Dr. Walt's happy tails: August 2003

The Doctor is In @ drwalt@petcareinsurance.com

Visit the Dr. Walt archives

Dear Dr. Walt: I have a 5-year-old, spayed house cat who is very friendly, but for some reason has become very aggressive and hostile towards my mother-in-law. While some may speculate that I may have trainedmy cat to attack my in-laws, I'm at a loss. The cat has interacted sparingly with her and never been aggressive until about a month ago when she bit her. Recently, the cat again snarled and growled repeatedly at her, chased her, and tried to bite her. The cat is docile with my mother-in-law when I am near and I have attempted to let her sniff and smell her to get used to her, yet the cat still becomes very aggressive. I brought my first baby home 2 days ago and the cat was noticeably unnerved with the baby (wagging tail and afraid to get close). My mother-in-law has been in tears, shaking with fear, and I am afraid to introduce my beloved cat to the baby for fear of danger to the child. Do you have any suggestions?

You appear to have been placed in the role of trying to negotiate peace between various 'warring' factions in your household. While it is not uncommon in cats, it can be a formidable problem to overcome. Cats, like dogs, will develop territorial comforts and, if these become challenged (whether real or perceived), they may respond with aggression. This same scenario can also occur when another cat is introduced into the household, so your mother-in-law should not take this personally!

The environmental change of a new addition (your newborn) may have created anxiety for your cat, anxiety that she is now redirecting towards your mother-in-law. The reality is that there is no quick fix to this problem and it generally requires environmental and behavioral modification, as well as time to address. In some refractory situations, the use of medications (anti-anxiety products commonly used in people) are necessary as adjunctive therapy. First and foremost, let me begin by recommending the involvement of a veterinary behaviorist. These are veterinarians who have undertaken additional training to gather expertise specific to behavioral problems in companion animals. While aggression is the ultimate symptom in your case, there are many different precipitating causes (e.g., territoriality, redirected, etc.), many of which need differing approaches to correct that, if not done properly, can perpetuate rather than correct the behavior being expressed.

First, does your mother-in-law have a cat of her own? As cats are very smell oriented, even the odour of another cat can elicit a response. Consider ensuring that your mother-in-law eliminate this odour prior to coming, if possible. Also, having clothes specific to your household (and rubbed on your cat so as to gain her odour) may help diffuse a smell/olfactory precipitating factor.

Second, ensure that both sources of anxiety (i.e., your newborn and mother-in-law) do not confront the cat in unison. Babies generally don't precipitate aggression untilthey become mobile, so you have time on your hands; however, do not leave your cat with the baby unattended. Therefore, there may be times when it is best to confine your cat to a room separate from the family activities. Third, try to use your calming influence to positively influence your cat's behaviour. Withhold her food for about 12 hours prior to your mother-in-law coming. Once the initial commotion of her arrival has died down, have your mother-in-law (in your presence) try feeding the cat either a treat or her meal. Hopefully this will equate her presence with a pleasurable experience your cat will come to look forward to.

Best of luck and I would appreciate hearing how things turn out.