Why did my cat suddenly attack after sniffing a box and seem in pain?

It may be a hormonal problem so the first thing you should do is have him neutered. Your cat may also be redirected his aggression on to you. Redirected aggression occurs when a cat experiences something that is over-stimulating or highly arousing or something that causes fear and the cat redirects their frustration, aggression onto whoever is closest. Sometimes it can be another cat or animal outside that is causing the problem. You could also try a Feliway diffuser/spray and/or Soliquin chews and see if that helps.

That is very unusual and sounds scary! There could be a few reasons for this behavior. Sometimes there could be pain or a medical condition causing a change in behavior. Since Oscar can't talk and tell you what is happening, I recommend to have him examined by the veterinarian to be safe. Sometimes this behavior is related to the stress of seeing another cat outside. For some cats, this causes frustration and they can then exhibit bullying type behavior to other pets or people within the house. If the veterinarian thinks this is behavioral, there are a few things you can do. Try enriching the environment. Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Use a Feliway diffuser, set aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play (really get him moving) and/or switch the food to Royal Canin Calm. If he is the only cat in the household, you may try feeding him out of a food puzzle. Hide food for him to find. Do not use these last two mentioned options if you have other cats. Provide a stand or resting place by a window so he can look outside. You may also try clicker training him for positive behavior. Here is a link about training cats: https://www.petcoach.co/article/can-i-train-my-cat/ Wash all windows and doorway exteriors where a cat may be spraying outside. Try to drive out the cat if possible. You may also need to block the window where you think Oscar may be viewing the cat most frequently. Most cats response best to combination therapy. The veterinarian can also prescribe medications which can help with aggression/stress. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Oliver. He is a very handsome boy!!! So regal. I suspect he smelled or saw something that upset him over at the neighbors and expressed redirected aggression at you when you grabbed him. Redirected aggression is when a cat lashes out at something else when they cannot lash out at the target that originally caused them upset and anger. For now, I’d keep him indoors at all times. He should stop the hissing over the next few days as he calms down. I hope this helps!

That is unusual behavior so he may be irritable from being in pain. Outdoor unneutered male cats often fight and he may have an injury you can’t see which is painful. I recommend confining him to another room until he calms down so no one else gets injured, and see if he is eating normally. If this behavior continues please take him in for an exam to check for a wound or area of pain. In addition I would consider neutering him also. Neutered male cats seldom fight, they are more docile and less aggressive. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Timmy.

A sudden change in behavior may have, at its root, injury or infection. Ideally, Rostom should be physically examined by your veterinarian to diagnose and treat any medical causes for his sudden aggression. Neutering him should be strongly considered as testosterone can be a driving force behind aggressive behaviors. Once medical causes have been ruled out, you can address behavioral concerns such as stress or anxiety. A pheromone product, such as Feliway Spray or plug in diffusers, may help decrease any aggression or anxiety. A gradual desensitization to loud noises can also be done to lessen Rostom's response to them.

It may be due to illness or injury. It can also be redirected (or displaced) aggression. This is when one cat is unable to directly respond to a perceived threat and "vents" on whoever is closest. This is usually an owner or another pet. Never handle or grab your cat if she is displaying aggressive tendencies. This can lead to a serious bite or scratch. Schedule an exam with your vet to rule out medical causes. If they are indoor cats, provide a ' cool down' period by separating them. Keep stray or strange cats away from windows or doors and out of your yard. Control what your cat sees by closing doors or drawing the blinds. Consider using pheromone products to decrease anxiety/stress level in the house. Search www.pet360.com for pheromone products.

I hate to hear that. This situation can very very stressful and it's hard to know why this is happening. It's possible Kyo is sick and his odor has changed. It may be worthwhile to have him examined by the veterinarian to make sure everything is ok. It's also possible the cats are seeing or smelling another cats outside and this is causing stress and bullying behavior. Wipe down doorways and windows to eliminate odors. Here are a couple articles to help with cat aggression and stress: https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-handle-an-aggressive-cat/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/causes-of-stress-in-cats/ You can help relieve stress by setting aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play for each aggressive cat, provide climbing opportunities with cat shelves and cats treats, use a pheromone diffuser and provide separate litterbox and feeding stations. Lastly, your veterinarian can provide medications or a special diet called Calm which may help the cats. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.