Cats Not Getting Along? Explaining the Causes and Solutions for Cat Fights

If you keep multiple cats, there are times when they may get into intense fights.

Many owners may feel anxious, wondering, "Are they really fighting or just playing?" or "Should I stop them before someone gets hurt?"

In this article, we will explain the causes and reasons behind cat fights, as well as how to handle situations where they just can't seem to stop fighting.

Reasons Why Cats Fight

Cats sometimes fight so intensely that they end up getting injured. Why do they fight? Let's look at the causes of cat fights.

Territorial Fighting

Cats are creatures with a strong "territorial instinct." Male cats tend to have a stronger sense of territory, marking their space through urine spraying or scratching.

When another cat intrudes into that territory, a fierce fight often breaks out.

Even indoor-only cats have territorial instincts and view the entire house as their turf. The only ones allowed in their territory are their owners, sibling cats, or cats they have grown to trust. If an unknown cat enters, a fight will begin.

Fighting Over Females During Mating Season

When a female cat enters heat, her loud meows and pheromones trigger a mating response in male cats as well.

Because males expand their territory further than usual in search of females, they often end up fighting upon chance encounters. Since they are more aggressive than normal, these fights can sometimes result in serious injuries.

Fights Caused by Poor Compatibility

The "compatibility" between cats can also be a cause of fighting. Even for indoor-only cats, territorial instincts exist, and sometimes their personalities simply do not match.

Additionally, some cats feel stressed when another cat is in their personal space, leading to fights.

The Rules of Cat Fighting

Cats, by nature, are not pugnacious. If they had their way, they would prefer not to fight and would rather not meet other cats at all.

To avoid unnecessary fighting, cats have their own "rules of fighting."

It starts with a stare-down. They assess the opponent's physique to judge whether they seem stronger or weaker than themselves. If the odds are not in their favor, they will simply look away and walk off.

If a winner isn't determined by the stare-down, they will puff up their fur and hiss or growl to threaten the other. Eventually, a brawl ensues, involving biting the neck, cat punches, and kicks. Sometimes, it can lead to fur being pulled out or serious injuries resulting in bleeding.

If one runs away or crouches down, that is the sign of "surrender." They will then quietly disperse. Once a conflict has been settled between two individuals, they generally won't fight again. That is the rule of the feline world.

How to Distinguish Between Fighting and Playing

When you have multiple cats, you may see them wrestling.

Are they just playing, or is it a real fight? It can be difficult to decide whether or not you should intervene.

Observe Fights Between Housemate Cats

The correct approach to fights between housemate cats is to observe without intervening. By settling the outcome of a fight, the cats establish their relationship with one another.

If you intervene clumsily, you may actually make things worse, so just watch over them while making sure they don't get hurt.

The Difference Between Fighting and Playing

Even if they are wrestling, if they are not growling, hissing, or puffed up with fur on end, it is just "play." If one is rolling over and showing its belly, you can judge it as "play."

Roughhousing is Necessary for Growth

Kittens, in particular, learn how to control their strength through roughhousing. If they bite too hard, they will be met with a counter-attack, making play-fighting a valuable learning experience.

What Owners Should Be Careful About Regarding Cat Fights

With complete indoor-only care and spaying/neutering, your cats will likely not get caught up in territorial disputes with strays or become prone to fighting during mating season.

For cats allowed to go outside, you have to worry about injuries from fights and the risk of infectious diseases. For the health of your cats, keep them strictly indoors and ensure they are spayed/neutered and vaccinated.

If you keep multiple cats, fights will inevitably happen from time to time. Make sure they don't get hurt, and try your best to minimize their stress.

Assess Compatibility Between Cats

If you keep siblings together, they rarely get into serious fights. However, when you introduce a new cat to a home with an existing cat, fighting may be unavoidable depending on how compatible they are.

In particular, combinations such as "unneutered males" or "a kitten and a senior cat" are said to be poorly matched. When bringing in a new cat, separate their living spaces and introduce them slowly to determine their compatibility.

Provide a Living Environment with Less Stress

A low-stress environment is also important. It is generally said that the maximum number of cats you should keep is "number of rooms the cats can freely enter - 1." Use cat trees and cat walks to utilize vertical space and help reduce stress.

It is also good practice to provide one litter box per cat and separate feeding areas.

Create a Place Where They Can Be Alone

Cats need their own personal space. Make sure to provide at least one place per cat where they can retreat and feel safe. This can double as their regular sleeping spot or a place to escape after a stare-down.

Know How to Break Up a Fight

If a fight gets too intense and you feel they might get seriously hurt, break it up. To ensure you don't get hurt yourself, try making a loud noise or distracting them with treats like Churu.

If by any chance your cat gets injured, take them to a veterinary clinic immediately.

Trim Their Nails Regularly

Because cats' claws are sharp and pointed, they can injure one another during a fight. To reduce potential damage, keep the tips trimmed.

Summary

When you keep multiple cats, you may sometimes see them wrestling intensely.

While it's endearing if they are just playing, it's worrying to think they might get hurt... Cats have their own compatibility, so be careful when introducing a new cat to the household.

If they absolutely cannot stop fighting, keep their living spaces completely separated. Also, no matter how well they get along, having a place for each cat to be alone will help reduce their stress.

Keeping multiple cats involves many things to watch out for, but it also brings more joy and happiness than ever before. Please enjoy your life surrounded by your cats.