Non-Recognition Feline Aggression

Have you ever taken one of your cats to the vet and then return home and your other cat acts like it's never seen the cat before - greeting it with hisses, growls and swats?

This is called "non-recognition feline aggression" - yes, it's a real thing! "Non-recognition aggression can be dangerous for the cats and even be redirected to humans." says Dr. Borns-Weil, DVM, head of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts University.

Here is what's happening:

• Cats communicate most strongly with their noses - scent.

• Each cat has a signature scent that is deposited on each other an the home environment, creating a communal scent of their home territory.

• When the cat returns from the vet, his scent is overlaid with smells from the clinic.

• The returning cat may have also released fear pheromones, or smell sick.

• Upon return, the home cat recognizes these scents as a threat, or a reminder of something fearful they experienced.

• The home cat cannot respond to the direct threat so he redirects the aggression to the returning cat.

How to mitigate it:

• Desensitize cats to their carriers and car rides

• Use pheromone, feline calming pheromones (plug ins and sprays)

• Delay the reunion - do a mini version of cat introduction (found on our home page)

• Make a gradual reintroduction

• Scent swap: before going to the vet, rub each cat's cheek with a sock; seal the sock (separately) in a plastic bag and when the returning cat comes home rub him with both pairs of socks. Do not rub socks on the home cat.

It's interesting to note non-recognition aggression does not typically happen between cats and dog companions.