![]() ![]() Two cats in a household may fight if their aggression is redirected from sensing an unfamiliar cat in the area or hearing a loud noise in the distance. For instance, if there is only one good spot for the cats to watch birds and other prey animals outdoors, the cats may fight over this prized spot. It’s not uncommon for cats to claim domains for themselves and protect valuable resources, such as high perching spots, litter boxes, toys, attention from humans, and food and water sources. ![]() Territory fights can happen soon after new cats are introduced to one another, or they may begin over time as antagonistic feelings build between the two cats and a social order is established and challenged. Territorial AggressionĬats may also fight over their territory, combining territorial aggression, status-induced aggression, and inter-cat aggression. When overly threatened, the fearful cat may thrust their ears forward and lunge at the other cat, initiating a fight. In these cases, the shy, submissive cat may lash out at the friendly or dominant cat.Ī fearful cat may also avoid the other cat or assume a defensive position by freezing and crouching low to the ground before initiating a more offensive response. An example would be when a cat encounters an unfamiliar cat in their environment without having a proper introduction period.įear aggression can also happen when an outgoing cat approaches a naturally shy, fearful cat, or when a dominant cat tries to bully a more submissive cat. Fear AggressionĪnother scenario that might cause cats to fight would be fear aggression. Look for ears pointed forward in interest, loose and easygoing body movements, gentle mouthing and rubbing against each other, taking turns with dominant and submissive postures or grooming behaviors, and taking small breaks from playing or grooming.Ī cat on the verge of fighting with their playmate may start to thrash their tail from side to side, flatten their ears, puff up their fur, or have dilated pupils. Play and grooming between cats is healthy, but it’s important to understand the difference between appropriate play behavior and fighting or dominance behaviors. While play aggression is more common in kittens, it can happen in cats under 2 years of age that have never had other feline playmates. This can cause injuries if the aggressive cat is overly intense in stalking, pouncing, and biting the other cat during play. Have not been given appropriate alternative outlets for playing A cat may be predisposed to play aggression when interacting with another cat if they:ĭo not get enough playtime and exercise during the day One scenario where cats may fight with each other relates to play aggression. If the introductions are not going as planned, here’s some insight on what’s behind the cat-to-cat aggression and some things you can try to keep the peace. This is especially true if you’ve just adopted one cat and had hoped that your resident cat would be happy to have another cat around. Having cats that fight with each other in a multi-pet household can be stressful.
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