NEED HELP NOW!!!! But not a 911

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dirtybirdsoaps

dirtybirdsoaps

Member Since 2014
Situation:

3 AGGRESSIVE male cats.

They are not usually aggressive. I gave them baths because I needed to try something to help Hidey's skin. After a bath theyre usually a little off, a couple hisses here and there but thats it. I went and gave my youngest (Hot Rod) a bath and brought him out, and Yuri full blown STREET cat attacked him, then Hidey ATTACKED Yuri then they both went after Hot Rod again. He was so scared he peed on my kitchen floor. I locked them in separate rooms for about an hour, and they all seemed to calm down except Hot Rod wouldn't come out from under the xmas tree so I let them out. After about 15 minutes Yuri started hissing at Hot Rod again, which set Hidey off and he started hissing and then Yuri and Hidey started fighting BAD. I know I shouldn't have but of course I broke it up and got my hand bit in the process and put Yuri and Hidey in separate rooms.

So I have a SHAKING scared cat under my tree, and two cats locked in seperate rooms. Any ideas?
 
I think they may be upset that the others don't smell right. Do you have a blanket (or towel or some such thing) they've been sleeping on? All of them? I would go into each room and rub each of them down with the blanket. Maybe they will then recognize each other again once them all smell normal again.

If that doesn't work, maybe something like comfort zone calming aids? You can get a spray - you would spray a towel and rub it on them, I think.
 
I'll give the blanket thing a try. I've tried twice now to slowly reintroduce each other for a fail both times. They always get a little weird after a bath just a couple hisses and thats it, but NEVER VIOLENT! I feel the worse for Hot Rod because he's so lovey and needed and he's terrified. He peed all over me when I tried to get him out from under the tree. I'm just at a loss. If its not better by time my husband gets off work Im gonna have him run by petsmart for the comfort thing.....right now Im thinking about litter boxes. I only have one but its a HUGE storage bin, but if I have to keeo them seperated all night they have to each have one lol and I don't want to spend money on a box. I might have 1 in the attic but now I need to find a box or something for the other.

It makes me laugh though because right now as I type this Hidey is sitting in the middle of the room crying since everyones gone.....wellllll stop attacking them then lol
 
Tried the blanket thing it didn't work :cry:

I have all three in separate areas, have been like that since yesterday. I thought I made some progress last night because Hidey and Yuri finally could be around each other, then I tried moving Hot Rod into our bedroom because I knew regardless I wouldn't trust them alone with him. They were both out of sight in the kitchen and I tried to sneak by with Hot Rod, of course they came running, got upset and Hidey started attacking Yuri.

I've tried the blanket, I've tried treats, I've tried tuna, I've tried putting tuna juice on them to mask each others smell, I've cracked doors just so they can see and smell......I'm at my wits end. It's only been a day, but this is worse than having to deal with the stress of Hidey's diabetes diagnosis. I have no clue what to do and it's breaking my heart to see 3 really lovey cats, who aren't violent become street cats!

I put a call in to the vet to see if she has ideas, but the only one that was there was the receiptionist so I'm waiting for a call back.

Any one else have any ideas? I don't vsre if they sound crazy or not, I'm willing to try anything
 
OMG!

What kitty drama you are having at your house!

Do they not realize that Santa is watching? :-D

I would google it. Type into search...gave baths to cats and are now fighting,what to do? Click search and TaDa!

I'm a google person. If I want to know something, I google it. Wouldn't hurt.

What you need is to get their scent onto each other but I don't know how either. Maybe google that.

That's all I got except for threaten to call Santa. :lol:

Kimmie
 
Lol I'm the same way.....I google EVERYTHING!

I've tried all the ideas I've found, except the spray and plug ins. They're so expensive and worry they won't work :sad:

Everything I see says it's because of the scent, ok I understand that. They usually hiss at eachother and keep their distance after a bath, but this is just straight VIOLENT and poor Hot Rod is terrified and holding a grudge so that doesn't help matters.

I'm so crushed right now that my 3 babies who are always by each other have to be locked in separate rooms so I keep going back and forth making sure I spend time with all of them.

