Tips needed to prevent post-vet fighting

[Catlady711]

My Josh & Sabrina are the same way.

With Sabrina I only have to confine her for an afternoon, or whole day if she's really upset.

Josh has to be confined for 3 days with minimal interaction so he gets lonely enough that he's willing to try and get along with everyone. I feel bad about doing it, but when he gets that upset he has been known to launch at my face, and he's normally a sweet, loving kitty.

At that when I let each one back out I have to supervise for awhile and try to do it when the other cats are sleeping so they don't have contact right away.

I've also taken to leaving ALL the cat carriers out so they smell like home, seems to make the one going smell less strange when they come back if it's just a quick vet visit. All bets are off if the cat going has to stay or pees themselves at all.

I totally understand what you're going through.

[moosmom]

Separate them in different rooms. If that isn't possible, get some Feliway spray (not the diffuser) and spray the room (the circumfrance of the ceiling). It will calm them down immediately. It has an enzyme in it only cats can smell. I swear by it!!

[freckledimple]

Vanilla, use vanilla. He acts "badly" because she doesn't smell "right". When you bring her home from the vet, or back in from outside, before they see/smell each other, take a cotton ball with a little vanilla extract on it and smudge on top of both their noses. That way they both smell alike.


Non-Recognition Aggression

This explosive type of aggression occurs between feline housemates that have previously had a reasonable relationship. It probably occurs through "failure of recognition." Non-recognition is most often triggered when one cat in the family is brought back from the veterinarian's office, or the groomer, and smells and behaves differently. If a fight ensues, it can damage irreparably the relationship between the cats and lead to the development of territorial aggression. It is best avoided by separating indoor cats after outside excursions until it can be established that they are friendly toward each other.