Brother cats fighting =[ Please help/suggestion

[nickdor]

Hello, my name is Nick i live in South Florida.
I have had my cats since about 2002 (5 yrs). They are 2 brothers that have loved eachother since we've had them. Everyday I would come home they are on my bed huggin eachother and cleaning eachother and so on. This last Sunday one of my cats, Tobby (tabby), got a urinary trac infection so we took him into the vet where he was given the proper treatment. The day we bring him home Dusty, smells him and immediatly runs away. I try and have them interact and Dusty begins to hiss at him. I try to put them in the same room and Dusty goes up to Tobby, Tobby goes to lick him like cleaning/saying hi to his brother and Dusty proceeds with a hiss and swiping him then running away. Tobby chases him thinking that they are playing(not sure about this). Currently I have them closed in different rooms. Tobby has medication/special food to help treat his infection. and Dusty is eating normal food. I really want to know how to fix this situation. It tares our family apart to watch them fight. If any tips/suggestions shall arise please post em. If you have any further questions in case i poorly described the situation please feel free to ask.

Thank You!

[JUDY S]

This is fairly common when one cat is taken to the vet. My cats have never done this, but my sisters cats do it all the time. It may take them a little while, but they should go back to being loving brothers soon.

[Traci]

This is a normal, common reaction when one cat has been to the vet. It is clinic smells and other scents the other cat is not familiar with, plus the stress the ill cat had to undergo at the vet.

Take a cat brush, brush one, then brush the other, then brush the first cat again. This will help each cat retain the same scent to a degree. Don't seperate them, and don't favor one over the other (give them both equal attention), try not to interfere and let them work it out themselves...as long as there is no scratching or biting that would cause blood or puncture wounds, they will in fact, calm down in the next few days.

Follow up as your vet advises regarding the UTI, you may need to get a new urinalysis done to ensure the infection has cleared and to ensure the prescription diet is working appropriately to keep urine pH levels normal. I assume the vet prescribed a short course of antibiotics, so a new urinalysis/checkup exam after the course of antibiotics is up is usually warranted. Be aware that UTI's in male cats need to be monitored explicitly, because these can lead to crystals, and crystals can lead to blockages which can be fatal within minutes to hours. Talk to your vet in more detail about that so you know the signs to watch for. Ask him for a client hand-out sheet on FLUTD.

[nickdor]

Wow, thanks so much. I'm new to these forums and really appreciate the help and suggestions. Just to be sure let me make sure we're on the same page.

So you're suggesting I keep them together, let them work it out as long as there is no bitting/blood shed.

About the UTI. The doctor did inform us that there were crystals, but ive been checking his litter box and he's been urinating and pooing properly. and doesn't seem to struggle while using the bathroom. The vet has him on 3CC of Cefa-Drops (Cefadroxyl) every 24hours for 5 days and feeding him Science Diet (vet recommended we buy it from him) Hopefully all this helps him get better and we do plan a trip to the vet about a week after he is done with the antibiotics.

Appreciate the help tremendously. Thank you so much.

[JUDY S]

You also need to make sure the cat with the UTI is not getting any of his brothers food.

[nickdor]

I put them together, no fighting really just alot of hissing from Dusty (brother of Toby) at Toby (cat that has UTI). No swiping or clawing or bitting, Tobby just continues to follow Dusty around everywhere that he goes and they just sit there and have a stairing contest. Now they took a break and Dusty is napping and Tobby is eating. From your experience, is everything going well or as planned? Should i expect this to continue as the days go on? Thanks for the help.

Nick

[Traci]

By the end of the week, they should be buddies again. Try involving them in a playtime activity together (like drag a string across the floor, etc), so they can be reminded neither is a threat to the other.

[nickdor]

Update: They have been friendly now for a couple of days, thank you so much for your advice/help. Take care all =]