To make matters worse, this has started a fight between me and my husband....and we don't fight either :cry:
 
Wow Hon!

Sounds like you have tried just about everything I can think of as well. What about taking them on one on one and playing with them until they are exhausted. Got a laser pointer or a feather wand you can run them around until they are worn out? Then bring them back together one at a time?

Or any Vanilla extract in the house, I have success with introductions by dabbing a little Vanilla on everyone's noses so they all smell exactly alike.

But that's about all I've got.

Mel and The Fur Gang
 
I would start with some active play for each cat to help de-stress them. Go for a good 15-20 minutes each.

Then feed each of them.

After eating, they should groom themselves. This will restore some of the natural scent.

Then they should be ready to sleep and somewhat relaxed. Now, you might crack doors open to let them re-acquaint themselves.

Avoid forcing the issue; you're stressed and they may be picking up on that.
 
Thanks everyone. Any and ALL advice is needed and appreciated. I have actually tried the vanilla that didn't work, my husband found that last night. I actually just got back from my old vet, hated the vet but loved the staff. They have feliway, I was hesitant to try it but I'll try anything right now.ni called them and the office manager told me about it, and said they have a hard time keeping it on the shelf and that she had some so I went there to get it welllllo guess what it was sold out lol sorry of my life. She gave me the bottle they use for free. It's more than half full! So I just sprayed that. I will also try the play and food thing.


Any ideas how to get a cat over a grudge? I really think they scared hot rod so bad that he's holding a grudge. Any time he sees them he freaks and growls and the cycle starts over.
 
petco and petsmart sell feliway as well as other brands of the stuff - how about cat nip -- put piles out and give them each a pile -- I also have a cat nip spray - what if you were to spray each cat in nip?

another calming aide is lavendar - might be worth trying like the vanilla or put on their bodies
 
Its not really a good idea to make all three use the same litter box (no matter how big it is) Its best for them to each have their own (2 each would be better)
Its just a cat thing and they may get along better because of it.
 
I work nights from home, Wednesday night I was out of the flavors of Fancy Feast and Friskies that all of my 4 cats like best, the result was that they were all in a bad mood and fighting all night, Thursday morning they had me so upset I did not think I could even sleep, it went through my mind that if I told anyone they would think I was crazy and then Thursday afternoon I read your post and I thought no there is one place that people would understand being so upset that you could not sleep because your cats were not getting along, I am sorry you were having such a bad time but it made me feel so much better that there were people out there that would know how I felt.
 
Well, my fingers are crossed but after all day trying......I am happy to say (fingers crossed) that I have Hidey and Yuri together. I don't know if its the feliway, or just time to calm down but they are both out walking about. I'm being so careful for loud noises and no sudden movements to freak them out lol. This is where I stop for today. I think its best to get them comfortable, and let Hot Rod de-stress some more (and emotionally heal) before I try to bring him out.

I'm so nervous that when I do try to bring Hot Rod out that it will start all over again. Thats what happened last night, just the sight of Hot Rod turned them into MONSTERS. I'm so worried that it will just be a chain reaction....calm them down get them together see Hot Rod meltdown repeat lol
 
Sorry you're having a tough time with them!!! I'd say give them a little more time to relax and go "Hey, where's that other cat I normally hang out with?"

How are you and your husband doing? Have you tried spraying him with a calming aid, or giving him a blanket that you sleep on? ;)
 
I wish I could spray him and wrap him in a blanket lol Things with me and my husband are ok, not great because this is stressing us out, especially the living situation. Its hard for me to have them all in seperate rooms because I feel I need to spend time with all of them so I keep going room to room. Ive already decided tomorrow will not be that way. Hopefully I can get Yuri and Hidey back together but I am not working on "them getting together" tomorrow. Its my only day with my husband. He works mon.-sat. He leaves the house for work at 7 am, and if Im lucky the earliest he gets home is 7:30 but its usually 8 or later. Suday has always been OUR day so Im going to have to leave it be for tomorrow. At least if I can get HIdey and Yuri ack together I will feel better and I would only have to worry about Hot Rod being alone.

