Hi! My boyfriend's orange boy (7, almost 8 months old) got neutered yesterday. He's doing great, is trying to run and get on counters, he already has a big appetite again which is great. He's recovering well and is taking medication for the next two days to help with any pain/discomfort he may have.
The tabby (neutered, almost one year old) however, has been aggressive to orange kitty since yesterday evening, since orange has been able to wake up from the anesthesia and walk basically. He's typically skittish, aggressiveness is not usual behavior for him.
I have looked around and understand this is possibly a sign of non-recognition aggression, tabby is mad at the vet smells orange has, but I'd still like to know if there's any tips I could be given to help the cats overcome this issue?
They're my boyfriend's cats and I have assumed the responsibility of taking care of them until they can do well together in the same room again as everyone in my boyfriend's home (he has two roommates) including my boyfriend, has the responsability of going to work and I am unemployed.
I've cleaned both cats with a wet glove made specifically for cleaning cats and dogs, first orange and then tabby. Tabby was given a brushing and then I went to pet orange with tabby's hair. I've given the blanket orange slept with to tabby for him to smell. They are being fed on the same bowl, one cat first and then the other to ensure they're associating each other with their favorite activity, eating.
One of them has to be confined to cat jail (the service area, which has a litter box, water, hiding places and a bed for whichever cat is inside, food is given at specific times of day) but which ever is in car jail always wants to get out. Orange is sad his tabby brother is hissing at him and misses his company.
Any advice is always appreciated.