"Suggestions for a Cat problem?" Topic

No, I'm not looking for recipes.

We have one cat that has made a significant change in behavior, and we are quite concerned, but don't have any idea what brought about the change or how to deal with it.

We have four cats (all girls), two about 12 years old and two around three years old. In the past, they have all played together, chasing, wrestling, etc, preparing for the zombiepocalypse in their own way.

One of the older ones, the smallest of the herd, started hunting one of the younger cats about three weeks ago. She stalks and eventually corners her prey, then begins hissing, growling, and eventually attacks with claws drawn. It is not playing, it is much more intense and violent than the playing in the past. This is clearly a different process and is with intent to harm. We have to break them up at least once per day, and have intervened before any serious injury, but are quite concerned.

The older cat has always been very moody, and semi-social at best. The younger cats are both extremely social, and very easy to get along with. The younger cat now hides in my daughter's room most of the day, only coming out for the litter box and food, when we are around. If the older cat sees her, the older one goes into hunt mode. The older cat has not changed behavior with the other younger cat, plays as before, and otherwise ignores her.

So, any ideas on what the trigger might be that caused the change, or how to stop the behavior before one of them ends up a heap of goo?

I greatly appreciate any advice.

Sounds simply like age, some animals do not apreciate having others around as they get older…

But then again it could be a kidney problem which would make her extremely irritable…

Sounds like a pecking order thing going on. We have them from time to time with our 10. But if she's only going after one of the younger ones, not the other, I'm less sure about the pecking order.

Did the younger perhaps hurt the elder some way in the past? A couple of ours hold grudges pretty firmly.

Neotacha is probably right. As one cat ages (and becomes less able to maintain her position) and the younger becomes more competitive, the relative balance can become upset.

Will probably get worse before it gets better.

mjc

you might try a drop of perfume or aftershave on all the cats heads so they all smell the same.
ymmv,
R.

We had that problem about three months ago. The agressive
cat was scheduled for a vet visit (annual) and the vet
discovered she had a UTI, causing discomfort when
urinating, and also probably a kidney infection.

The cat went through a 10-day antibiotic regimen and is
fine now. The agressive behavior has abated as well.

Have you changed anything in their routine? Placement of food bowls, litter pans, scratching posts? Some cats do not respond well to even slight disruptions.

Keeping claws trimmed will help prevent actual bloodshed.

Get a dog.
Common enemy and all that.

Seriously, as napthyme & Ed suggest, a vet visit may be in order.

It may be time for Mittens to pack her little bag and go!

Perhaps some isolation, a room for the angry cat that the youngers can't get into?

My brother's cat went through a terrible spate after one of hte older casts died and was replaced with a kitten. The Cat attacked both other cats and my brother, sister in law and niece. Vet said it was adjustment to the lossof hte other cat and now the cat is on valium.