Why does my cat freak out and attack me when he smells old clothes?

Question

My cat has become very aggressive with certain smells in our home. Anything that we haven’t used in a few months we keep in our closets. If we take them out he will sniff them and freak. He will get all poofy then lock eyes with me then hiss and meow then attack me. We then lock him in room to calm down but he will be on edge for days and another episode might happen. Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered | 5 years and 9 months old | 11 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

This is a recognized problem in some cats - they can be very sensitive to smells, and may react with fear and aggression to smelling something new or unusual. A daily medication such as Prozac can sometimes help with this, so I would recommend consulting with your veterinarian (or ideally, a veterinary behaviorist) to see if this may be a good option for Teddy. Apart from that, you're doing the right thing by putting him in a separate room with the door closed until he calms down, which may take several days in some cases. You can have a special room designated for this purpose, with his litter box and food and water bowls already in place. You may also want to try a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure, as well as Feliway pheromone diffusers around the house. These can be ordered online without a prescription, and are generally safe to use with any cat. If you opt to see a veterinary behaviorist for further suggestions, you can search for one in your area here: www.dacvb.org

Why does my cat freak out and attack me when he smells old clothes?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

Why is my mouse's eye swollen, cloudy, and has pus?

Can I use human contact lens solution as eye drops for my mouse?

Why is my new pet biting? Is she stressed or scared in her new home?

My dwarf hamster has a shut eye and is limping. What should I do?

My guinea pig has a growing lump on its neck. Can it heal itself?

My pet's eye looks strange but doesn't seem to hurt. What's wrong?

Share