Why are my sibling cats fighting??? I need help :(

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disneycatmom

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Hi all, I'm new here. A little background: Ariel and Sebastian are 8 1/2 and littermates. I've had both since they were weaned and both were fixed at 6 months. Sebastian has always been the more timid, while Ariel has always been high energy. They've always been close until a the first of the year or so. Nothing in my house or life has changed but now Sebastian is scared of Ariel. Like running away and hiding, hissing, and growling when she enters the room scared. They've both been to vet. Ariel had a claw infection, all better. I had hoped that once she was maybe it would improve. Sebastian has been on Prozac for a month now and Feliway isn't really helping. He acts totally fine as long as she isn't around. The way my house is set up it's hard to really separate them. I know this is long but I really don't know what else to do. I miss my cuddly kitties! Thanks! Going to work soon so I will check afterwards, I hope someone out there can help me!
 
Kieka

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Did the vet do x-rays or blood work? Given their age I would think arthritis (of some joint problem) or thyroid problems as possible causes. Arthritis could be making it so it hurts him to have her play/groom/wrestle/touch him so he is avoiding her to avoid what hurts. Thyroid problems are culprits in a lot of personality type changes because of imbalances (true for both humans and cats). 

I am personally not a fan of psychological drugs use with cats. There is simply no way to get the feedback need to ensure proper dosage. Even in humans it is a cocktail of drugs to treat a problem with adjustments to figure out the right dosage. I know people have said they have great success with some of them but, in my opinion, that is usually more luck and close observation by a really good vet.

If it was me, I would get two small cat trees and place them in separate parts of the home so each cat can claim one without seeing the other. Preferably in front of a window so they have something to watch. I would get a second opinion from a different vet to make sure there isn't a physical cause missed by the first vet. 
 
Brian007

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If you're short on space you could put up wide cat shelves on a couple of walls with non-slip, comfy surfaces, and easy climbing down access.  Giving them both the option of high platforms would probably help.

Is there any possibility that there is a new cat in your neighbourhood who may have frightened Sebastian after seeing said cat out of a window?  It might be he's experiencing redirected aggression/fear towards Ariel as she's the only one around to take his feelings out upon.  Are they indoor only or do they have free access to the outside?  If they go outside, is it through a cat door that another cat could sneak in through?

What happened to cause Ariel's claw infection?  Did the behaviour start before or after?

Why is Sebastian on prozac, is it because of this recent anxiety, or has he been on it for longer?

I don't think your description of the situation is long enough.  More details, please....

Hopefully, we will be able to put our heads together to bring back the harmony to your household.

 
1CatOverTheLine

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Originally Posted by Kieka  

I am personally not a fan of psychological drugs use with cats. There is simply no way to get the feedback need to ensure proper dosage. Even in humans it is a cocktail of drugs to treat a problem with adjustments to figure out the right dosage. I know people have said they have great success with some of them but, in my opinion, that is usually more luck and close observation by a really good vet.

If it was me, I would get two small cat trees and place them in separate parts of the home so each cat can claim one without seeing the other. Preferably in front of a window so they have something to watch. I would get a second opinion from a different vet to make sure there isn't a physical cause missed by the first vet. 
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I can't imagine that you'll get any better advice than this, and personally, I'd call my Vet and let him or her know that I'd like to discontinue Prozac.  If it were me, I'd also dispense with Feliway as well.  Adding cat trees might very well help, but I think I might also try to get them to engage as they once did.  Try fresh catnip - it hath charms to soothe, as the old saw is so often misquoted.

.
 
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disneycatmom

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Brian007 said:
If you're short on space you could put up wide cat shelves on a couple of walls with non-slip, comfy surfaces, and easy climbing down access.  Giving them both the option of high platforms would probably help.

Is there any possibility that there is a new cat in your neighbourhood who may have frightened Sebastian after seeing said cat out of a window?  It might be he's experiencing redirected aggression/fear towards Ariel as she's the only one around to take his feelings out upon.  Are they indoor only or do they have free access to the outside?  If they go outside, is it through a cat door that another cat could sneak in through?

What happened to cause Ariel's claw infection?  Did the behaviour start before or after?

Why is Sebastian on prozac, is it because of this recent anxiety, or has he been on it for longer?

I don't think your description of the situation is long enough.  More details, please....

Hopefully, we will be able to put our heads together to bring back the harmony to your household.

