HELP! My cats suddently don't get along :(

Hey Everyone..
Long time no see. I have been so busy with work.. I havne't been on here to post at all,just mostly read!

I'm hoping someone can help. I just don't know what to do..

Zebra went into the vet last Tuesday(jan 4) for dentistry work. She had her teeth cleaned (bad gingivitis - pew stinky breath) and ended up having a tooth extracted. She had 2 sleepovers.. and we just brought her home yesterday. Zebra is fine. The Atlantic Vet college took very good care of her. Besides being a bit timid, she is OK... My problem is with my Birman, Aiko... When Zebra came home Aiko's been constantly hiding... and when she does come out.. She doesnt want to be anywhere NEAR Zebra, and as a matter of fact, when she gets close to her, she takes a hissy fit, and starts growling/hissing at her.. It's soooo sad to see. These two kitties used to be best friends. Zebra will walk up to her as if she's saying "what's wrong buddy?" and then Aiko starts hissing her face off at her. I haven't seen any violence yet, however.. which is a good thing. I guess what is happening is Zebra is coming home smelling like an entirely different cat or something, and Aiko doesn't remember her? Or maybe Aiko was liking being the only cat and thought we were getting rid of Zeeb??? I just don't know what to do.. is this something that will just go away? I tried putting aiko in her own room last nite with litter box & food/water, but it wasn't 20 mins and she was scratching at the door to get out. SO I figured OK, maybe she's coming around.. Zebra would sit outside her door wondering what was going on.. then as soon as aiko comes out.. this hissy fit starts again. it's just breaking my heart to see this... If it wasn't traumatizing enuf for zeeb to have gone to the vet for 3 whole days.. now she's coming home to the little misfit Aiko. Does anyone know of anything I can do????
Help!!!

On a positive note.. I'm getting my new digital camera today!!! I'm getting a Canon powershot G6. I'm super excited. I sold my old one on ebay about a month ago and have been goign thru withdrawal not being able to take pics of the gurls!

talk to you soon i hope!

jaclyn

I agree with your suspicion that Aiko's behavior is most likely prompted by Zebra's coming home from the vet smelling different.

You might want to try the scent-swapping ideas or vanilla extract trick listed in this thread (click here). Hopefully that will help - if not, you may need to try separating them for a couple of days, then reintroducing them.

Have fun with that camera! We always enjoy seeing kitty pics.

Originally Posted by tuxedokitties

I agree with your suspicion that Aiko's behavior is most likely prompted by Zebra's coming home from the vet smelling different.

You might want to try the scent-swapping ideas or vanilla extract trick listed in this thread (click here). Hopefully that will help - if not, you may need to try separating them for a couple of days, then reintroducing them.

Have fun with that camera!

We always enjoy seeing kitty pics.

Click to expand...

Hey!

Thanks so much for your advice! I did the separation when we first introduced them.. Oh the joys of getting new kitties! I decided on trying the vanilla extract idea first. They don't seem to mind it thus far! haha! Does it have to be a certain kind of vanilla extract? I've never heard of this before, but what a sensibile idea! I just have vanilla i got in the dominican.. i figured if it was stronger smelling it may just work better. I'll keep you posted! Thanks so much for your quick reply. I have both of my kitties out now.. they'll stay in the same room now,but as soon as they touch noses, or get too close, little hissy aiko starts again. maybe this will help !!! (fingers & paws crossed!!) My kitties are my prime subject when i had my digicam b4, they're so modest love the attention! I'll post some as soon as i get the camera & learn how to use it! lol

You're welcome. I would think any kind of vanilla extract would be OK, as long as it's the edible kind and not just a perfume.

Hope it works for them!

Originally Posted by tuxedokitties

You're welcome.

I would think any kind of vanilla extract would be OK, as long as it's the edible kind and not just a perfume.

Hope it works for them!

Click to expand...

My kitties seem to be much better now!!! They'll at least "tolerate" each other. Aiko doesn't hiss as much anymore just more often lets out a sigh.. as if telling me .. "Fiiiiine.. i guess i'm not going to have it my way, so I'll put up with her".. lol. They smell so nice though with the vanilla! I think I might do that more often.. heee! thanks again for your help. My mum works at the vet, and she discussed this with one of her co-workers, and he said everytime he brings his kittie to the vet.. he goes through the same thing.. so it's just a matter of waiting till the vet sent wears off I guess... Who'da thunk it...

I have 2 male and 2 female cats. The boys (Wally: 9 y.o. charcoal persian and Max: 6 y.o. black and white long haired domestic, who at his last weigh in came in at just over 11 kilo!) are great, really laid back, friendly, loving, wonderful.
The girls on the other hand are a problem, they HATE each other!!! Whigsey and Monkey are sisters and are 5 years old. They always got along until Monkey had a litter, then Whigs went a little demented! She became incredibly nasty, even violent, at times extremely violent!!! Now 4 years later, even though things have settled down between the two of them, it can still get pretty nasty!
Whigsey is incredibly protective of me and has been known to attack if anyone (feline or human) gets too close. She is fine with me, she has only nipped me a couple of times after giving me plenty of warning that she was not entirely happy. Monkey is a sweet little girl, she just wants to be loved; and fed!
Does anyone have any advice for me as to how I may be able to break the ice with my gorgous girls? They are both so beautiful, I just want them to be happy.