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- Aug 21, 2012
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Hello all,
I'm in need of some help. Out of nowhere this morning my four year old cat, MJ, started viciously attacking/stalking my two other cats. (both three years old).
Quick background info:
MJ is the mother of the other two cats (Nug and Smalls).
All three are spayed/neutered
Nug and Smalls are both males
I have three litter boxes
When I moved back home to finish up school a few months ago, I noticed that MJ will sometimes swat at my other cats if she is sitting with me and they try to come join. I moved from a one bedroom apartment to a larger finished basement with multiple rooms. Also, i don't know if its worth noting but I broke up with my girlfriend who lived with me around this time, so one less person in the cats environment that was with them since they were kittens.
Last night I went to bed with MJ and Nug both sleeping in bed with me, which is a normal occurrence. Smalls has always been a loner and is not a lap cat. Nug and MJ are both huge lovers and are usually always near or on me when I am home.
This morning I got out of the shower and began to get ready for work when I heard that unmistakable low growl of a very angry cat. I looked around for the source and saw MJ all puffed up, then suddenly lunged and chased Nug around the room, claws flying, really viscous stuff. She continued to chase both Nug and Smalls until they were hiding out of sight under furniture. I stared in disbelief as this, to me, came out of nowhere.
Another thing that I feel is worth mentioning is there is an outside cat that regularly visits my window, and MJ has always growled and hissed at it from inside. I think it may have gone to the window when I was in the shower, and caused MJ to freak out, but I have no idea if this is actually the case.
So now I am running late to work, but feel I need to deal with this. I set up multiple bowls of food and water so MJ can not guard them, and I also moved a litter box over to where Smalls likes to hide, far away from the other boxes. While I am doing this MJ continues to puff up and chase/attack Nug. I decide to try and calm MJ down myself and pick her up while she is puffed up and hissing, half thinking she will turn on me. She did not, and I brought her over to the couch to sit with her. She curled up and stayed there while I asked her what in the world she was doing.
Nug then came out from hiding and over to MJ and I, causing her to growl. I was able to sit with her and keep her on my lap but she was clearly upset. At this point I had to leave for work, so I brought her away from Nug, set her down and waited for a minute until she sat down. The rooms in the basement all have small openings where a cat can get through to the other room, and I didn't have time to construct barriers. I will be going home on lunch to do just that and possibly separate MJ from the other two.
My question is, does this sound like jealousy or redirected aggression, or something else? I feel like if it was redirected aggression from the cat outside, MJ would also growl/hiss/claw at me as well? I really have no idea though and it's very heart breaking. They have all gotten along so well for 3 years, being that its a mother and two litter-mates (other than the occasional swatting after I moved, four months ago). I don't know what to do other than set up a vet appointment for MJ and try to keep them separated? Would love some advice.
Sorry for the lengthy post.
I'm in need of some help. Out of nowhere this morning my four year old cat, MJ, started viciously attacking/stalking my two other cats. (both three years old).
Quick background info:
MJ is the mother of the other two cats (Nug and Smalls).
All three are spayed/neutered
Nug and Smalls are both males
I have three litter boxes
When I moved back home to finish up school a few months ago, I noticed that MJ will sometimes swat at my other cats if she is sitting with me and they try to come join. I moved from a one bedroom apartment to a larger finished basement with multiple rooms. Also, i don't know if its worth noting but I broke up with my girlfriend who lived with me around this time, so one less person in the cats environment that was with them since they were kittens.
Last night I went to bed with MJ and Nug both sleeping in bed with me, which is a normal occurrence. Smalls has always been a loner and is not a lap cat. Nug and MJ are both huge lovers and are usually always near or on me when I am home.
This morning I got out of the shower and began to get ready for work when I heard that unmistakable low growl of a very angry cat. I looked around for the source and saw MJ all puffed up, then suddenly lunged and chased Nug around the room, claws flying, really viscous stuff. She continued to chase both Nug and Smalls until they were hiding out of sight under furniture. I stared in disbelief as this, to me, came out of nowhere.
Another thing that I feel is worth mentioning is there is an outside cat that regularly visits my window, and MJ has always growled and hissed at it from inside. I think it may have gone to the window when I was in the shower, and caused MJ to freak out, but I have no idea if this is actually the case.
So now I am running late to work, but feel I need to deal with this. I set up multiple bowls of food and water so MJ can not guard them, and I also moved a litter box over to where Smalls likes to hide, far away from the other boxes. While I am doing this MJ continues to puff up and chase/attack Nug. I decide to try and calm MJ down myself and pick her up while she is puffed up and hissing, half thinking she will turn on me. She did not, and I brought her over to the couch to sit with her. She curled up and stayed there while I asked her what in the world she was doing.
Nug then came out from hiding and over to MJ and I, causing her to growl. I was able to sit with her and keep her on my lap but she was clearly upset. At this point I had to leave for work, so I brought her away from Nug, set her down and waited for a minute until she sat down. The rooms in the basement all have small openings where a cat can get through to the other room, and I didn't have time to construct barriers. I will be going home on lunch to do just that and possibly separate MJ from the other two.
My question is, does this sound like jealousy or redirected aggression, or something else? I feel like if it was redirected aggression from the cat outside, MJ would also growl/hiss/claw at me as well? I really have no idea though and it's very heart breaking. They have all gotten along so well for 3 years, being that its a mother and two litter-mates (other than the occasional swatting after I moved, four months ago). I don't know what to do other than set up a vet appointment for MJ and try to keep them separated? Would love some advice.
Sorry for the lengthy post.
She might really benefit from a calming supplement like Composure or Zylkene. These are non prescription, but vets do use them. Definitely something to discuss in the appointment.