:dance:
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Both are indoor, though Ariel will go outside with me at times. My blinds haven't been opened often so they don't see other cats. Not sure on Ariel's infection. I thought it was from them fighting but the vet said she may have just snagged it. The Prozac was recently started because of this situation. He had been on Elavil for stress-induced urinary problems when he was much younger and I was able to wean him off. I hope to with this eventually as well
 
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disneycatmom

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Brian007 said:
Do you mean by this, since the beginning of this year, 2017?  Or that it's been going on for a year or so?  Or that it started when they were both a year or so?

That Sebastian has had stress-related urine issues in the past suggests that they've not been getting along for a long time.  And that his stress-urine was due to his anxiety about Ariel.  Or that another cat(s) outside is possibly stressing Sebastian.  How old was he when the stress-urination started?  

When they got along before, did they sleep together or near each other?  Will they play together with you waving a wand/fishing rod type of toy?  Did they ever play this way before?  Do they eat together?
 
Do they have at least two litter trays, with easy access and clear exit, in separate parts of the house?  On different floors of the house?  And also at least two feeding areas and two drinking areas, which are separate from each other (cats like to eat and drink in different places).  Do they have multiple choice of beds, with some high up (with easy access to the top of a wardrobe, perhaps), and some in quiet, secluded areas (inside a wardrobe, for instance)?  Do you have at least two scratching posts in different areas?  

What do you do when you see this behaviour?  Do you rush to Sebastian's aid or scold Ariel?  Neither thing is helpful.  It is best to ignore their behaviour as much as possible when it actually takes place, and to be calm in yourself and not show signs of stress.

But it sounds as though Sebastian needs his courage building up through play and having access to multiples of everything.  If you're out at work all day, you won't know what happens between them, so giving them access to lots of options will reduce the risk of guarding, conflict, or bullying.  

Also, if you happen to see Sebastian near Ariel without showing signs of fear then you should give them both a treat and play a game as a reward. 

It might be that they've permanently fallen out and are behaving as though they are new to each other.  You might want to try reintroducing them to each other.  @CalicosRSpecial
 is very knowledgeable about this,
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Yes since 2017, 2 boxes and food. They used to sleep, play, everything together. Inseparable When they fight I try to clap my hand to break it up theb leave them alone. He was probably 2 or so when the urinary issues happened. I lived in a duplex at the time and my neighbors fought a lot. I'm trying the reintroduction method. I am off work for 2 weeks soon so I hope to help them. Thank you so much for your input!
 
Brian007

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A problem shared and all that.  
  It can feel very lonely suddenly finding yourself in the middle of a bewildering family argument, not knowing how to help.  

Does Ariel actively show signs of aggression or bullying towards Sebastian?  Or are Sebastian's fears unfounded and perhaps he unwittingly provokes Ariel?  Watch both cats' body language closely.  Actual fisticuffs, in two senior aged cats who were previously inseparable, definitely makes me think that something external has happened that brought about the initial incident (when Ariel may have injured her claw).  Whatever this incident was we'll never know, but it could have resulted in redirected aggression from Ariel onto Sebastian, blaming him for the injury, or from Sebastian onto Ariel for suddenly lashing out and frightening him when she caught her claw.  Or some such thing.  

I asked about the outside, and the possibility of another cat stressing them both out, because an extra cat in the neighbourhood can cause a sense of overcrowding within a previously harmonious home.  This can lead to sporadic territorial disputes within the home that seem groundless to humans but very real to cats.  Such a dispute may have initiated the ongoing tension, especially one that possibly lead to the accidental injury to Ariel.  So we do not know where in the overall hierarchy Sebastian and Ariel fit, or which cat is the aggressor.  We'll have to see what your two week cat-watching holiday reveals.

Are you absolutely certain that nothing has changed in their environment?  Like a new scent from whatever source that may disturb their super sensitive noses.  

It's good that they've both been vet checked as illness in one cat can spark behavioural problems in another.  And it's good that you've provided them with all their multiple options of everything.  It can feel like your cats have got way more stuff than you sometimes! 

Bach Flower Remedies for Animals could be helpful.  They address emotional health problems.  They seem like an odd notion but have been proven to bring about positive results.  Because we don't know if either one of your cats has become over-dominant or timid, or if there was a traumatic incident to get over, there are two remedies that you could put in their shared water for general social cohesion, tolerance and reduction of tension:

Water Violet and Holly. 

You might as well look them up on the internet to see if you think they might apply to your situation and whether or not they might help. 

And, my cat, Dudley, highly recommends the valerian cat-calming spot-on and tasty treats.  Both cats would probably benefit from some herbal chill-pills.  
 
 
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