Cat Drama...Please Help! (Update - Desperate!)

[bitohoney]

I'm really worried. I have a 13 year old Siamese, 10 year old cat and a 6 month old kitten. I've had the kitten for 4 months and everything has been fine, except for the normal cat spat.
My 10 year old is the calmest cat, nothing bothers her. But today she's suddenly very aggressive towards the other 2 cats. When she sees them, she chases after them wanting to hurt them, with her tail fat. Now, the 13 year old and my 6 month old are in hiding. They are so scared that they won't even eat dinner. The aggressive cat isn't aggressive towards me, just to the other cats. She's acting, towards me, like nothing's wrong. Right now I have her locked in the basement trying to get the other cats to come out of hiding but they are too scared.
Help! What do I do?

 

[LuLuO]

How long have you had the young one? Maybe it's a territory thing? It is possible the aggressive one could be sick.

 

[Scurvy]

It's possible that one of them is sick. A sudden change in behavior (when there are no environmental changes) can indicate a health problem. Maybe the aggressive one is ill and that's causing the aggression, but it could also be that one of the others is ill and the aggressive one is reacting to that. Sometimes cats will try to drive a sick cat off. I'd start out by going to the vet to rule out any health problems, but keep them separated in the meantime so they can't hurt each other.

 

[bitohoney]

None of them have been showing any signs of illness. All have been eating fine, too. I'm bawling right now because I'm scared she is sick.

 

[Scurvy]

Try to calm down and don't freak out. It will be okay. Even if one of them is sick, it's quite likely that it's something that is easily treated. Even some of the really serious things are no big deal if you catch them early enough, and if they haven't been showing symptoms then you know it's early. And it's possible that there's some other reason for the aggression and no one is sick. But illness is the easiest thing to rule out at this point, so once you do that you can start figuring out what else might be going on.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Have you changed anything? The kitty litter, their food, used new detergent on their favorite blankets? That could be upsetting.

But I think your best bet is to call the Vet if it is still going on tomorrow and start by getting the 10 yr old checked out just to be sure that there is nothing going on physically. Might not be ill, might have a sore paw or something that is making her defensive.

 

[bitohoney]

How do I get my other 2 cats to come out of hiding? I'm worried about them too.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

This may seem like an obvious question, but have you had the little one spayed/neutered?

6 months is about the right time for hormonal changes in the baby to be noticable by the other house members if you haven't.

 

[bitohoney]

This may seem like an obvious question, but have you had the little one spayed/neutered?

6 months is about the right time for hormonal changes in the baby to be noticable by the other house members if you haven't.

I just made an appt for her to be spayed, but she's attacking the other cat too.

 

[bitohoney]

Right now I have them seperated and the 10 year old just ate and is rubbing on me and talking to me like normal. The other 2 are still hiding. The baby was trembling. Now I'm worried that this won't stop and it's just jealous or behavioral issues.

 

[bitohoney]

Just made an appt for the aggressive cat, Bit. The vets office mentioned the 6 month old being in heat but would Bit attack the other cat too?
I'm so worried and can't stop crying like an idiot.

 

[Scurvy]

Just made an appt for the aggressive cat, Bit. The vets office mentioned the 6 month old being in heat but would Bit attack the other cat too?
I'm so worried and can't stop crying like an idiot.

It's possible. Any sort of environmental change can make a big difference in cat behavior, and having a cat who is in heat in the house is a pretty major change.

Seriously, I know it's easier said than done but stop crying. This isn't the end of the world. Either it's related to the cat being in heat, in which case it will be resolved soon, or someone has a health issue, in which case you'll get it sorted out. (It could even be something as simple as a toothache, it doesn't have to be serious.) And if it turns out to be a territorial issue, there are things you can do for that, too. It's not going to make the cats feel any better if you're freaking out - it's going to freak them out, too, and might make them act even stranger. So take a deep breath and don't borrow trouble. Whatever this is, you can fix it.

 

[mamacatnv]

Just made an appt for the aggressive cat, Bit. The vets office mentioned the 6 month old being in heat but would Bit attack the other cat too?
I'm so worried and can't stop crying like an idiot.

Ahhh my Grandmother had a cat Named Tid-Bit who she called Bit. Thanks for the warm fuzzy memory of both the cat and my Grandmother

Yes, Bit would attack the middle aged cat also if the kitten is in heat and Bit is picking up on it from both of them. For your own peace of mind proceed with all vet appts, especially the one to get the youngin neutered

 

[bitohoney]

Well...I took my aggressive cat, Bit, to the vet today. She appears to be fine but I have to wait until tomorrow for the blood test results. The vet said since all cats are eating then none should be sick. Also, the vet mentioned that my 6 month old, Minnie, could be in heat (I hope that's the case even though she's not showing any signs ) and she recommended Feliway, which I am trying. Crossing my fingers! Those cats are my sweet babies!

 

[chyam]

I have been using Feliway since July, my one cat Meatball was being horrible, was doing "his business" anywhere he pleased which was not normal for him, I had an accident in my home, where part of my roof collapsed in July and from piecing things together he may have been in that room when it caved in...The Feliway has pretty much solved the problem, at first they put him on prozac ....the poor boy was so messed up! and not in a good way.
I really believe it is because your kitten is in heat. When you bring her home from that surgery your cats will again react because of the smell from the surgery....cats have very sensitive noses......All will be fine again soon....quit crying, it's nothing you did, there is just something strange in the "apple cart" and most likely it is the kitten in heat.

 

[pppiglet]

Thanks to everyone who posted their tips. I have 9 cats and lately they all pick on one. He is the youngest at almost 2, but also the largest! He is such a wimp. I heard hissing and growling yesterday morning, and he was hiding under the couch and 5 others were all surrounding it. I'll be taking him in soon for testing. Also I think it's time to try the Feliway again.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Thanks to everyone who posted their tips. I have 9 cats and lately they all pick on one. He is the youngest at almost 2, but also the largest! He is such a wimp. I heard hissing and growling yesterday morning, and he was hiding under the couch and 5 others were all surrounding it. I'll be taking him in soon for testing. Also I think it's time to try the Feliway again.

Does feliway work? I moved my 3 cats into a 3 (sometimes 5) cat household and were having issues.

 

[bitohoney]

I just started using the Feliway yesterday. How long does it take to work??
Bit went right for my older cat this morning and they had a huge fight.
I have the spray but am also going to get the plug in diffuser.
Right now I have Bit in the cold dirty basement and I feel awful about that.

Also, could my kitten be in heat without showing signs yet?????

I know it's only been 2 days but I want it to end!

 

[pppiglet]

I usd the plug in diffuser and it worked pretty well for awhile. I kind of got scared and pulled the plug on it one day as it was smoking as it was low and I thought the house would burn down!

As for cats being in heat, I was sitting on the couch one night reading a cat book and it was saying that cats can go in heat as early as three months. Then it listed the symptoms. As I was reading it my just 3 month old was doing the exact things it listed and I rushed her that week to get fixed!

 

[bitohoney]

So I'm spraying the Feliway around each day and I ordered 2 diffusers. Hope they work. Bit's blood tests came back fine. After talking to the vet about the situation, we think my oldest (Kitty) may have hyperthyroidism. I'm taking her in to get checked on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, I got some calming treats and Good Cat for Bit. Her and my kitten are here right now...I'm keeping an eye on them, Bit just hissed but the kitten is running around so that's normal. The oldest is upstairs for now. Hope they can all live happily ever after again soon!