I have two 6 year old cats. They were hand raised by me after their mother was killed, they have lived together their entire lives. They are best friends, so what is going on now, is heartbreaking.
I went away for the weekend (3 days, which is the max I leave them without supervision), and when I came back something had changed. I can see evidence that they had a spat, which is usual, and usually they get over it in a day or two and are pals again. But my female has been very, well, mean to the male. She is hissing, growling and hiding from him. She is the one with both sets of claws, and is generally fearless. Sometimes she is fine with him around, othertimes she just freaks out and hisses and growls and hides from him. This was infrequent when I came home, and only seemed to be a night thing. Today it started as soon as I got home from work.
I know that agression and sudden behavior change is a common sign of illness for either cat. Both have been checked over by me. Both have clear glossy eyes, cool wet noses, cool paws and ears, none of her claws are damaged or infected, his back claws are fine, both have nice pink gums, both are eating and drinking and eliminating in the litter box, both have nice soft bellies and no joint pain, neither are showing any outward signs of illness. Neither will not let me handle them or feel them over. Neither has lost considerable weight, both occasionally have hairballs, which is managed. He occasionally has bulimic episodes where he throwsup a lot, but it is mostly attributed to the fact that he gorges himself when he eats sometimes and thus pukes. The frequency of these spells has not increased.
I do ride at a barn with many feral cats, who are friendly. I don't handle them without washing my hands thoroughly afterwards, and all of my barn clothes are kept out of reach of my cats, so as to avoid ear mite transmission as well as possible other diseases (I can't tell what level of vet care these other cats recieve).
Does anyone have any ideas of what this sudden change could be the result of? I am worried cos of the increasing frequency. I have had cats my whole life, and my mom has as well. I've consulted her and neither of us have ever seen or heard of such a rapid change in behavior. We don't know if she feels ill or if she is reacting cos he is sick and thus is shunning him as cats will do.
I am just trying to decide if this is important enough to take to the emergency vet, or if it can wait until I can call my regular vet in the morning. I've done everything I can think of, your help is greatly appreciated!
-Adrianna, Mister and Mooque
I went away for the weekend (3 days, which is the max I leave them without supervision), and when I came back something had changed. I can see evidence that they had a spat, which is usual, and usually they get over it in a day or two and are pals again. But my female has been very, well, mean to the male. She is hissing, growling and hiding from him. She is the one with both sets of claws, and is generally fearless. Sometimes she is fine with him around, othertimes she just freaks out and hisses and growls and hides from him. This was infrequent when I came home, and only seemed to be a night thing. Today it started as soon as I got home from work.
I know that agression and sudden behavior change is a common sign of illness for either cat. Both have been checked over by me. Both have clear glossy eyes, cool wet noses, cool paws and ears, none of her claws are damaged or infected, his back claws are fine, both have nice pink gums, both are eating and drinking and eliminating in the litter box, both have nice soft bellies and no joint pain, neither are showing any outward signs of illness. Neither will not let me handle them or feel them over. Neither has lost considerable weight, both occasionally have hairballs, which is managed. He occasionally has bulimic episodes where he throwsup a lot, but it is mostly attributed to the fact that he gorges himself when he eats sometimes and thus pukes. The frequency of these spells has not increased.
I do ride at a barn with many feral cats, who are friendly. I don't handle them without washing my hands thoroughly afterwards, and all of my barn clothes are kept out of reach of my cats, so as to avoid ear mite transmission as well as possible other diseases (I can't tell what level of vet care these other cats recieve).
Does anyone have any ideas of what this sudden change could be the result of? I am worried cos of the increasing frequency. I have had cats my whole life, and my mom has as well. I've consulted her and neither of us have ever seen or heard of such a rapid change in behavior. We don't know if she feels ill or if she is reacting cos he is sick and thus is shunning him as cats will do.
I am just trying to decide if this is important enough to take to the emergency vet, or if it can wait until I can call my regular vet in the morning. I've done everything I can think of, your help is greatly appreciated!
-Adrianna, Mister and Mooque