E-collar Agression

Hi - I have 2 cats (Max and Milo, both about 10) and they've always been best friends - no fighting, they would play together and groom each other. Max has been in an e-collar for about 10 days and Milo has been staying away from him because of it. This morning Max (in the e-collar) tried to play/chase Milo and scared him. Now Milo is hissing/growling at Max whenever he comes near him (and Max isn't taking the hint to stay away). I tried taking the collar off and putting them together but Milo was still hissing at him. Any suggestions on how to keep the peace until the collar comes off for good? Right now I have them separated, but that can't continue. Will they ever be friends again? Please help!

Hi! The e-collar could have a smell to it that is changing the scent of Max to Milo. But, since Milo is also hissing at Max when he isn't wearing the collar, could it be a medication that Max is on that his changing his scent?

You could also try rubbing Milo's scent onto Max's e-collar to see if that might help.

I would suspect that once the e-collar is gone (and/or any medications are done) they will become friends again. It might just take some time.

Additionally, you might, once the collar is gone and the meds are finished, try rubbing a bit of REAL vanilla extract on each cat. Has to be the real stuff, though. Imitation just doesn't do it.

Thank you both for responding! Mamanyt1953 - what will the vanilla extract do? Do I just put a little on their heads?

I'd stroke it from neck down the spine. It actually is a pleasant smell to cats as well as humans, and will make BOTH cats smell the same. Or that's the theory. Maybe they just can't resist someone who smells like a cookie.

I'll give it a shot. Thank you!

Certainly worth a try. It isn't infallible, but nothing with cats is. It does work often enough to be a "go to" remedy. Let us know if it does the trick.