Or, am I once again attributing human characteristics to a feline?
I am co-fostering "Petey" with my friend, Trysh. Petey was abandoned about three months ago, super affectionate, kneader, male, three years old, neutered about three months ago. He lives with Trysh because she has a bigger house and can separate Petey from the other cat we are socializing. Plain and simple, Petey is a bully to the other cat we are socializing (they are kept in separate rooms, same floor).
I brought Petey to my house to visit for the first time two weeks ago for more one-on-one interaction. Although not planned, Petey did meet Ritz, my resident cat (female, 2.5 years old, a loner even when she was with her litter mates--also rescued, also socialized by Trysh). No fur flew. Hissing of course, in the end some growling. It was Petey who ran under the sofa once or twice, not Ritz. At once point, Ritz smelled Petey's butt, he turned around, but had no other reaction. I think the reason Petey was well behaved was because my house is strange to him, he's not comfortable, confident.
I took Petey back to Trysh's house, and Ritz acted normal. Not a lot of re-scent marking by Ritz which surprised me.
I brought him back to my house last Sunday for a few hours. This time, I made sure Ritz and Petey did not met. She probably smelled Petey, but seemed relaxed enough in her cat tree, where she stayed, sleeping. Petey stayed under in the bedroom under the bed most of the time until I lured him out with treats, and then he was his normal (for him) affectionate self. Ritz acted normal (for her) after Petey left, no to little re-scent marking in the bedroom.
But since Monday/Tuesday, Ritz has been acting aloof, distant. She has started to digg a little at the carpet in the bedroom, but not where I would expect her to, i.e., under the bed or by the lamp where Petey's cat carrier was and where I fed him. And no where near the litter box, which Petey used.
She is also very hungry (but then she usually is).
SOOOO, my question is: is her reaction a delayed one? I was home for four days straight, but she doesn't suffer from separation anxiety. She does however get stress-induced UTI.
PS: what is the likelihood that Petey could have infected her with a worm? They MAY have used the same litter box. Petey was dewormed three months ago and his poop is normal.
Thanks, and sorry for the long post.
