What to Do If Your Cat Fights with Other Cats
Cats are naturally territorial creatures who often react strongly to unfamiliar cats encroaching on their perceived domain. While cats are not entirely solitary animals, introducing a new cat or encountering other local cats can lead to stress, aggressive behaviour, and some noisy disputes before a peaceful coexistence is established.
Although severe fights causing serious injury are relatively uncommon, cat scrapping still occurs and can be influenced by certain types and situations of cats. Understanding why cats fight and how to manage these conflicts is essential for responsible cat ownership and ensuring your pets' wellbeing.
What causes cats to fight instead of avoiding each other?
Cats, being independent and non-pack animals, are more prone to territorial disputes than dogs. Unfamiliar cats often view each other as rivals or threats, resulting in battles for dominance and territory. Fights typically centre on access to resources such as food and breeding partners, with dominant cats asserting their position to maintain order.
What type of cats are most likely to fight?
Cats with larger roaming territories are generally more likely to encounter unfamiliar cats and engage in disputes. Unneutered male cats are particularly inclined to fight due to competition for mates. Intact female cats may also show aggression towards others. Neutering or spaying significantly reduces roaming and aggressive tendencies, promoting a calmer environment.
What sort of situations can lead to fighting?
Moving to a new area with resident cats or having a new cat settle nearby can disrupt existing social dynamics and provoke conflicts. Cats entering other cats’ gardens or homes exacerbate tensions. Kittens reaching sexual maturity may also trigger challenges from other local cats, again highlighting the benefit of early neutering to prevent aggression.
How will I know if my cat has been in a fight?
Cat fights are noisy affairs, so you might hear yowling or growling nearby. Signs your cat has been fighting include appearing unsettled, fluffed-up fur, loose fur clumps, limp, cuts, or scrapes. Because fur can obscure injuries, it's important to examine your cat carefully once calm, especially if you notice unusual behaviour or signs of pain.
What should I do if my cat has been fighting?
Thoroughly check your cat for wounds, particularly puncture wounds that can easily become infected due to bacteria in cats' mouths. Even minor wounds warrant veterinary attention to prevent abscesses. Limping or obvious injuries also require a vet visit. Keeping vaccinations up to date is critical as fights can transmit diseases like Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV).
To help prevent future fights, collaborate with other cat owners to neuter or spay your cats, install microchip-activated cat flaps to restrict access by unfamiliar cats, and consider fencing your garden to contain your cat while keeping others out.
Expert Advice: Managing and Reducing Cat Fighting
- Separate Cats Immediately: If you witness your cats fighting, immediately separate them into different areas with no contact. Each cat should have dedicated food, water, litter trays, and resting spaces to minimise stress and conflict[ASPCA].
- Do Not Allow Them to "Fight it Out": Cats do not settle disputes by fighting. Interrupt fights safely with loud noises or distractions like toys or an aerosol hiss but avoid physical intervention to prevent injury to both you and the cats[Amy Shojai].
- Avoid Punishment or Excessive Soothing: Punishing aggressive behaviour increases fear and escalates aggression; likewise, overly comforting an aggressive cat can reinforce bad behaviour. Instead, allow space and time for cats to calm without negative reinforcement[PetMD].
- Redirect Aggression with Play: Provide regular interactive play sessions to expend excess energy and reduce frustration that may trigger fights. Use toys to redirect negative energy towards positive experiences[Feliway].
- Gradual Reintroduction: If cats must live together but are aggressive, separate them long term and reintroduce slowly with supervised sessions using food and play as positive reinforcement. Employ barriers, harnesses, or crates during initial interactions and only allow full contact when calm behaviours dominate[ASPCA].
- Consult Veterinarians and Behaviourists: Rule out medical issues causing aggression. Persistent or severe aggression may merit professional behavioural intervention or medication to manage anxiety and aggression safely[Best Friends Animal Society].
- Neuter or Spay Your Cats: This is a crucial step to reduce territorial and breeding-related aggression, helping maintain harmony with local cats and within multi-cat households[PetMD].
Conclusion: Encouraging Peace Among Cats
Cat fights can be distressing for both pets and owners, but understanding the causes and following expert-recommended strategies can significantly reduce conflict. Immediate separation during fights, thorough health checks, environmental management, behavioural techniques, and professional guidance when required promote a safer and more harmonious life for your cats.
Always prioritise responsible ownership practices such as neutering and secure territory boundaries. Remember, patience and consistency are key to helping cats live peacefully together or in shared environments with other local cats.
