Tempermental Cat

[angelfaerie19]

I'm trying to figure out what is going on with my cat, Ninja. She has always been so good with other cats, ever since we got her, which was about...12 years ago. All of a sudden she attacks the others, and violently. Does anyone know what could be causing her to be like this???

[Uabassoon]

She might be sick. Since cats can't speak you sometimes have to look for changes in personality to know when they are sick. I would take her to the vet for a checkup.

[angelfaerie19]

I can try that and see what they say. Are there any other ways to tell if they are sick?

[Uabassoon]

There are lots of other symptoms, sometimes you can just tell by looking. Their eyes don't look clear and seem very lethargic or they have a runny nose. Loss of appetite is also a sign that your kitty could be sick. Really any change in personality can be a sign of them being ill.

[angelfaerie19]

Well it just happened again. She attacked Melinko and ripped some hair out. It seems like the fights get worse and worse. We try our best to keep her away from the others, but she's a fast little devil and gets by us without noticing. What can I do until I can get her to the vet?

[jenluckenbach]

Is Merlinko (or any other pet) new to the home? Even if Ninja liked other cats in the past, that does not mean that she will automatically like a newcomer to the home.

I would seperate her to reduce her (and your) stress until you can have her see a vet.

In the meantime, try to think of ANY and all changes in her life, your life or your household that might be upsetting to her.

[angelfaerie19]

No, Melinko has been around for 6 years now. Come to think of it, there is one change...Last week we had 2 new people move in.....which makes 7. Could that be it?

[jenluckenbach]

Has this behavior started BEFORE the addition of the new people? If not then YES, it could be the reason.

When the people moved in, did things change? For example:
-litter boxes were moved
-feeding times were changed
-noise level increased considerably
-Ninja was closed out of rooms that she was formerly allowed to go into.

Anything could upset a cat even if we think it is a minor change. If change stressed her, then she could be acting out toward the other kitties.

This would still suggest a vet visit because she might be able to take a medicine that releases stress.

But if you DO think of a change in her routine, then getting it back to normal might be a big help.

[Beauty17]

When my son was born, my cat Myrtille became extremely anxious. She never offered to hurt the baby - she loved my son - but she started to lick herself bald in some spots. She never overcame her anxieties, even though she grew close to my son as he grew up. We just had to keep being very loving to her, and accept the fact that for her, the world had changed forever and she would never get over it. Thank goodness, though, she was not violent toward him or her cat foster sister Tzigane. Good luck in finding a way to calm your Ninja's behavior.

[angelfaerie19]

So far nothing has happened. We keep all the cats in the kitchen except for Ninja. Though she usually sleeps in my room with me and one of the dogs. But a couple days ago, after keeping them separated for 3 days we let her out and she immediately goes for Melinko. I don't get it, I just don't.