OMG cat parents I need advice!!

[zen_bohemian]

I had 2 cats shaved today at the vet. My 3rd cat didn't go to the vet, and when I brought them home, my cat who stayed at home keeps attacking them, I have no idea why he is doing this, he is a very gentle cat...help!!

[txwhitedove]

1. This happened recently with my dogs, and a dog rescue friend suggests

rubbing the un-cut/un-groomed animal vigorously with a towel. Now use same towel to rub down the trimmed animal. It's supposedly loss of the recognizable smell. Report back please!!

:)

[Arugula Latte]

2. I was going to say, it's probably that weird vet scent that's freaking him out.

Also, maybe your other two kitties appear to be "new" (hairless) cats to him.

[zen_bohemian]

3. I am freaking out here

I did the towel rubbing on all 3. The aggressive one is a neutered male, who has NEVER been aggressive, he was the sweetest of the 3. He is aggressive toward one female, an elderly one, who is still feeling yucky from the anesthesia (this is my first experience with shaving them, I am not going to do this again :( The other one is a spayed younger cat, he is not quite as bad with her, but she is scared of him right now. I am keeping them all separated in different areas. I don't understand why he is acting like this, I am crying, I should have never done this, I feel terrible.

[txwhitedove]

4. Then it could be the medical smells. Just give them space from each other tonight.

My Shih Tsu went nuts, growling, barking, jumping on the Airdale when she came home from the groomers all sheared and sweet-smelling, but calmed down within 36-hours.

[GoCubsGo]

5. Give him a day or so.

He'll get over it. I have one who behaves the same way every time I take my old man to the vet. When we get home, it's like I brought a new cat into the house. It usually goes on for about a day. Then, it's back to normal. I suspect it's because my older kitty picks up odors from the vet's office. The other thing I've noticed with my cats is that if one is debilitated in some way, the others tend to pick on him/her. Don't get too upset over this. When the one starts getting aggressive, just reprimand him. Squirt him with the spray bottle or blast him with some canned air. Or, toss a wad of crumpled paper at him. Anything to distract him from the other cat.

[kedrys]

6. Vet smells

Definitely. Whenever one of my kitties has to go see the doc, the others freak out for a day or so when kitty comes back. Keep an eye on them, and make sure nobody gets hurt.

[zen_bohemian]

7. Thanks, I will keep them apart for a couple of days

The older one's low meowing seems to be what sets the male off, it is like he is a stranger, this is very unlike him. I hope this all clears soon, I feel just horrible.

[zen_bohemian]

8. Update...after a night of all 3 separated in different rooms

the kitten and the male are getting along fine again. I ran to the store and bought some Feliway and sprayed it around the house, now for the older one, I am waiting until this evening before I introduce them all together, I want to make sure there are some extra sets of hands here in case I need to separate them again, but so far so good :)

[TEXASYANKEE]

9. Good.

It is normal for cats to freak out when one comes back from the vet (I think it's the weird vet office smell). Next time try not to get upset or cry, it just escalates the cats' anxieties. It will be hard, but just stay calm. Separate the cats if need be, but don't get upset. This is just normal cat behavior. Glad to hear yours are now calming down.

[riderinthestorm]

10. I have to ask, why did you shave your cats?

I've never even heard of it. My cats love their fur - they remind me of fussy women with their hair - preening, grooming, cleaning....

[zen_bohemian]

11. Persian will not let me brush her, she gets very bad hair mats

one isn't as good at grooming, the other one will not let me brush her, and I can't handle her having mats in her fur, they are painful and cause infections. I was not even going to attempt to cut the mats out, their skin is paper thin and a squirming cat around scissors or a razor in untrained hands is a bad idea, I was too afraid I would hurt her.

[riderinthestorm]

12. Ah! That makes sense. I've never owned Persians

A very long haired cat got dumped at the farm this winter and he's my first experience with anything than a regular short haired cat but he does a great job keeping himself clean and mat-free. Fingers crossed it continues.

Can you try to acclimate the cats to the brush now that there's no trauma with the fur? Run the backside of the brush over their bodies while you pet them? Get them used to the implement first without the bristles? Once they have some fur just continue the gentle stroking while you pet them, maybe putting in a real brush stroke every now and then?

Not sure if they can adapt but you never know. Must have been a nightmare for you....

[zen_bohemian]

13. I am working with them with a new brush

I had a nylon brush, I am trying a really soft one on the one cat. I am also taking a damp washcloth and wiping her down too. I pray that with some training we can brush her effectively, this was alot of stress on all of us. I guess it's not uncommon to have long-haired cats shaved, I have never felt so horrible, the cats are like our 2nd set of kids ha.

The one with the mats, we got her as a rescue as a very small kitten, and poor thing didnt get any mama time, and I am afraid she missed the whole grooming lessons from her mama. The other cat who was not shaved is also long hair, but he is immaculate in his grooming, and he kinda took the baby in and cleaned her when she was small ha.

[riderinthestorm]

14. Good luck!

Sometimes us parents do things that are really hard (and maybe even hurtful) for our furbabies..... I'm pretty sure that with your kind heart you'll get them acclimated to the brush. Glad the fireworks in the house are starting to die down.

[zen_bohemian]

15. Thanks :)

I am glad all is well too, the cats are pretty calm around each other, and glad to see them being themselves again. I am off to play with the kitten. have a good night all :)

[applegrove]

16. My cats always acted weird and wanted to smell the other one when I brought the other

one home from being neutered. I think it likely has something to do with smell.

[MikeW]

17. ya vet smell

one of our cats actually loves going to the vet ... its like a big social event for him ... he loves people.

Walks around greeting staff and the vet, walks on their desk countertop like hes the king.

[kimi]

18. Glad I read this

I didn't know it could happen, have had cats forever but they were always just curious when one would come home from the vet. Or want to crawl inside the carrier that was used. I'll keep an eye out as they get older, one of my 7 has a tendency towards aggression and I could easily see her doing something like your unshaven one did. Thing with her is -- she's the one who gets shaved regularly. She grooms herself, assiduously, but she has dental issues, part of her tongue is missing (she was a rescue and I imagine it was due to an injury before someone took her in) and she has this very fine, easily-matted fur, and the one time I tried to cut a mat off of her, she squirmed and -- oh, I hate to even think of this -- I accidentally cut HER. A trip to the emergency vet late at night convinced me to NEVER ever ever try to cut a mat off one of my cats again. So, don't feel so badly that you had your cats shaved, sometimes, for health reasons, it really does make sense, especially as they age. I think cats, in particular, probably feel very badly if they can't be fastidious and clean in their grooming for whatever reason. That being said, getting them used to being groomed, is a very good thing! Good luck.

[zen_bohemian]

19. yep

I have had the cats separately at the vet before and this is the first time I have had a response like that. I think I was so upset because the big boy was so aggressive toward the old female, he is the sweetest cat I have ever owned. When the kitten was small, he was the one who took her in and basically took care of her, the old gal is not a motherly type. All has went back to normal, I have my sweet boy back again :)