Is it likely that my cat is attacking my other cat?

[nigelladawson]

I posted this in AIBU as didn't realise there was such a forum. Just looking for a bit of advice here. To add both the boys are neutered and were done as soon as they could...I think 5/6 months? Or maybe less I can't quite remember.

I bought 2 farm cats, both boys and both from the same litter. They're 17 months old now. They settled into our family amazingly and I love them to bits.

They have always gotten along well enough, they kind of stay out of each other's way but once in a while will groom each other. They do play fight and a few times I've had to intervene as it's getting quite intense and they do hiss at each other if the other goes near their food.

During the night there was so much banging and running up and down the stairs, I heard a few hisses but I assumed it was the two of them playing. This morning the more timid one had a limp and was being very subdued and wouldn't let me touch him. I noticed that when he made eye contact with his brother that his ears went back and he has completely avoided him all day.

I took him to the vet and he has cellulitis caused by a cat bite. He had a high temperature and the vet said it was lucky I brought him in. When we got home from the vets he went and hid outside all day, only coming in recently.

I asked the vet if his brother had bitten him but the vet said it would be unusual for a brother to do that and it's more likely to be another cat. So either another cat was in the house last night which explains the hissing and banging about, or it was him and his brother that I heard and his brother did this to him or it happened outside, completely unrelated to what I heard last night.

My question is this, if it was his brother how do I make sure this doesn't happen again? And if it does happen again and I have proof it was his brother then am I being unreasonable to considering rehoming his brother to a home with no cats?

I absolutely do not want to do this but I couldn't think of another way around it! Any ideas?

Cellulitis isn’t instant, the bite will be from a few days ago. I suppose it could be from them fighting (another time) but it’s very unlikely, I’d suspect another local cat TBH. I hope he’s feeling beter soon❤️

It IS possible that another cat is coming in at night, our local overly dominant Tom does. We have a microchip cat flap now, fucker was spraying in the house...

@OwlBasket

Cellulitis isn’t instant, the bite will be from a few days ago. I suppose it could be from them fighting (another time) but it’s very unlikely, I’d suspect another local cat TBH. I hope he’s feeling beter soon❤️

Oh so it is unrelated from what I heard last night? That makes me feel a bit better as was worried I'd heard last night and not intervened and this could have been avoided. Thank you, he just keeps hiding and doesn't purr when I'm clapping him anymore ☹️ but he'll be okay and that's the main thing.

My usually fairly placid cat took a chunk out of her sisters ear, as another cat was coming into their garden and as they were indoors Maia took her aggression out on Magic. Incredibly out of character behaviour for her. But I wonder if you have got a similar situation.

I've just answered your other thread. We have a camera over the cat flap and can see frequent attempts made by strange cats and the odd fox to enter the house, thwarted by the microchip cat flap. It's well worth investing in one.

Definitely lock your cat flap at night.
However, we have two- brother and sister. They are 11 now and squabble like mad at least once a day because he want to play rough and he is huge and she's small and hates it. He chases her and behaves like a tiger or lion hunting prey when he does it. The rest of the time they get on ok.
We use Feliway plugins next to her bed and separate them at night which gives her a safe place where she doesn't have to wonder if he might pounce and they are fine 23 hours and 55 minutes of every day- the other 5 she can get very upset with him.