WHY DID MY CAT GO CRAZY

[RX]

I HAVE/HAD TWO CATS-- FEMALE 4 YRS OLD AND THE MALE IS 1 1/2. I'VE HAD THE FEMALE FOR ABOUT 3 1/2 YRS AND THE MALE OVER A YEAR. THEY GOT ALONG PRETTY WELL UNTIL ONE DAY WHEN I HAD THEM BOTH OUT ON THEIR LEASHES AND THE MALE CAT WENT CRAZY. HE WAS GOING TO FIGHT THE FEMALE CAT. NORMALLY THE FEMALE WOULD KICK HIS BUTT. HE WOULD JUST FALL DOWN AND LET HER JUMP ON HIM. HE KNOCKED HER DOWN THIS TIME. SO WE LET THE FEMALE CAT IN THE HOUSE AND LEFT THE MALE OUT ON THE LEASH SO HE WOULDN'T HURT HER. HE WAS PACING BACK AND FORTH GROWLING AND JUMPING HEAD FIRST INTO THE SCREEN DOOR TRYING TO GET TO HER. WE LET HIM COOL OFF OUTSIDE AND LET HIM BACK IN THE HOUSE ABOUT AN HOUR LATER AND HE WAS FINE THE REST OF THE DAY. THE NEXT DAY ALL OF THE SUDDEN HE STARTED GROWLING AND PUFFING UP SO WE PUT HIM OUTSIDE. WE TRIED ABOUT 10 TIMES TO LET HIM BACK IN WITH NO LUCK HE KEPT GOING AFTER THE FEMALE. I WISH I NEW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HIM. HE'S THE NICEST, SWEETEST CAT I HAVE OWNED. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT COULD HAVE TICKED HIM OFF.

[melissaranks]

First off, typing in all capital letters is seen as shouting on bulletin boards and is difficult to read, so please just keep that in mind.

As for your male and female kitties...are they neutered/spayed? Your male may be aggressive if there is a female cat in heat near your home. Even though your other kitty is a female, he may see her as competition, so would fight her. Even if he is neutered, he may still do this. Aslo, are you sure he didn't get stung/bitten by a bug? My D'Artagnan completely freaked out when we had him out on a leash and attacked Booker. I couldn't tell why, until I got him in the house and saw that he'd been stung on the belly by a bee.

[kate & kobi]

I agree with melissa. In any case, if your cats are not neutered and spayed, I'd get that done immediately! Especially if your male is not neutered, that will add to territorial aggression (and also to his response to female cats in heat). From what I've heard, this is not an uncommon response to a cat feeling like his or her territory has been threatened, even if your cat just saw or smelled another cat nearby.

Even if they are neutered/spayed, you may need to reintroduce them to each other slowly. You said "had" two cats - what does that mean? Is the male cat still outside? I would try to keep him indoors only for a while, and if he acts aggressive toward the female again, then separate them completely in different rooms (of course they'll need their own food/water and litter boxes). After a while he will re-adjust to her smell, and realize that he doesn't need to attack her. It may require some patience on your part to reintroduce them, but they'll remember that they're friends again eventually!

And of course, if your male cat is showing any signs of being in pain like from a bee sting, get him to a vet as soon as you can.