Wicca's return from the groomers

Wicca went to the groomers yesterday, and they did a great job - having learnt how thorough they are when Freyja went a few months ago (tail must have been vigorously furminated), I asked them to go easy on her magnificent tail and her snow shoes (Freyja's paws came back half the size), she looks fab - no mats, and when you fuss her you don't get 'hairy palms'. Or find cat fur in your mouth for the next 10 minutes. But freyja's back to hissing at her again, and hiding in the bathroom. Exactly the same reaction as when Wicca returned from being speyed. Now, Freyja saw the cat carrier the day I brought Wicca home from the breeders, and she also saw the cat carrier on wicca's return from the vets and the groomers. I could understand wic smelling different after the vets but not the groomers, so does anyone know whether this could be a visual thing with Freyja? It'll be a mare if I have to take the pair of them everywhere as they weigh 20lbs between them! Poor wic has no idea what she's done to upset Freyja.

Oh Karen, you poor thing - and poor Wicca not knowing what's wrong.

I don't really know what to suggest to be honest, but I do wonder if it's a visual thing. Who knows how their minds work - I just wonder if it's a touch of the green eyed monster in that she thinks that Wicca's been taken somewhere that she hasn't been taken too as well??

Will the rattle of the Whiskas Temptations box encourage them to get closer perhaps? Good luck, I've no doubt it will pass but it's still a right royal pain in the arse in the meantime xx

I think it is the smell Karen,daughter always had trouble with her Crystal when Ozzy was bathed ready for a show,she would hiss & snarl at him & if she was in a snot would actually go for him,she hated it when he joined the household & seemed to revert right back to how it was in the early days of his arrival.The fact that he was being shown quite regular in the early days meant things would only just settle down & bath time would be around again & off it all went once more.
Ozzy has always been a nightmare to groom & he has a really heavy thick coat so while I was up there this weekend we really got stuck into him & got loads of dead coat out but as he was so greasy decided to give him a good shower,which he loves,after drying him & getting the slicker brush working well we finished up with a slinky,shiney,soft flowing boy who looked really handsome then Crystal appeared round the corner,poor odd bod wondered what had happened,its been three years since his last show bath but the fishwife came out in Crystal again,even when they went to bed she was still hissing & swearing at him,as daughter says the sooner he smells "catty"again the better so they can go back to a quiet life....!

Jackie, thanks, that's a bit of a relief to hear - really thought Freyja was the only cat in the world this happens with! It so doesn't suit her, she's got such a gentle nature and the two cats love to play together (usually...). Maybe I'll have to coordinate vet boosters and groomer visits and take the two cats together (I'll need a motorised cat carrier!).

Rach, sadly no, primo psycho will not be bought by food. And wic gets there first anyway! I hadn't thought of the jealousy thing - silly really as Candes gave me some advice when wic first came home that confirmed my beautiful Bubby gets monstrous green eyed monster.

At least there's no physical aggression - it's all hissing and this weird stuttering meow she makes; she never goes for wic or us (I get treated to as much hissing though, and she boycotts the morning snuggle with me to prove her point!). Aside from being a royal pain, it's so distressing seeing our furry kids upset

did not know you could take a cat somewhere to get groomed --- sound slike they do a good job, do they sedate the cats or just wear good gloves?? my one year olds quite like being groomed and up to now have manage to keep on top of it !! still have a hairy house at the moemnt though. The older cat -- hates it -- she will tolerate it for a while but is quite vocal. Have started doing the areas that are prone to mat (before they mat) with a de matting comb like a razor -- that take out the thinck of it -- seems to be working up to now. Good luck

when discharging cats from hospital back to thier owners i always suggest rubbing the returning cat down with a sleeping blanket or towel from home before reuniting them with any other cats in the house. It was after i read a chapter in one of Vicky Halls (cat behaviourist) books about it. they really are ruled by smell and there it no promises but it does seem to help the transition if they get back to having the communal smell as quick as possible.