My cat fears my husband after grooming. Can we reintroduce them?

Oh dear, how stressful! Unfortunately it can be common for cats to lash out when one cat in the household suddenly smells or acts different - as they tend to do when they come home from the vet. Most of the time they go back to their normal interactions once the strange smell (in this case, from the vet clinic) wears off and the cat relaxes and acts like herself....but in your case, there's nowhere for Tribble to hide and isolate herself while she readjusts to being home. The most important thing right now is to not allow them to fight or have negative interactions. As long as they can be kept separate while they both settle down, they will probably do ok - but if they continue hissing and growing, and worse yet if it escalates into a fight, that could permanently damage their relationship. I would absolutely keep them separate until they seem to be relaxing. I understand that'll be challenging in a 1 BR living space - but if possible, you could put 1 in the bathroom with her own litterbox & food, and then have them switch places tomorrow so they can get reacquainted with each other's smells. If that's not possible, you may need to crate them both while you work on their reintroduction. Perhaps you could borrow dog kennels so they can each have their own living space while they're confined. I know this isn't an easy answer - but the most important immediate intervention is to do what you need to do, to keep them from fighting while the stress levels come down! Finally, adding a pheromone diffuser such as Feliway Multicat may help promote a calming atmosphere. I hope this helps!

This may be difficult to correct but it generally can be done. Continue using the diffuser. Try switching litter boxes, beds, and rubbing each cat with the same towel to try to get them to smell like each other. Here are some links which may be helpful: https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-ways-to-calm-an-anxious-cat/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/bringing-home-a-new-cat-or-kitten/ Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Setting aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play for both cats or switching the food to Royal Canin Calm may help. The veterinarian can also prescribe medications which can help with aggression. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly because she smells differently. I recommend a product called Feliway which can help decrease stress and anxiety associated with environmental changes and stressors. You may find this online or at your local pet store. It usually works great in this type of scenarios. Good luck and have a great day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! That is not that abnormal behavior or uncommon. She probably got startled and acted that way though I do not think this means she considers you or her more important. Good luck!

Sometimes cats and dogs can have personality changes like this especially if she had a bad experience with with restraint, pain or something else fearful happening while she had a nail trim (ie a car back firing while she had the nails cut). It is possible that she may have some pain in that foot that she did not show the veterinarian. Cats can get a epinephrine rush when they go to the vet and they may not show pain at that time. Watch her very closely for limping on that paw. You can try to create a positive association again by having her look at the trimmers and then get treats. Then have the trimmers touch her and get treats. Then cut one nail and get treats. Build up from there. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. You may have groomed a spot where he was painful or maybe used the brush too hard in an area would be one possibility. Another is that he was just telling you he didn't want to be groomed. Some cats can be absolutely fine and then all of a sudden flip a switch and they will attack for no apparent reason. I would keep an eye on Alfie and if this behavior continues, take him in to be examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Draco. This can happen. He smells differently, and the other cat sees him as a stranger. Keep them separated for the next 48 hours, then slowly introduce them again. Low meowing and hissing is fine, I would not get worried about that. I would only be worried if there was aggression. I hope this helps!