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

Original poster

Cat behaving oddly.

10 replies

tillytoodles1 · 19/10/2023 19:50

My cat is a friendly little soul and is very nosy when people come to the flat. I had my sofa cleaned today and a man helped to bring in the industrial cleaning machine then went out again. My cat arched her back and hissed at him, but when he left she was fine, just went into the bedroom to get away from the noise while the other man was working When he'd finished she came back in.

The other man came in again to help remove the equipment and she stared at him, but backed away slowly. What was all that about?

OP posts:
TheyreEatingThemInNelsonAndTheBluff · 19/10/2023 22:57

Maybe he has two huge dogs at home and she could smell them or something?

margotrose · 19/10/2023 23:07

Something spooked her. Maybe he smelt like dog or other cats or had used an aftershave she didn't like.

Sameshitdifferentdayx · 19/10/2023 23:22

Echo above. More than likely a scent she didn't like/familiar with.

Original poster
tillytoodles1 · 20/10/2023 11:00

Friends and family have dogs and cats and apart from a good sniff when they're here, she doesn't bother. I couldn't smell any aftershave or anything else, her reaction was totally out of character.

OP posts:
Frydaycryday · 20/10/2023 11:10

My cat hates men.
She was a rescue and it said she couldn't be rehomed with a man.
To be honest I don't blame her either.
Maybe your cat is the same. I'd hiss at men too if it 2as socially acceptable.

Sameshitdifferentdayx · 20/10/2023 11:15

But being friends and family she may just be familiar with them smells and scents now? It could be anything but I wouldn't worry if she's generally fine other times/normally.

CarrieMoonbeams · 20/10/2023 11:17

My cat used to have a similar reaction to anyone who was a smoker. Neither DH or I smoke, nor do any of our friends or neighbours. I guess it was just an unexpected and unpleasant scent to our cat.

margotrose · 20/10/2023 15:09

Friends and family visiting the home as guests is very different to workmen coming in and out.

My cats are fine with visitors but they know when people are here to work or do deliveries and stay well out of the way. If they did have to interact I'm sure they would hiss or even have a swipe.

Cats are territorial animals so any strangers with funny smells etc. are odd to them.

Original poster
tillytoodles1 · 20/10/2023 17:16

Thanks everyone, i was just really surprised as she's never behaved like that before.

OP posts:
margotrose · 20/10/2023 17:57

Cats are odd creatures Grin

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