A question about Cat behaviour

[alcina]

A year or so ago, I moved in with my partner and his two cats. I hadn't had cats since I was a child, so I find these cats' behaviours quite entertaining, though sometimes baffling. The internet is a good resource for explaining most of their actions, but last night one of them went off the rails and I can't find anything online about this.

Both cats have worn collars their entire domesticated lives. But we noticed last night that the collar for one of the cats -- Tiger (who's 13) -- was printed with the address and phone number of my partner's ex. We figured that's probably not a good thing, not the least because she lives 3,000 miles away. So we decided to remove it, figuring we'd get another one today.

Tiger seemed nonchalant as I removed the collar, and for the next hour everything was fine. Then we all went upstairs to get ready for bed. As soon as I crawled into bed, our younger cat, Casey, came running in, chased by a hissing and puffed up Tiger. Tiger pounced on him and started biting. This has never happened before. I broke them up and chastised Tiger, who seemed to calm down. But then, 20 minutes later, the same thing happened. This time, Tiger had a mouthful of Casey's fur.

Now these cats were raised together and have always gotten along. If anything, Casey sometimes teases Tiger, but they've never been aggressive with one another.

So because we could think of no other explanation, we put Tiger's collar back on him. From that point forward, everything was back to normal.

Has anyone else ever experienced this? Any thoughts?

Thank you.

[packman]

1. Welcome to the world of cats

Ever since the first cat walked into an Egyptian home, people have been trying to figure them out. You disturbed his karma, his routine, his accepted self of himself. By removing the collar the inner cat came out. Cats love and want the status quo more than any other animal- I believe. Then again, what do I know from my 50 plus years of the beasts allowing me to share their lives.

[CurtEastPoint]

2. Removing the collar change the cat's odor. That's how they know each other.

If you ever take one to the vet and come home, it's often hissyfit central because of the change in smell. It'll pass.

[Nitram]

5. Bingo!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Tiger sensed a disturbance in The Force when his collar was removed

and he took it out on Casey. Cats are weird.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. Cats value The Routine above all else

If I don't wake up at the usual time or go to bed at the usual time or if I take my laptop and work in some part of the apartment where I don't usually work, Kidley gets upset.

That's why I have someone come in--always the same cat sitter-- and take care of him when I travel instead of boarding him out. He is NOT a good traveler. Travel is too non-routine.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. The collar was the only thing

that was keeping all the meanness from getting out. Without the collar, crazy cat was unleashed.

I hope that when you get a new collar, then take the old one off and put the new one on, that new collar will be enough to contain the craziness. I wouldn't throw the old one away until you are sure that the new one has enough power.

[alcina]

7. The mystery is solved

Thank you all for your insights. As I said, I'm somewhat new to cat behaviour, and it's very helpful to hear about others' experiences.

So last night, I again removed the old collar, with plans to put on a new collar, possibly followed by the old collar, if needed.

When I got the old collar off, Tiger sat for a few moments and let met scratch his neck. All seemed fine. Then he sauntered very leisurely over to where Casey was napping ... and pounced on him. As I got close enough to pull him off, I noticed he wasn't biting Casey. He was biting Casey's collar!

I separated them and removed Casey's collar. Once the collar was off, Tiger went back to Casey and began licking his neck. Then the two of them groomed each other for a few minutes, snuggled up, and fell asleep.

So it turns out Tiger wasn't trying to hurt Casey. He was trying to free him!

Such a thoughtful little guy. I rewarded him with many minutes of intense throat and neck scratches. And an extra scoop of kibble.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. Cats!

They have their own way of looking at things....

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. It just now occurred to me that maybe Tiger thought that

if he didn't have a collar, Casey shouldn't have one either?