Can cats have hereditary mental health issues?

[Hurr1cane]

A good few years ago now I fostered a pregnant cat, the cat went on to have 3 kittens, and we kept the mum and one kitten. Mum was a very friendly sociable little cat, as was kitten. Which was good as we had another older rescue cat lady and a boy rescue cat.

When the mum turned 3, all of a sudden, she turned into a complete witch, really aggressive with the other cats, and eventually she moved in with an old man down the road, she lives there quite happily now.

Kitten stayed, she was a lovely little thing, lovely with the other cats, until this year when she has turned 3.

She now spends her days waking round growling and going for the other cats! She's perfectly healthy, nothing has changed, yet all of a sudden she's acting like she is possessed, just like mum.

Goodness, I don't know - although I have little doubt that someone in the States is conducting (or is considering) a relevant research project as we speak.

Developmental v. genetic influences is a hugely complex area and I would be surprised but interested to know that cats can have specific time-dependent issues as you describe. Having said which, there are some human mental health issues which seem to have a genetic compoment and to have a fairly distinctive likely ageline - so why not other mammals?

But yet Mum is now happy with someone else without any other cats (there's a hint for your future action?) so - it beats me, Hurr1cane. Are you completely sure that nothing has changed either inside or outside? (New cat on the block for example?)

I'm not SURE there's not any new cats outside. There is a lot of cats around here. But she used to be lovely with the cats inside, and this morning I thought she was about to scratch feral kittens eyes out! Feral was just sat on me knee and tabby walked over, looked at her then did a growl/hiss and scratched at Ferals face! It's been going on for the past 2 weeks now. Ferals 6 months old and has been here since she was 3 weeks old (hand reared orphan) and she doesn't go near the others apart from ragdoll who she's in love with

Hmm. Has feral been spayed yet? (And how does tabby get on with ragdoll?)

You may just be seeing a (deferred) battle for position what with the new cat having arrived and growing to the point where she might now represent a threat of sorts.

Feral is spayed, she used to get on fine with ragdoll but now she does the same with him and our very very old lady cat, which makes me the most sad because the poor thing is old and just wants to sleep.

She's still lovely with humans though, although mum started on the cats then turned on the humans

I guess what I'm thinking is that cat society is very complicated and while you think that there's been no change, the kitten's growing up may be enough to tip something if it was previously finely balanced. In other words, the 3 years may be a coincidence and it's really down to the interactions between the cats - some of which you won't notice.

Do they have enough space to get away from each other if they want? I really feel for poor old lady cat.

Yes they are all outdoor cats, and all seem to have their 'spaces' that no one else goes into. Apart from ragdoll and feral who are inseparable.

They are all rescue babies that I ended up with because they couldn't find forever homes. Apart from feral, when she fell in love with ragdoll we couldn't let them go, the massive beast was so happy.

I suspect it's a power play between the cats - but I'd also keep an eye open for any new cats on the block. Do you have a chip flap for them? (To keep anyone else out, just as a belt and braces precaution given the strife.)

By the way, has she been vetted recently? (If a cat changed behaviour dramatically, I'd always want to have them checked over physically just in case some complaint was contributing to the situation.)

Yes I took her last week after a week of being a little witch and she's absolutely fine physically.

No I don't have a flap at all (rented) they all come in and out via the door using their meows and a door bell.

They're both asleep now in their allocated spots which aren't that fat away from each other (1-2 metres) and are fine when there

See how it goes for a little? Part of your problem may actually be the close bond between feral and ragdoll. (They're a powerful alliance when together.)

I didn't think about the feral/ragdoll friendship. They are both so harmless and love everything though.