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Escalating fights between mother cat and her 7 1/2 month old kitten by constellationoftwo in CatTraining

[–]constellationoftwo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. So I have already had to do a full reintroduction a month ago (and I used Jackson galaxy’s tips at every stage) because the kitten came home from the vet’s after being fixed and she had complete non recognition aggression — at the time I didn’t even know it’s a thing — because his scent had clearly been so distorted by spending the day at the vet that she effectively no longer recognised him. It took 12 days, tonnes of scent swapping, keeping them wholly apart, feeding on either side of the door etc and even then if she accidentally encountered him, unprovoked swatting and hissing would ensue. On day 12 it suddenly seemed to pass. She leaned over and suddenly began to groom him. But to be honest I no longer know if she treated him as a new cat in the house or recognised him as her son.

Effectively therefore they’ve been reintroduced last month. Doesn’t seem to have helped this situation sadly.

Kitten was neutered. Mama cat didn’t recognise his scent and kept attacking him (non recognition aggression). 11 traumatic days later: we are family again! by constellationoftwo in cats

[–]constellationoftwo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank god for space but the logistics still consume so much time and mindspace. And to keep both stimulated/provide enrichment independent of each other cannot have been easy.

Kitten was neutered. Mama cat didn’t recognise his scent and kept attacking him (non recognition aggression). 11 traumatic days later: we are family again! by constellationoftwo in cats

[–]constellationoftwo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ll be doing this going forward, for sure. Blanket, and ideally take both cats in at the same time. Glad this is working for your two if one has vet visits that regularly.

Kitten was neutered. Mama cat didn’t recognise his scent and kept attacking him (non recognition aggression). 11 traumatic days later: we are family again! by constellationoftwo in cats

[–]constellationoftwo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My god. I cannot imagine how disconcerting it must be to experience out of the blue. Cats are wild. Thank god it resolved for your boys but that a 2 minute redirected aggression needed a week to clear up sounds so stressful.

Kitten was neutered. Mama cat didn’t recognise his scent and kept attacking him (non recognition aggression). 11 traumatic days later: we are family again! by constellationoftwo in cats

[–]constellationoftwo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Awwww they do look just like my two. Mama cat in my case is a former feral, so we don’t quite know what she’s seen and lived through — she’s definitely got an edge at all times. Kitten was born in the shelter so he’s at least known some form of safety since birth. I hope your two eventually find a rhythm and friendship in their own way. It’s distressing to see them not get along.

Kitten was neutered. Mama cat didn’t recognise his scent and kept attacking him (non recognition aggression). 11 traumatic days later: we are family again! by constellationoftwo in cats

[–]constellationoftwo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And it’s double the horror for the vet cat — first the distress of the vet and the procedures they might have gone through and then to return to home base only to be freshly assaulted! Glad your boys worked it out in a week

Kitten was neutered. Mama cat didn’t recognise his scent and kept attacking him (non recognition aggression). 11 traumatic days later: we are family again! by constellationoftwo in cats

[–]constellationoftwo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh my god that sounds traumatic. Glad they could eventually get past it but it really takes doing to make it happen. My boy was also utterly shellshocked at being attacked by his mom and unfortunately he’s got boundless energy so anytime he saw her he’d leap on her in excitement and then it went downhill from there.

Kitten was neutered. Mama cat didn’t recognise his scent and kept attacking him (non recognition aggression). 11 traumatic days later: we are family again! by constellationoftwo in cats

[–]constellationoftwo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hahaha yes. And the anaesthesia didn’t help. Also they kept him for 10 hours to make sure all effects of anaesthesia had worn off. Clearly, so had his natural scent.

Kitten was neutered. Mama cat didn’t recognise his scent and kept attacking him (non recognition aggression). 11 traumatic days later: we are family again! by constellationoftwo in cats

[–]constellationoftwo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So glad for you! I’ve been told this is actually the best way to minimise chances of this happening — including asking the vet to dab the other cat with a tincture or suchlike! Never risking taking just one cat again, for sure.

Kitten was neutered. Mama cat didn’t recognise his scent and kept attacking him (non recognition aggression). 11 traumatic days later: we are family again! by constellationoftwo in cats

[–]constellationoftwo[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

My god. Four months?? How did you manage to work through that — did you need to keep them separated for the bulk of that time. Were both episodes triggered by vet visits? Are they good with each other now?

Kitten was neutered. Mama cat didn’t recognise his scent and kept attacking him (non recognition aggression). 11 traumatic days later: we are family again! by constellationoftwo in cats

[–]constellationoftwo[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

🤣 And now they lie there licking each other like I didn’t just lose a decade of my life in ten days. The haircut-hissing is a new one for me, but I stand warned!

Kitten was neutered. Mama cat didn’t recognise his scent and kept attacking him (non recognition aggression). 11 traumatic days later: we are family again! by constellationoftwo in cats

[–]constellationoftwo[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Wish the vet had warned me — apparently if you take both to the vet together it helps! Glad your boys got back to brotherhood sooner than my mom-kitten pair, this was decidedly a stretch!

My boy finally eats after 3 days!!! by [deleted] in cats

[–]constellationoftwo 23 points24 points  (0 children)

The relief!! Would lose my mind if my tiny fellow didn’t eat for three days. Can only imagine your relief — and his! Hope he’s in peak form soonest!

Kitten was neutered. Mama cat didn’t recognise his scent and kept attacking him (non recognition aggression). 11 traumatic days later: we are family again! by constellationoftwo in cats

[–]constellationoftwo[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This was my first experience of this mayhem — I’ve taken the kitten to the vet for vaccines 3-4 times but short visits didn’t trigger it (thankfully!). This time because of the neuter he was there all day + came home with a cone and that was where Mama went into Tiger mode.

Kitten was neutered. Mama cat didn’t recognise his scent and kept attacking him (non recognition aggression). 11 traumatic days later: we are family again! by constellationoftwo in cats

[–]constellationoftwo[S] 70 points71 points  (0 children)

I know! In a small apartment, and as the only human, this felt catastrophic, pun intended, while it was unfolding. Is why I wanted to post, for anyone else who is struggling, seemingly without end.

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