Non-Recognition Help :(

[AngieB93]

Well I have never dealt with anything like this before with any pet I've had.

I had to take my cat Quincey to the vet since he seemed sick. Once I got home, everything seemed fine for several hours. That is, until, his brother Toby decided he didn't recognize Quincey, and attacked his sick bother.

Toby and Quincey are litter mates, and I adopted them about 4 1/2 years ago. The had been separated once before for a vet visit, and everything did seem to be fine.

I'm scared, stressed, and at a loss (even with having looked up just about everything when it comes to introduction/reintroduction). I live alone, so this process seems to be even more emotionally demanding because I don't know how to do all of this by myself. Which cat do I sleep with? When do I switch from one to another? Is one going to be mad at me for giving the other attention? It's all very confusing.

 

[ArtNJ]

It doesn't always take a lengthy reintroduction process. Sometimes a separation of a few hours works. "Rescenting" the cat that was at the vet with a favorite blanket can help.

To the extent that pain was inflicted during the attack, there could be some bad feelings on both sides now. If pain was inflicted, you might need a little longer, start with trying a day or so.

It is very important that you be ready to quickly separate them if it looks like they are going to fight and that the separation wasn't long enough. Have a towel ready for a quick grab. If you aren't physically up for that, some recommend putting a large piece of cardboard between them as a blocker.

The idea is that if a separation of a day or so isn't sufficient, but you prevent a fight, maybe you can just try a slightly longer separation as opposed to a full reintroduction process.

Maybe your already at the stage of needing a lengthier process, not sure from your description.

 

[AngieB93]

So all of this started on Monday when I realized Quincey was sick and planned to take him to the vet Tuesday morning. Once we got back, that's when the aggression from Toby started. I quickly separated the two of them, because Toby really went from 0 to 100 on the aggression.

Wednesday morning I had to take Quincey back to the vet and he stayed overnight until this Thursday morning. I feel that by this point, Quincey's original sent may be missing. If I open the door to the section of the apartment I have Quincey in, Toby is immediately hissing. If I leave Quincey's current room, Toby is loudly meowing (this is not part of his normal behavior).

 

[ArtNJ]

That doesnt sound like its necessarily going to be a long term problem for you. Give them 24 hours of separation and rescent the cat that went to the vet with his favorite blanket before they meet. You can use the other's scent as well, if he doesn't have a favorite blanket.

Just be ready in case things go south.

 

[AngieB93]

I really hope not because it's been difficult so far. I am going to have to use Toby's scent, since they really shared everything. In your opinion, would it be better to sleep with the sick cat, or with the healthy one?

 

[ArtNJ]

Eh, not sure it matters. Well, aside from the practical point -- i.e., sleep with whichever cat is more likely to keep you up at night clawing/meowing at the bedroom door all night if you exclude them.

 

[AngieB93]

I hate that in their normal state, that would be both of them.

Fortunately (unfortunately?) Quincey is still being extremely lethargic and hasn't seemed to be craving the attention he normally is.

 

[vince]

Some have used a dab of vanilla extract behind the ear of both cats to mask the unfamiliar scent of the one that went to the vet. Somebody here even used stinky food to mask the scent, with good results. I've never had to do that with my cats, but it must work. You can also rub the cats with a cloth, transferring scent back and forth, to make them smell more alike.

A short period of isolation is probably a good idea, since they've had non-recognition aggression to some extent before. You might keep one in the bathroom or bedroom for a while while the other roams the house, and then switch places for a similar length of time before letting them be together.

My cats always hiss at each other when one goes to the vet. It's over in an hour or two.

 

[LTS3]

There's a TCS article with tips: How To Deal With Non-recognition Aggression In Cats – TheCatSite Articles

 

[noani]

I didn't have vanilla so I used one of the meaty smelling treats and thoroughly rubbed that over my hands and then spent a long time petting the returning cat with my hands. I also left them in separate rooms for a bit so the smell could diminish. Also when I let them both out again I had them sitting down getting lots of treats together and played with them together and then separated again for a bit and repeated that a couple of times. I also rubbed some of my clothes all over him - they don't have fave blankets, they go for whatever item of clothing I may discard on the floor after a long day. Feliway may help maybe? I've found the new optimum line to be excellent at diminishing tension all around.

 

[Vaughn72]

I second the rescenting suggestion. One of my guys does this everytime any of the other cats leave. I am pretty sure he is freaked out by the "new" smells on the other cat when they return from the vet. It's gotten better over time though.

 

[AngieB93]

Well Quincey has started to act not sick anymore. He's been home since Thursday, and the cats have been separated. Toby is still being aggressive under the door, and Quincey is reacting back with his own swatting to get his bother to stop. Looks like I need to start trying to introduce them to each other for the first time ever, even though they've been together for the past 5 years

 

[D_H]

Hi!
Sorry to hear about the situation, I can't imagine what it's like to go through this alone.
Glad to hear that Quincey is feeling better!

Do it slow, step by step, and don't try to hurry things.
Give each one lots of attention- as I'm sure you already give

One of the things that worked well for me was short wand playing sessions - with each cat alone- and once the aggressive cat feels more confident, play by the door.

You're not alone in this, the amazing community here will help you

 

[AngieB93]

Thank you for all the support. It has been hard to not feel alone in all this.

Toby is now sniffing at the door, and Quincey has been doing that since he's been home. I just tried cracking the door and it was fine for a bit, until about a minute in where there was a sharp meow followed by swatting. I suppose it's progress, so I'll take it

 

[AngieB93]

One thing that is starting to throw me off is Quincey is meowing for his brother under the door, regardless of what side he's on. It seems like all he wants at this point is to interact with Toby.

 

[D_H]

One thing that is starting to throw me off is Quincey is meowing for his brother under the door, regardless of what side he's on. It seems like all he wants at this point is to interact with Toby.

It's heartbreaking, especially as Toby's probably afraid of that "new" that's calling him..

 

[AngieB93]

It's heartbreaking, especially as Toby's probably afraid of that "new" that's calling him..

That's been throwing me off too! He's been really curious about it and pawing at the door himself. It's only when the door is cracked a little too long, he gets scared. I have their bowls almost right next to each other, save for the door between them. I cracked open the door, and Quincey paid no mind to Toby. Toby was trying to push open the door more, no hissing or anything like that.

 

[AngieB93]

This is Toby, and you can see Quincey’s bowls on the other side of the door.

 

[D_H]

Toby was trying to push open the door more, no hissing or anything like that.

I think it's a good sign?

For us, the aggressor avoided the room entrance in the first week.
We opened the door usually during feeding time, and closed it when the aggressor looked at the vet cat and kind of ignored her.
Days later, she'd try to get into the room whenever one of us was entering or leaving the room.

I think you're on the right path

 

[AngieB93]

So it's been a bit over a week now. I have a gate set up to separate them because I'm very cautious of any type of attack and reverting any progress back to 0 (I may mentally implode if that happened lol).

My own sleep is still a mess, but I'm trying to get by. Lately they've been sniffing at each other under the gate, but nothing that seems like overt signs of aggression or territorial-ness. However, there hasn't been any open signs of friendliness either. Cats are so complicated. They do play-fight with each others paws under the door and there's no hissing, so I'm taking that as a win