My young cat attacks my older cat. How to stop cat aggression?

A sudden behavioral change in cats that previously got along with no other changes to the environment can sometimes indicate issues such as underlying pain or illness. Bringing the cats in for an exam is a good first step to rule out any health issues that could be causing the aggression. If they check out healthy, adding in some pheromone diffusers can help with inter-cat stress. Making sure each cat has their own access to food, water, litter, places to hide, etc can also help decrease tensions.

I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem! I would be interested to know more about exactly what the cats are doing that concerns you, as true "aggressive" behavior or serious fighting would be unusual to see in a kitten this age. Normal play between two cats (including wrestling and biting) is often mistaken for fighting by owners, so I'm wondering if your cat may actually be playing normally with the younger kitten. If this is an aggression problem, this is quite serious at such a young age and would best be handled by a veterinary behaviorist - he/she can evaluate your cat to help determine what is causing the aggressive behavior, and put together a detailed treatment plan to work on the problem. This would likely include some methods to redirect her to some other activity if you see warning signs of an attack such as stalking, growling, etc. as well as possibly medication of some kind to help treat her aggression. Your veterinarian should be able to refer you to a behavior specialist in your area, if you ask.

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.

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.

You may need to make some adjustments so you can help keep your home a low stress and comfortable place for your cats and get Piper and your other cat to get along. Cats need at least one litterbox per cat plus one extra to help reduce stress associated with the litterbox. They should be placed in separate rooms, away from the food and water bowls, must be scooped at least daily (preferably multiple times a day)and washed out at least weekly with a mild soap, followed by thorough rinsing. Cats need a lot of space to explore, but keeping them indoors is much safer than letting them outside, due to the risk of injury from cars, wildlife, other animals, etc. The key is providing space (particularly vertical space for climbing, such as cat trees, ledges, and the like) inside the home. Visit veterinarypartner.com and healthcareforpets.com for tips on stress reduction. The following link has information on introducing a cat to your home: https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats/felinelifestressors/new-pets Also look into Feliway, a synthetic pheromone that is available in a diffuser and spray form that promotes calm feelings in cats http://www.feliway.com , and feliway friends, which is a pheromone that can help cats get along with each other better https://www.feliway.com/ca_en/Products/FELIWAY-FRIENDS-Diffuser I highly recommend you have Piper spayed, as sometimes the hormones associated with not being spayed can worsen behavioural issues. Spaying also stops the heat cycle, eliminates the risk and cost of unwanted breeding, and can reduce the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer, as well as reduce the risk of potentially fatal uterine infections and breast cancer. Good luck, and I hope your kitties start to be friends soon!

Have him examined by your veterinarian to diagnose illness or injury. Either are common culprits of a sudden behavioral change. Being an intact male may also be playing a role in the behavior. Consider having him neutered. In the meantime, provide additional food/water bowls, beds, toys and litterboxes to prevent food aggression or resource protection. Consider a pheromone product, such as Feliway Spray or plug in diffusers, to decrease any anxiety or aggression in the home.

Poor Puss. It sounds like he is very stressed. I have a couple of suggestions that you can try at home, but I suspect you may need to get your veterinarian involved and utilize some medication if Puss is that stressed. One option for decreasing stress is to add a Feliway Diffuser ( https://www.feliway.com/us#redirected ) to your house. This is a calming pheromone that will work for a month and may be beneficial for both cats. I have also had luck with Rescue Remedy ( http://www.bachflower.com/rescue-remedy-pet/ ) which can be added to the water and will be safe for both cats. What may have happened this morning is something called displaced or redirected aggression. Something that stresses Puss out can cause him to lash out at something else (like your dad). Simply the smell of your other cat may have caused that type of reaction. This type of aggression can respond well to medication, so I would recommend speaking to your veterinarian about your options. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.