Calico Cat Woes

[Cypress]

My house cat Sweetie is about 9 years old now. I took her in 7 years ago after finding her wandering around my apartment complex. She is a female, calico, spayed and in overall good health. Sweetie is the only cat now in the house. There were originally three. She prefers to be the only cat in the house.

Calico's are known to have complicated personalities, but I am now baffled by her behavior.

She is now staying up in my bedroom most of the time. When I approach her, she will often hiss and strike out without a reason. Yesterday, she spent much of the day under the bed. I took her in for a physical check with a blood and urine screen. Nothing came up.

The difference in the home? I started volunteering at a horse rescue. I wonder if I am bringing in something on my clothes. I mean a virus or some bug from the barn. I also feed a stray cat on the front steps daily. She hates that cat. Absolutely hates it. The stray cat does not come in and doesn't hang around the yard. At least I think not. There is a pet door in the basement that Sweetie can use in warm weather as she likes to go outside. I am starting to wonder if that stray cat is coming in when I am gone all day. I find her food bowls cleaned out when I come home.

She used to come downstairs with me for breakfast but lately doesn't touch it. I did not change her diet. Her habits are different. Yesterday, I wiped something out of the corner of her eyes, a clear discharge. She also sneezed a few times but otherwise is breathing normally. I have no idea what to do or not do. If we ruled out physical, it's something else. But, what is happening?

I looked the pet door this morning with Sweetie inside. She used to sit with me in the evening, started sitting on my lap, being more sociable, now it's vanishing. She has a haggard look in her eyes even. What can I do for her well-being that I am not?

[iris lilies]

I'm sorry to hear this. Clearly, something is up with her. Cats are harder to figure out than dogs.

I think you may be onto something, that the stray cat is coming in the house durIng the day.

we have two calico cats living here in the same house. One of them is 17 years old and has never been an "only" cat. Never. Yet on a regular basis she jumps up and acts startled when she sees the other cat as though " where did you come from??? "

[Teacher Terry]

Maybe lock the kitty door when you are not home so the other cat can't come in. Cats get upset much easier then dogs and it is harder to figure out what is wrong with them. Good luck.

[Tammy]

The smell of horses on you might upset her.

[mschrisgo2]

My guess would be that you are home less because you are volunteering at the horse rescue, and you bring the smell of it into the house. She may associate both of those facts with the cat outside.

[jp1]

I'd tend to think it's that the other cat is coming in the house during the day and agree that you should lock the kitty door while you're gone. Also, can you feed the stray somewhere out of sight from your cat? Yes it's convenient to feed them right outside, but that means that the 'evil monster' is coming right up near your cat's home. My experience has been that cats REALLY REALLY don't like having other cats come into their territory. They just aren't pack animals like dogs are. Lock that door whenever you leave the house for the next week or so, feed the stray away from the house, and see if that resolves this. If not then look towards other potential issues like horse smell on your clothes. And while it might seem logical to try and change everything at once (lock the kitty door, try to resolve the horse smell, etc) I'd suggest against it because it will make it that much more difficult to establish what was the actual cause. Be methodical and do one thing and if that doesn't work try another after a week or two. You've already got several potential causes to work with. Most likely one of them is the answer.

[Miss Cellane]

1. Just the sight of another cat through the window can upset some cats.
2. Could be the horse smell on your clothes.
3. Could be the smell of the other cat, if you pet that cat. My cats do not react well when I've been around dogs or other cats.
4. Any change in the people in the cat's life?
5. Sneezing and the clear discharge make me wonder if the cat has an upper respiratory virus. These are difficult to cure in cats. It might be time for another vet visit.

[Cypress]

I did lock the pet door yesterday and again today. Sweetie went outside early this morning for a while but came in as she normally does. I opened the windows in the house and she can go into the sun porch and enjoy the view to the backyard. But, that's where the pet door is, in the back of the house and it is locked again today.

She moved around much more normally this morning. I did pick up a homeopathic remedy put in her water that soothes stress and anxiety. I will take the advice and move feeding stray cat out of sight. I have compassion for the outdoor stray and maybe should also reduce to once a day meal, stop inviting the stranger to be close. Sweetie does see him as the enemy, no doubt there.

I really do think he has been coming in during the day. It's bold but if I am not around and Sweetie is hiding upstairs, it could happen and become another bad habit. The stray has no vaccinations and could be bringing in the eye problem leaving little germs in the house. Sweetie wrinkles up her nose and makes the ugh face when she smells horse smell on clothing.

Her world is small and the routines have been disrupted. I am going straight home from work today and into the garden. I hope Sweetie can join me, it's something we've done many times.

I appreciate all your thoughts, they are most helpful.