Why is my cat suddenly aggressive to dogs because of an outside cat?

Question

We have a neutered male cat and two dogs. They have always got on really well but now the people next door have encouraged a streetwise cat from a nearby house to visit for food and cuddles. He now spends his spare time sitting on our windowsill fighting our cat through the glass. Our cat has become really spiteful, going for our own dogs and dogs he sees outside. Plus they all go crazy when Mr Cat turns up and one dog has just had his cruciate tendon fixed and is on crate rest. What can we do? Pet's info: Cat | European Shorthair | Male | neutered

Jessica Desrosiers · Accepted Answer

It sounds like Wally is experiencing what is called "referred aggression". It happens when a pet can't get to what they want (in this case, the outside cat), and so redirect that aggression to something they can (the other dogs in the house). Your best case is to either keep Wally away from the windows when the other cat is around, or take measures to deter the other cat from your yard and window sill with non-toxic repellents.

Why is my cat suddenly aggressive to dogs because of an outside cat?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

Is it normal for a pregnant guinea pig to zoom after cage cleaning?

What fish dog food helps dry skin if my dog eats Science Diet?

Can chickens eat bell peppers daily and what about veggie salads?

Is Purina Layer Pellets good for chickens? What other feeds exist?

My mice eat all their food together from one bowl. Is this normal?

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

Share