, 2017
Messages
25
Purraise
61
Location
Fingerlakes, New York
They were ok when you got home? How is Ghandi, hopefully a little less stressed.

Hang on!
I'm so glad to say that we got home from the vet and everything is going well! I live in an apartment complex, the vet told me that this is most likely a display of displaced aggression towards a new kitty on the block Kitten may have seen in the window.

They recommend I get Feliway Multi cat, It's like a glade plug in with natural Pheromones that relax the kitties. It's plugged in and so far things are going great!

Thank you for your support! :rock::kneading:
 
Top