Cat hisses at my husband

[Pam and Sttamps]

My Hubby helped move a couch that was stored in a barn with a tarp over it.When he came home the cat went nuts growling and hissing at him.The people who had the barn have barn cats.My cat is a 3 year old white spade female who is deaf.We washed all his clothes the floors and rug and she still growls and hisses at him.He went away for 4 days and she started up again when he came home last night.WHAT CAN I DO?The cat has just been diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy .She is taking a heart pill,but has had no side effects from it .I need help please.We love our kitty and this is just awful.Pam and Sttamps

[Sue and Kids]

Pam,

Welcome to the board. I'm sure there will be some much more knowledgeable folks than me who will answer your post after me.

I have a question. You said your husband moved a couch out of the barn. You didn't say if you put the couch in your house or if it was taken somewhere else. If it's in your house, Stampps might be getting the scent of the barn cats from it and feel threatened ("new cats moving in my house"). If you have the couch, I think I'd get a professional carpet/upholstery cleaning firm to thoroughly clean the couch.

Whether you have the couch anymore or not, it seems like your kitty is identifying your hubby with it.

Another thought... Maybe you should check with your vet about Stampp's heart medication. You said she had no side effects physically (but maybe mentally). I'm getting way "out of my field" now. I'm sorry to hear that Stampps has a heart condition and is only 3 years old (the age of all my kitties).

Anyway, I'm sure Traci, Debbie, Davet, Ron, D~, or one of the real experts will be writing soon.

Good luck. I can understand how stressful this must be to you!

Sue, Nikki, Buster, Shadow and Sparky (our dog)

[Guest]

We don't have the couch it went to a garage sale.I am waiting for the vet to call back now.Pam

[Sue and Kids]

Pam,

Good luck! I hope your vet calls you soon and might have some answers for you.

Until the experts here answer your post, you might want to go to the Debbie's Feline Health link and see if she might have some info.

I'll be reading tonight to see what answers you receive. Keep us posted, OK?

[Traci]

Pam, I agree with Sue, your kitty is making an association between your husband and the scent of the barn and cats (amoung other things). Even while you did wash the clothes, etc, the scent is probably still lingering for her. Because she is deaf, her remaining senses are actually more refined, especially sense of smell.

I do wonder though, was there any other concurrent event that happened at the same time the couch was moved? Was your husband in a different sort of mood, or did anything else unusual happen during that time?