I really need you guys' help, I hope someone has cats and can offer some advice! My DF and I have 6 year old (Cubby) and 2 year old (Cody) male cats. We try to bathe them once or twice a year, and the last time we had to do it because Cody sat on a tube of toothpaste and got it stuck in his fur. Anyway, we gave them both baths, and had no problems whatsoever.
Well today we decided to give them baths because they were getting kind of stinky, and we started with Cubby this time. We were almost done, and Cubby started peeing in the tub. All of the sudden, Cody started hissing and making these alien-like moaning sounds, and run into the tub and tried to attack Cubby. We got them separated, dried Cubby off, and locked him in the bedroom. Cody was acting fine when he couldn't see Cubby. We ended up being able to give Cody a bath too.
About an hour later, we tried opening the bedroom door, and Cody ventured in. They started hissing and squealing at each other, so we separated them for another hour or so. Finally we opened the door and hoped they would just get it out of their systems. Well, Cubby wedged himself between a chair and the wall and wouldn't move for a couple hours. Every time Cody tried coming in, Cubby would hiss and growl at him.
Finally DF took Cody in another room, and I petted and brushed Cubby, and was able to pick him up, which are his favorite things. I brought him into the kitchen and he ate a little bit, and then we went into the living room to look out the window. He ended up plopping under a table. Well, I went back into the room with DF and Cody, and Cody started hissing at me because he smelled Cubby on me. We let him out because we seriously got scared of him. He went into the living room, and they hissed at each other again, and are now sitting in opposite ends of the house.
What is going on here??? These are two cats that love each other and sleep with each other and have never done anything like this before, previous baths and all. DF and I are at our wits end and are scared to go to bed. What do we do?? Pleeeeaaase someone help, thank you...
Well today we decided to give them baths because they were getting kind of stinky, and we started with Cubby this time. We were almost done, and Cubby started peeing in the tub. All of the sudden, Cody started hissing and making these alien-like moaning sounds, and run into the tub and tried to attack Cubby. We got them separated, dried Cubby off, and locked him in the bedroom. Cody was acting fine when he couldn't see Cubby. We ended up being able to give Cody a bath too.
About an hour later, we tried opening the bedroom door, and Cody ventured in. They started hissing and squealing at each other, so we separated them for another hour or so. Finally we opened the door and hoped they would just get it out of their systems. Well, Cubby wedged himself between a chair and the wall and wouldn't move for a couple hours. Every time Cody tried coming in, Cubby would hiss and growl at him.
Finally DF took Cody in another room, and I petted and brushed Cubby, and was able to pick him up, which are his favorite things. I brought him into the kitchen and he ate a little bit, and then we went into the living room to look out the window. He ended up plopping under a table. Well, I went back into the room with DF and Cody, and Cody started hissing at me because he smelled Cubby on me. We let him out because we seriously got scared of him. He went into the living room, and they hissed at each other again, and are now sitting in opposite ends of the house.
What is going on here??? These are two cats that love each other and sleep with each other and have never done anything like this before, previous baths and all. DF and I are at our wits end and are scared to go to bed. What do we do?? Pleeeeaaase someone help, thank you...
It can't be the reason for the fight, because we had him declawed over a year ago. We didn't want to do it, but it was either that or get rid of him, that's how bad he was scratching. It was a tough decision. But I have to say it was one of the best decisions we ever made, because he doesn't even realize he doesn't have claws! He "scratches" the furniture and the scratching post just as much as he always did, we just don't get upset about it anymore. He didn't miss a beat when he got home, no sadness, no licking, nothing. He was just his same old self, without the destructive consequences of his behavior. We haven't declawed Cubby because he only scratches the couch once in a blue moon, so it's not a problem. And they've never had a single fight before this over anything, so I don't even think Cubby realizes Cody doesn't have claws. I just wanted to explain that for us, it was the right decision to make, and we stand by it. Thanks for your kind words, it really helps to know that this is somewhat common cat behavior, but we just haven't had the bad fortune to experience it before.