Cats fighting after returning from vet
My wife and I have two male indoor cats. B is just a mix , he's 8 and we got him as a kitten. The Russian Blue is S and we got him at about a year old when we adopted him from Petco and he's now 7 1/2. They both still have their claws and have been neutered. S was extremely skittish and scared when we got him and it took 2-3 years for the slow process to get him totally comfortable but now he's such an affectionate cat. The big one was the dominant one from the beginning but since March it's kind of gotten muddled. The big one (B) had an ear infection that required stitches and an overnight stay in at the vet's office. When he came home with the cone around his head so he didn't scatch his ear the smaller cat saw him and attacked him. Not sure if it was just being scared or what . B hissed whenever the smaller cat tried to get close after that initial attack.while he had his cone on and for a few weeks afterward. It seemed more like S just wanted some affection from him after the initial shock. Usually S would gets his head washed by B but never vice versa. It still happens but not as much. Since that time, we've noticed S being much more aggressive toward the bigger cat. He picks fight now and they have out and out wars sometimes and that is what worries us. Maybe S spotted some weakness in B since he was hurt? They will play fight with B rolling on his side or back and S will jump on him and it will usually either just end with one of them walking way or a staredown for awhile. An hour later they'll both be on different ends of our bed sleeping so we usually chalk it up to no big deal. They are both very affectionate toward us and often together waiting at the door when we get home. It's these out and out wars where S will instigate with the larger cat, they go at it hard and then S chases the bigger cat away and continues to provoke him. It seems as if B wants nothing to do with the fight but he will defend himself and then he just runs and hides from the smaller cat. It used to be B would pin S on the ground and lightly bite the back of his neck which I figured was just a show of dominance. That doesnt' seem to happen much anymore although I still think B is the dominant one. Just not sure what this new dynamic is due to and what we can do to try and minimize these wars where is sounds like they are killing each other. My wife and I work all day and sometimes go away on the weekend so we aren't sure if this goes on when we aren't there and nothing happens or we've just been lucky to be around to break up the bad ones. As I type this question after one of these wars a few hours ago- the big one is in a downstairs bedroom with the door closed while the smaller one is just hanging outside the room alternately pacing around and just sitting If I open the door he will most likely go right in and attack B under the bed which I try to avoid because it's hard to break up under there. Any help or suggestions you might have would be great. Sorry for the long question but I thought you needed some background to make an accurate response. |
Ask a vet plans available
- Ask the online vet a question for just $8.95; or
- Sign up for a one month membership for just $19.95 and ask the online vet unlimited questions about your pet.
- Find answers to common pet health and behavior questions $3.95/article
- Read up on previous ask the vet pet health questions for just $3.95
Vet question of the day
Add to
Cat licking sores on body
I've noticed that my cat has gotten a sore
on her body and her leg, presumably from licking
herself in those spots repeatedly. What is the usual
cause of that behavior and how can we resolve it? - Click
here to read the answer
More
pet
health questions
Pet Care Articles and Pet Supplies Deals
| Dogs - dog care | 
Sign
up for the Ask the Vet newsletter
- Click
hereWe're in the news! Read full article here. |