Progress has fallen apart. Hidey and Yuri did great all last night, and both of them were at my bedroom door crying and scratching half the night. Hot Rod started crying at the door too so I was thinking "Hey this might work today" NOPE! I cracked the door a couple times this morning and Yuri was at the door and Hot Rod and Yuri hissed at each other, no biggie thats how things happened yesterday with Hidey and Yuri, well after a couple times Hidey came up to the door with Yuri they all started hissing and growling within a second and Hidey attacked Yuri.

Now Im all the way back at the beginning again. Ive tried everything. I spoke with my vet yesterday and she said that Hidey's probably worse because he doesnt feel good because of the antibiotic. If he doesn't get better after the antiboitics then we ay want to try prozac.

I am done giving Hidey his antibiotics and allergy meds until things return to normal. The antibiotics were just precautionary because he keeps scratching his scabs on his neck, he took 9 of 14 pills so Im done. If him not feeling good is the problem, I need it fixed. Right now I feel like I have 3 stray cats loose in my house.

Ive been so stressed about thins situation I have been in tears all morning, luckily I just talked to my step mom to let me vent. I can't really talk to my husband about it because it will cause a fight, and my dad says just put them together they have to deal with it....Ummmmm NO! Its not a little cat fight! Its straight out VIOLENT out for blood!

Thanks for listening to me ramble, and vent. Only cat people understand this stuff. I'm still open to ideas. Especially how to introduce the third cat to the 2 without getting them upset.
 
:lol:

Good one Lori!

I need that spray and a blanket for my DH when he get's in his moods! :-D

I hope things are better for you today.

You could chalk it up to the full moon cycle.

Things get crazzzzzy during a full moon. :-D

Kimmie
 
Ohhhhhhh you need a hug! :YMHUG:

My last post must have come at same time as yours. So sorry.

I will keep you all in my prayers.

Oh, where is that "kitty fairy Godmother" (Mel)?

I know she gave you some advice already...

but I did send her a "wand" for helping to get Hank to eat wet food....hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Oh, kitty's!

Hang in there!

Kimmie
 
Yup tried her ideas too lol. This has been going on since Thursday morning. I just cant wrap my mind around it because they are so lovey. Its sad how much this really hurts me to have my house divided like this.

Thats all I can think of is to Hopefully get Hidey and Yuri back together some how hopefully today and leave tomorrow for relaxing and peace then Monday try with Hot Rod.

I figure by Monday I will be out of the feliway spray so Ill go by the vets and get more, but I think I will also try the collars too. Doubling up here lol. Anything to get the peace back.
 
I think they make a "thundershirt" for cats. The snug fit is supposed to help with anxiety.

Maybe check the website Cat Behavior Associates to see if anything they have posted is helpful.
 
Thank you, that actually had a really good read on re-introduction. I will use that info for Hot Rod, maybe the other two but I keep hoping I can get Hidey and Yuri back together tonight. I have a feeling it is gonna take a bit longer for Hot Rod.

Its just hope this doesnt last too long, mentally I don't know how long I can do this.
 
Do you have a crate or something you can put one in and have another on the outside? That way they can still sniff and see each other but won't have the total contact to fight. Other suggestions is pretty much what everyone else has said, get a towel or something with their scents on and put it in with Hot Rod, and have one with Hot Rod's scent for the other two. Also sitting down with them when they are behaving nicely and reward them with treats so they see it as a positive experience, see if you can play with them too and reward them with treats for playing nicely together.

We foster cats and usually have the new ones separated from our cats for at least a week to get them all used to each other slowly. We'll let them out for a few hours at night so they can have a sniff around and then put them back.

I know it's stressful, I hope they're all friends again soon!
 
That's a good idea about the crating Laura.

I used to visit a local no-kill shelter and that's how they did it with the new kitty's. They have about 8 cat rooms with about 6 cats to a room. The "newbie" would be in a big dog crate for about a week in the room with the others.

Might be worth a try.

