My senior cat is aggressive. Is it due to new food or moving stress?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Brett. She is a beautiful girl! I'm wondering if the move has caused this change in behavior. Moving is very stressful for a cat, and that can lead to aggression. I'd try using Feliway diffusers around the home. These release calming pheromones that can help relax her. I'd pair that with a Sentry calming collar. This will release calming pheromones when in contact with her skin. If this doesn't help, then I'd have her seen by a vet for a health check. I hope this helps!

Okie is gorgeous! Having a physical exam and screening bloodwork and a fecal exam and urinalysis to rule out a medical cause for his crankiness such as an ear infection, diabetes, kidney/liver issues, hyperthyroidism etc. would he best. Using a Feliway mulicat calming pheromone plug -in several rooms in your home along with daily VetriScience Composure chews or oral liquid may help significantly with stress related aggression /inappetance. Both of these products are available without a prescription on chewy.com and PetCo.com. Good luck!

Aging related issues in senior pets can sometimes cause the symptoms you are seeing, as well as underlying illness or even pain from issues such as arthritis. A good first step would be to bring Pete to your vet for a senior checkup, which may include additional tests such as bloodwork or X-rays, to rule out any health issues that could be causing the behavior changes. Senior pets can also get dementia and other issues much like people can. If he checks out healthy, speaking with a trainer or veterinary behaviorist in your area may also be beneficial as they may be better able to assess and address the issue in person.

There can be many causes for the sudden change in activity level, including unhappiness with the new food flavor, pain from arthritis or another source of pain, GI upset from food allergy or dietary intolerance, anemia, constipation, infection, among many others. I would keep a close eye on his food and water intake, and monitor his bowel movements and urinations. If he is not back to himself in 48 hours, or if additional symptoms develop, he should see a vet for and exam and appropriate diagnostics.

Hopefully you got your neighbors permission before rehoming the kitten! Cats can have a hard time with change, and the sudden move to a completely new household can be very stressful, thus leading to a change in behavior. As with any new kitten, it is also always a good idea to schedule a first wellness check with your vet to get caught up on vaccines, deworming treatment and check for any potential health issues. If kitten checks out healthy, using something such as a Comfort Zone which is a pheromone diffuser designed to help calm cats during change, and adding in plenty of fun toys, easy access to food and water and litter can help. Giving it some time and letting your kitten settle into her new home for a few days is also a good idea to help her relax.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I’m sorry to hear that TC is having some behavioral issues after the move. It sounds like you have tried lots of changes at home, so it may be time to consult your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medications. These have few side effects, typically including sedation, which may help your cat feel more calm and comfortable at home. I hope this is helpful!

A sudden behavioral change could indicate an issue such as pain or underlying illness, so if this happened suddenly or recently, having both cats examined for any signs of ongoing pain or illness is a good first step. if they check out healthy (aside for any known previous conditions), then adding in something such as a pheromone diffuser can help with stress between cats and aggressive behavior. Making sure both cats have access to their own food, water, litter, bedding, etc can also help decrease tension and stress over these items. If one of your cats is going blind or hard of hearing, adding in nightlights and making sure your cat can get around easily may help reduce stress related to these conditions and reduce tension between both cats.