Help! Having Behavioral problems with my 10 year old cat!?

Question

We've have had our cat Noki since she was a kitten. She was a mean kitten it took us a couple of years for her become a good cat! Now she is 10 years old. We use to have another cat (got her about 6 months later) She is gone now! So anyways she is used to being with other cats. She's been good with our 2 young boys. Since we adopted a 1 year old male cat (he's neutered, and a sweetheart!) over 1 month ago. Noki is hissing and growling all the time at the kids and cat! Well yesterday my son went to pet her like he always has done and she flipped and attacked his hand! Really BAD!!! Noki was on my husband when this happen, my husband said my son did nothing wrong! We also noticed that she has lost a couple of teeth the past few months. The past 2 weeks her eyes are watering! Does anybody know what causes the eyes to water on a older cat? Is that a sign that she is sick? If so, I'll take her to the vets! Please Help! I don't know what to do! Now she is harming my kids!

Ok, her behavior was fine until we took the new cat home!!!!

I put first aid treatment on my son and also cleaned it with perioxide! Once last night (it was his bedtime) and once this morning before he went to school! Trust me I'll be keeping a close eye on the scratches!!!

She has only lost 2 teeth. They are her upper eye teeth!

I will not get rid of our new cat! My kids have bonded with him! He's a better pet for them then Noki ever was! Noki favors adults more.

My older son (he's 7) is wonderful with her. He approaches her slowly and pets her nicely!!! He is definetly not aggressive towards the cat. I can't put a bandaid on my son for school because his entire hand is scratched up to his wrist! My poor baby!

Before Noki lost her teeth, we noticed both eye teeth were sticking out of her mouth. They looked like they were started to rot. One feel out then the other fell out 2 weeks after the 1st. I figured it was because she is getting old.

Noki sleeps with me every night! I do not let the new cat do this. I try to get the new cat to sleep with the boys.

Answer 1

She is getting old. She won;t react well to new situations as easily as she did when she was younger. Her long time companion is gone, and a new 'thing' has entered her territory. She's trying to control what she is able to. Maybe if you set up a safe spot for her, a separate room that is ONLY hers. You might want to set up a separate litter box and food/water dish, as well.

As for her teeth and eyes, these are both natural signs of age. Have you brought her to the vet lately for a check up? There could be something besides age bring on her 'new' behaviour.

Have patience, and understanding. And try to let her know she is still loved, even if she is getting old and you brought a younger cat into the house. Reassure her she isn't being replaced.

Answer 2

my heart goes out to you I went through the same thing only I was not being a responsible pet owner , I thought that because my ( wizzard) was an inside cat that he didn't need his shots and when he bit my one year old child leaving her with eight stitches in her head we had no other choice, well I guess we could have made her go through rabies shots but to me i only had the choice of putting him down so they could make sure there was no rabies.anyway I think you should take your cat to the vet for full evaluation.if he is healthy I think I would have to say the other cat is just to much stress on him at that age,and find a new home for the other kitty.

Answer 3

Take the poor animal to the vet if her behavior has changed that much it could be jealousy but I would bet being the owner of several cats that old age is creeping up and cats can transmit things to children thru scratches and bites it can be dangerous so get the poor thing checked out for the cat and your kids

Answer 4

If your cat's eyes are watering and she's got a change in her moods I think you probably want to have her see a vet, just to rule out anything physical. I hope you had your son's hand checked out or watch it closely. Deep cat scratches can cause an infection due to the bacteria under the claws.
I hope your cat and son are fine.

Answer 5

I really don't know what to say, and considering my 11 year old neutered cat is the same way. Maybe she is jealous of the other cat. Do you spend more time with the new cat and less time with her now? Or maybe when you got rid of the other cat, she got used to the fact that she was alone and the only cat.

Answer 6

In my experience the problem is most likely to be the new cat. She may have grown accustomed to being around other cats, but they prefer being alone. We have a tendency to think that they need a friend, but the truth is that cats are solitary animals for the most part and are perfectly fine without another pet in the house. They will take out their frustrations on everyone around them. They prefer to be the only pampered pet in the house. There is a saying that goes something like; "dogs love us and see themselves as loyal subjects and us as royal because we feed them, and cats see themselves as royal and us as the loyal subject because we feed them." That's very cumbersome and I know the quote is wrong, but the sentiment is accurate.

Answer 7

Behavioral changes are generally a sign of an underlying problem. The lost teeth and runny eyes are also signs of illness. She definitely needs to see the vet.

Answer 8

it sounds like your cat is sick and reacting violently because something is wrong and she can't communicate to you what the problem is. I recommend you get her to the vet as soon as possible for a complete check up.

Answer 9

Get rid of the problem cat and keep the new cat.

Answer 10

some teeth falling out is natural but alot is not is she lethargic, sounds like she is vwery sick and cant tell you, take her to vet, but i wont be surprised if its cancer of the mouth if all her teeth are faslling out and she is not eating.

Umm hun your cat is screaming for help help her beforeit is too late.