Hello all,
I read the behavior sticky, but I don't think any of those situations apply. Let me explain, and please read the whole post before jumping to conclusions as to what the issue is. It takes a bit of a twist at the end.
I have 2 cats, 1 male, 1 female. They are 4 years old and have grown up together. The male cat is a standard tabby, and the female is a half Siamese and half rag doll. They are both fixed. Normally, they are very loving toward each other, sometimes they do rough house, but it passes very quickly and it's clear they are playing.
I had my girlfriend over and we were making love. During the heat of the moment so to speak, the male cat came into the room and attacked my leg with his claws and began to howl. The female cat had followed him into the room, and I scared them off with a loud yell and a clap.
I have known my girlfriend for many years, and he has never done this before. The only other time he has attacked me, was when I gave the female cat a bath, and he reacted to her meowing in distress. In both cases I assumed he was defending them which seemed to make sense and I can understand.
Now the twist. Shortly after I scared them off, I heard howling and a scuffle in the living room. I got up and the female cat had the male cat scared and pinned in a corner. She was growling, hissing and just plain angry! Jumping at him with all claws until he hid. I've never seen her like this. Normally when they rough house he is the very dominant one and ends the 'playing'.
Now unfortunately, it's been 3 days and it hasn't stopped. Anytime she see's him she growls, hisses and charges after him like crazy. It's not pleasant and I need to understand what's going on.
I have separated them during the day and during the night, keeping the female cat in my room with a second litter box etc. If either my girlfriend, or me go in there she is perfectly fine. Very normal, sucky, she sleeps curled up with me. But again, if she even see's the male cat.. she starts growling and gets tense. She doesn't seem sick or ill and it definitely seems triggered by one specific incident.
Could this be jealousy? At first I thought it may be because he defended my girlfriend ( another woman!). But could she be jealous that he attacked me? Is it possible he attacked her and we didn't see it, and now she is permanently scared of him and attacks?
What can I do!?
I read the behavior sticky, but I don't think any of those situations apply. Let me explain, and please read the whole post before jumping to conclusions as to what the issue is. It takes a bit of a twist at the end.
I have 2 cats, 1 male, 1 female. They are 4 years old and have grown up together. The male cat is a standard tabby, and the female is a half Siamese and half rag doll. They are both fixed. Normally, they are very loving toward each other, sometimes they do rough house, but it passes very quickly and it's clear they are playing.
I had my girlfriend over and we were making love. During the heat of the moment so to speak, the male cat came into the room and attacked my leg with his claws and began to howl. The female cat had followed him into the room, and I scared them off with a loud yell and a clap.
I have known my girlfriend for many years, and he has never done this before. The only other time he has attacked me, was when I gave the female cat a bath, and he reacted to her meowing in distress. In both cases I assumed he was defending them which seemed to make sense and I can understand.
Now the twist. Shortly after I scared them off, I heard howling and a scuffle in the living room. I got up and the female cat had the male cat scared and pinned in a corner. She was growling, hissing and just plain angry! Jumping at him with all claws until he hid. I've never seen her like this. Normally when they rough house he is the very dominant one and ends the 'playing'.
Now unfortunately, it's been 3 days and it hasn't stopped. Anytime she see's him she growls, hisses and charges after him like crazy. It's not pleasant and I need to understand what's going on.
I have separated them during the day and during the night, keeping the female cat in my room with a second litter box etc. If either my girlfriend, or me go in there she is perfectly fine. Very normal, sucky, she sleeps curled up with me. But again, if she even see's the male cat.. she starts growling and gets tense. She doesn't seem sick or ill and it definitely seems triggered by one specific incident.
Could this be jealousy? At first I thought it may be because he defended my girlfriend ( another woman!). But could she be jealous that he attacked me? Is it possible he attacked her and we didn't see it, and now she is permanently scared of him and attacks?
What can I do!?
