Hissing and Fighting

[rinab9]

Hi. I got my two cats almost one year ago. I have two cats - a 3-4 year old female and a 2 year old female (they are mother and daughter; both are spayed). They’ve essentially been together their whole life. They sleep in the same room and have always gotten along fine but today they started fighting.

The first fight happened in the morning. One hisses at the other whenever they make eye contact and the hissing went on for like 5-7 times. I then separated them for a bit and continued to do so all day but once they met again, there was more hissing and fighting. Right now we decided to separate them and they are sleeping in separate rooms for the night.

I’m really really sad and upset and I don’t know what to do. I’m going to try and reintroduce them in the morning and if they fight again, we’re going to continue to separate them strictly for a bit. What should I do to resolve this? I’m extremely worried and sad because this has never happened before. Please help.

 

[Norachan]

Has anything changed at home recently? Have either of the cats been to the vet or the groomers, anywhere that would make them smell different?

What`s it like around your home, are there other animals outside, feral cats in the neighbourhood, raccoons or any other wildlife that might be coming close to your house?

If two cats that used to be friendly start hissing at each other it`s usually because they can smell something unusual. Either another animal or smells from the vet. In some cases it can indicate that something is wrong with one of the cats. One of my cats developed a tooth abscess a while ago and the first sign that anything was wrong is that the other cats hissed at him when he came close. I guess they could smell the infection.

I suggest that you keep them apart until you find out what has upset them, and then slowly reintroduce them. Take it step by step, as if you`re introducing them for the first time.

How To Successfully Introduce Cats [The Ultimate Guide] - TheCatSite

 

[rinab9]

Hi! I guess nothing’s really changed except for my sibling going out the country for vacation about 6 days ago but they never stay too long due to living at dorms for college (they usually visit for the weekends).

They haven’t been to the vet or groomer’s recently but we did wipe them down with pet grooming wipes so maybe that could be the cause? I did wipe them both though and apparently the fought the next morning.

There’s usually no stray animals around my home. There would be a stray male cat that comes by the front occasionally but my cats and that cat have always been separated by a gate and they never had issues with him. And I also haven’t seen him in a while.

Update: Last night we separated them and it took a while for the cat hissing to stop hiding and act “normal” again (she likes to purr and bump her head on our hands and sleep on us during the night when we’re asleep). But then when I let the other cat out (and the door blocked them), I guess she went back into hiding.
We’re planning to take them both to the groomer’s on Monday so they could smell the same. Unfortunately right now, it’s Sunday so it’s closed. I hate separating them like this.

 

[di and bob]

It really sounds like redirected aggression, one got really spooked by something, either smells or visual, and is directing their scaredness and aggression on the other cat. I haev had cats do this fro several days when one goes to the vet or they see a starnge animal out the window. They WILL like each other again, these things just take time. The groomer is a good idea, but make sure you tell them one might be really skittish.

 

[rinab9]

Hi thank you so much for your reassurance. I’m so sad and distracted, I can’t even focus on my own activities.

I tried “scent swapping” where you rub a wash cloth/clothing on one cat and let the other cat smell it to see their reactions. And both my cats reacted okay? No hissing or airplane ears. I can’t tell if I should be happy or wonder if I didn’t rub enough of their scent on it (I feel like I did though).

They’re both able to sleep in the same room (right now day time). One of my cats is hiding/sleeping in my mom’s closet (this cat is the one hissing) and the other one is sleeping around the room). Whenever she comes close to closet I divert her away just in case. The closet door is not completely shut and in fact is a little open right now (blocked at the bottom with stuff).

I really hope it’s redirected aggression that wont last too long or a scent issue. Whenever we bring them out one by one in the room, they seem wary of their surroundings so. But yes that’s my update as of right now. Tonight, we’re separating their rooms when they sleep and tomorrow is the groomer’s.

Hopefully the groomer’s will fix the issue because then they’ll definitely smell the same. Thank you all for your advice and responses, I really appreciate it.

 

[rinab9]

Update: They both got a bath but one of my cats is still hissing at the other one I feel like she’s able to tolerate the other cat more but still the hissing.

Is there anything I can do to fix this other than the reintroduction?

 

[Norachan]

Is there any chance she is in pain? Older cats can suffer from arthritis, which makes it painful for them to move. They can also have infections that take a while to show up. Could you ask your vet to check her over to make sure everything is OK?

 

[rinab9]

Hi. Honestly I’m not sure she’s in pain because I haven’t taken them to the vet yet. It’s about $73 each to get them checked out and broad (like ear, eye, etc.) so we’re waiting a bit on that. If things don’t improve slightly by Friday, I’ll talk to my parent about taking them (my parent is the primary care taker money wise).

I just bought Feliway’s spray and multicat diffuser in hopes it would help a little. I haven’t used the diffuser but only the spray and can’t really tell at the moment.

I feel like it could be my cat that’s getting hissed at is like eyeing and perhaps pouncing on the hissing cat? So maybe it’s a behavoiral issue on that cat. What can I do to make her stop pouncing/eyeing her?

 

[rinab9]

Update: I said the my cat would only hiss at the other cat if they make eye contact. This is true but also just now one of cats was sleeping and when my cat got closer to the sleeping cat, she hissed three times so I guess it’s not only just eye contact but also a distance/smell? Maybe going to the vet is a good choice.

Or should I try reintroducing? (Or reintroducing after going to the vet?)

I’m sorry for asking so many questions. I really do appreciate the responses and advice. I just want what’s best and for my cats to be friends again. Thank you

 

[rinab9]

Update: I took them to the vet and they’re medically clear which I’m happy about but this also means that this hissing issue is a behavioral thing.

Should I do the reintroduction?

 

[Hellenww]

This is true but also just now one of cats was sleeping and when my cat got closer to the sleeping cat, she hissed three times so I guess it’s not only just eye contact but also a distance/smell?

Hissing isn't always angry. This sounds like she is curious but scared. Now that she got close and nothing bad happened maybe next time she will be less scared.