[~kitteh.hoardere...]

omg Lexi is special. We had to take Basil to the vet (because a sick dog and chicken aren't enough, the cats need to join in too!) and when DF brought the cage back in, she hissed at the cage. DF let Basil out and she hissed and growled again. She is still hissing and growling at him now when she sees him. We aren't sure if she sustained a head injury while we were away and has amnesia or if she thought we were returning him and is peeved she was wrong LOL

Has anyone else had their cats that stayed at home react like that to another cat that went to the vet? We were only gone 20 minutes! She has never done that with any of the other cats! Syd has been to the vet plenty of times and the ginger boys when to the vet in Jan and she didn't react to any of them going and coming back.

(BTW, Basils issue was a blocked tear duct... that plus he poo'd all over my Mum *snort* We are keeping an eye on him and if his belly doesn't sort itself we are onto the boiled chicken and rice diet.)

[Readee]

We had the exact same thing happen with our two cats. One went to the vet for a few hours and when we got back the cat who had stayed home had completely forgotten the cat that left. He carried on all day, that night and the next day. Eventually he stopped with the hissing and puffing up, but it was more like he was accepting this new 'impostor' cat, rather than realising it was his brother who he grew up with. LOL!

I think it was mainly because they cat that went away came back smelling different and acting a bit funny (from the anaesthetic).

Anyway, they are totally fine now and back to playing and cuddling up together. I hope yours stops the carry on soon

[protart roflcopt...]

I have brother and sister cats and they can go to the vet together in one cage, but try to get them back into the cage to take them home? Impossible! They hiss and fight and growl and refuse to be near each other. I thought it was weird but the vet said that it's most likely the smell of the vet that is bothering them. When they each smell like the vet's surgery they don't realise they are the same cats that are usually best buddies.

It doesn't last long for my kittens, 24 hours max, by then the smell must dissipate.

Although, given you have brought other cats to and fro the vet and you have a large animal family and have done for quite some time, my cats experiences are probably not relevant?

This post has been edited by ossim roflcopter: 21/08/2012, 08:15 PM

[*Spikey*]

Yep. The dogs are also suspicious about imposters as well - though not nearly so rude about it.

It should wear off when the smells of the vet's surgery wear off.

[~JAS~]

Yes, I have a mother and daughter pair. Mother cat went to the vet for cystisis treatment and when she came home her daughter hissed and swiped at her for the rest of the night. All was normal again the next day. I think it's just the strange 'vet' smells that came home on her.

[*Spikey*]

I have a theory that the vets have a special spray 'stranger danger', and squirt all of their patients with it so the cats and doggies go nuts when they get home.

[~kitteh.hoardere...]

She is fine this morning... funny that she has never reacted before... and none of the other cats had a problem with it. THey really are strange creatures sometimes!

[raven74]

Strange doesn't begin to cover it! I just went and fed the horses and Mo clomps up with freakin plastic flower pot stuck over his hoof. He must have liked the sound it made when he walked because he got evil when I took it off.

[Jillian_10]

My elderly gentleman Siamese cat did that to the kitten after he was desexed. We thought it was because he is getting senile and had forgotten that Charles lived here in the 6 hours he was away :/ strange creatures.
Raven, your story confirms my theory that horses are overgrown cats. My kitten has a passion for making noise with plastic things.