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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Cat advice....

8 replies

pongoismyhero · 09/08/2017 09:41

One of my two cats - let's call her Cat A- (they are both 3 year old girls, spayed, not sisters but had them both from kittens) has just come back from a four day stint at the vet and my other cat's - let's call her Cat B- behaviour has dramatically changed - she is usually very outgoing and affectionate but she has been hiding under the bed and sofa, and if Cat A gets too close she hisses at her (this is completely out of character). I also don't think she's used the litter tray although I don't know for sure as we only have one (we used to have two but they insisted on using the same tray so we got rid of the second one). She's still eating and drinking.

Do I need to take her to the vet now too or is this just because she doesn't recognise Cat A and thinks we've brought in a strange cat?

We go on holiday Friday and I'm worried!! Our cat sitter will come in 2 x per day and is a former vet nurse so I know they're in good hands but even so.

Any thoughts appreciated.

OP posts:
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 09/08/2017 09:44

I could be something to do with Cat A smelling of the vets. I've noticed that when my cat has been to the vet he smells different. My nose is nowhere near as sensitive as a cat's so I can imagine it must be pretty strong for them!

I hope they are both OK.

fenneltea · 09/08/2017 09:49

She'll think thatcat A is a different cat as her scent has changed. I'd try some feliway and zylkene and hopefully they'll be best friends again soon. Swapping litter trays between them and switching bedding can help too.

Toddlerteaplease · 09/08/2017 09:51

Yes, probably she smells different. My girl had a good sniff of her sister when she got home after a week at the vet, then ignored her completely. My hopes for Fatty being a nurse cat for her sister did not happen!

pongoismyhero · 09/08/2017 09:55

They don't really have bedding tbh - they just sleep on our bed or on the sofa. Cat A was on the sofa all night last night and I think cat B was under the bed. We did have beds for them for a while but neither of them ever used them!

Yes I think I will try to get hold of some feliway if I can, maybe the vets sell it.

OP posts:
pongoismyhero · 09/08/2017 10:00

also really stupid question but is the feliway safe to be left plugged in while we are away? I usually unplug everything.

They are indoor cats so I am super paranoid about fire.

OP posts:
Shedmicehugh · 09/08/2017 10:00

If problem is not recognising cat after 4 days at the vets. Vets/cat protection advice to me when introducing my 2 new kittens to our dogs, was to stroke one then the other, transferring scents. Helped them to settle with each other.

pongoismyhero · 09/08/2017 10:09

yes, i've been stroking them both so hopefully that helps

She's not attacking her or anything, just hissing when she gets too close. And she's a lot more subdued than usual. I'd be worried she was ill but the change in behaviour happened the minute Cat A got home so I'm fairly sure it's just that.

OP posts:
alwaysthepessimist · 09/08/2017 10:12

rub something like sardines on the cat that came from the vet to encourage the other cat to groom them - strange I know but we always used to do this when we brought a kitten home, it meant the other cat then had their scent on the new cat and they settled much much quicker

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