Kimmie
 
I only have cat carriers and they hate them, I think it would stress them out worse :sad:

I think I could provably get Hidey and Yuri back yo feather but worry about the progress falling apart again as soon as they see Hot Rod again. Yesterday I kept my word to my husband and kept it "our" day but I did switch the cats around every couple of hours so that way they can each have time with us, they know Sunday's family day lol also that way they can distribute their scent in each others area. Every so often I would crack the doors so they could see each other as well. Yuri and Hidey seem ok, but they both his at Hot Rod, and he hisses at them. I really think they terrified him, and hurt his feelings and I don't know how to fix that.

I was going to try the calming collars, but read horror stories on Amazon.
 
Re: NEED HELP NOW!!!! But not a 911-UPDATE

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who listened to my drama. I have never had to deal with anything like this before, and hopefully never will. I still don't know exactly what happened but I'm assuming Hot Rod was scared and his feelings were hurt, Yuri was upset at first when Hot Rod came out of the tub and then on edge about the fight, and I think Hidey was scared about the scent, upset about the fight, and on edge with not feeling good which made him the worse case.

I am happy to say (fingers are crossed) that after a week of drama, they have all calmed. All 3 spent the night together. They have been together over 24 hrs with no drama. Hot Rod and Yuri are running around the house leaping off couches chasing each other again. Yuri has out of no where leaped on Hidey and bit him (nothing unusual, Yuri has always done that he's a bit aggressive when playing) I held my breath waiting to see what would happen and Hidey hissed and walked away (like normal) Hidey has not let his guard completely down yet, sadly I can tell because he hasnt spent an hour rubbing on shoes (lol he has a shoe fetish)

I just really want to thank everyone for all the ideas, support, and ears that helped me through this tough time. I know it may sound silly and trivial but this was uncharted territory for me and was crushing me to have them all separate when they've always been so lovey. I can tell you one thing though.....they will NEVER get a bath again lol! I read that once they have an issue like this it is likely to happen again. Hopefully this will not be the case, but I will be avoiding anything that can cause it.

Now on to the fun part.....I gave Hidey a bath (obviously lol) and it washed away the flea meds, well a flea must have hatched and he's scratching again like crazy. I reapplied meds ONLY to him for the time being because I'm worried of ANY scent change right now, not to mention I can't wash the blankets yet because I need the scent.....grrrrrr. So I think I will slowly wash the blankets in my house and apply flea treatment to the other 2 in about a week. They haven't been scratching so hopefully they're good but I'm not holding my breath.

Once again a BIG thank you for all the support!
 
Capstar kills adult fleas quickly and is useful in knocking down the egg laying and bites quickly. Its pricey as the sole treatment as it must be given daily. It is safe enough, though, that you can get the large dog version and quarter it for dosing.
 
So you're saying to all...


Leave the bathing to the droolers!!!!!! :lol:

So glad things are getting better.

Kimmie
 
So glad they're all friends again! I was wondering how they were going :)

If you can get your hands on comfortis it is awesome for fleas. It's a dog flea treatment but they've recently made it suitable for cats, you just need to figure out which one to use. One of our cats was constantly scratching and the spot on treatment just wasn't working, comfortis fixed it really quick.
 
There can be medical reasons to bathe a cat - ex ringworm, fleas, skin conditions.

There can be hygiene reasons to bathe a cat - ex "dingleberries" on a long haired cat, ie mats of fur and feces or a cat that has gotten into something that needs to be removed, lest it be deposited everywhere in the home (paint comes to mind)

There can be allergy reasons - it removes much of the dander which causes allergies in humans and may make it possible to continue keeping the cat.

Show cats are routinely bathed and groomed to perfection.
 
Thank you for asking :-D They're all doing great. All laying together again and playing but you can tell they haven't forgotten what's happened. Hot Rod will put up his defense easily and Hidey won't tolerate what he usually does. The only one that seems 100% is Yuri. I'm so relieved that's past us though. I can honestly say that was the worst thing I've ever had to deal with with having them. It's so nice to have the family back together :mrgreen:
 
Great news. :) I'm sure hurt feelings will take a while to go away, but I'm glad they are hanging out together. I completely agree that it's very stressful when not all the cats in the house are getting along.

By the way, I think your cats have awesome names!

Lori
 
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