How do I prevent my cats from fighting each other? 7 Ways to Stop Them

How do I prevent my cats from fighting each other?

Cats are known to be territorial creatures. If they feel threatened, they will fight with each other. This can be a big problem when you have multiple cats in your home.

Everything that you need to know about how to prevent your cats from fighting

Here are some tips on how you can keep your cats from fighting:

– Give them different toys so that they don’t feel threatened by each other’s toys.

– Keep them indoors or in separate rooms when possible.

– Make sure that the litter boxes are clean and fresh so that they aren’t competing for territory around the litter box.

– If you have more than one cat, use a baby gate to keep them from fighting around the food and water bowls.

Even if you have more than one cat, it can be really stressful when your cats get into a fight.

However, it is not usually uncommon for them to have a falling out every now and then.

Pet cats have evolved from a generally autonomous species that prefers to be alone; therefore, it is unlikely that they will always be able to live in perfect harmony with one another.

However, when the fighting becomes serious or continues for an extended period of time, the situation might become problematic.

HOW CAN I TELL IF THE FIGHTING BETWEEN MY CATS IS SERIOUS?

Play fighting is something that many cats like doing. They will chase one other, roll around, and swat each other with their paws.

The most significant distinction between play fighting and real fighting with cats is the level of noise produced.

The majority of the time, play fighting is silent, with plenty of pauses as each cat repositions.

Any biting is soft and does not result in injury or discomfort, and claws are normally retracted when the animal is biting.

If one of your cats begins hissing or screeching, it may be an indication that one of them is getting a little too harsh with the other and that the situation needs to be addressed.

Both cats will return to their natural selves after a bout of play fighting, and there will be no visible tension between them.

While it is evident if your cats are fighting every time they encounter each other, there are several additional indicators of true fighting that may be more difficult to detect.

When cats are fighting or tense around each other, it may be quite stressful for everyone involved.

Cats suffering from stress may develop physical symptoms such as bladder difficulties, as well as behaviour indications such as going to the bathroom in the house.

The ability of cats to conceal their emotions makes it difficult to determine whether or not they are distressed.

It is advised to always to better keep a watchful lookout for any changes in behaviour and seek guidance from your veterinarian.

There are less obvious signs called passive or silent aggression. 

Less obvious signs that your cats are disagreeing may include:

• Your cats look at each other with wide, non-blinking eyes and a fixed expression.
•  Cat “steals” a resting place from another (for example, one cat climbs on top of another and tries to rest in the same place so that the cat that was originally there is forced to leave).

• One cat blocks aisles, stairs, and corridors to prevent another cat from moving freely in your home.

• Block access to the cat’s flap or litter tray.

If you detect any of these behaviours in your pet, you should consult with your veterinarian.

It will also be worthwhile to inquire about a referral to a cat behaviourist who should be able to assist you.

WHAT IS CAUSING MY CATS TO FIGHT?

It’s possible that your cats will fight for a variety of reasons.

Example:

If one of your cats has just returned from a visit to the vet, which may have a distinct smell, the other cats may notice that they smell unfamiliar and possibly a little frightening.

When it comes to communication, cats rely mostly on their sense of smell, and groups of cats develop a distinctive communal scent that serves to strengthen their bonds.

If one of the cats returns home smelling strange, the other cats in the house may become alarmed. 

If possible, try your best to remember to keep the returning cat in a separate room for a couple of hours when you first bring them home to allow them to groom and re-establish their familiar scent. This will help you avoid this type of fighting in the future…

It is possible that violent behaviour has nothing to do with your other cat at all.

Instincts to fight can be triggered by something completely unrelated, such as seeing another cat through a window, at which time one of your cats may wrongly “attack” the cat who is nearest to them.

Because this can harm the connection between cats that live together, it’s a good idea to get advice from your veterinarian and consider working with a cat behaviourist if separating them for a period of 24-48 hours does not resolve the problem.

SUDDENLY MY CATS HAVE BEGUN TO FIGHT FOR NO REASON

The safest course of action if your cats suddenly start fighting is to put them into different rooms for 24 to 48 hours until they have both calmed down and become friendly again.

In addition, you should keep them within during this period in order to prevent them from meeting and fighting in the street.

Pay attention to any signals that your cats are frustrated with being confined, like pacing, meowing to be let out, or lifting themselves up near the door.

Make sure your cats are kept apart for a long enough period of time to allow them to settle down, but not for too long that they feel frustrated and maybe even more distressed.

As soon as you suspect that either of them may be wounded, contact your veterinarian immediately for assistance.

It is best to use a thick blanket to separate two fighting cats or to gently slide a soft bristles broom between them, to keep them from getting hurt.

Do not attempt to pick them up with your bare hands, as you may injure yourself in the process.

Make sure they have easy access to food, water, a place to sleep, a place to hide, a scratching post, and a litter pan, if possible.

If you are unable to split them into different sections of the house, make sure they both have easy access to the same areas.

It’s possible that re-introducing them will be as simple as opening the doors and allowing them to meet again after they’ve both had some time to cool off.

You may need to separate them for a longer period of time if the fighting resumes when they encounter each other again.

You should remember to treat them as if they are complete strangers who have just met each other for the first time.

HOW CAN I HELP MY FIGHTING CATS?

Because cats are territorial, they instinctively feel they have to defend an area where they have everything they require to survive.

For your cats, this would be your home and the various places in them, such as where they go in and out, eat, drink, sleep, play, scratch, hide, and go to the toilet.

This will also include areas they use to move from one place to another, such as stairs, corridors, and so on.

If you own two or more cats, in theory, everyone should feel that they are not competing directly for all of these important things.

You can help ensure that all of their “resource” is in the right places and in sufficient numbers so that your cats don’t feel they need to fight for everything they are missing.

You may want to give each cat one of everything (plus one extra to always have one spare part) to make each cat feel like it has a choice.

Placing these”resources” away from each other will give your cats plenty of opportunities to find them anywhere in the house.

WILL I NEED TO ABOUT RE-HOMING ONE OF MY CAT?

You won’t have to bring any of your cats back home, but you’ll have to make some changes to help them.

There are many options you can try to fix the problem, and working with a cat behaviour specialist can often help you find a solution. But sometimes it may be that the best choice is to change homes.

Some cats just don’t like living with other cats, so separating them may be the best solution, no matter what loving owners are willing to do to fix the problem.

If remodelling is the best outcome, a behaviourist will be able to help you.

If you understand your cat’s behaviour, sympathies, and dislikes, it will also mean that a conversion centre will be able to find her a better home to meet their needs.

If cats are fighting or tense next to each other, it can be very frustrating.

Distressed cats may experience physical symptoms, such as bladder problems or behavioural problems, such as going to the toilet at home.

It’s not always easy to tell if your cat is excited because she’s perfect at hiding her feelings, so it’s always best to keep a close eye on any changes in behaviour and seek veterinary advice.