Cats Not Getting Along? Why Your Cats Suddenly Becomes A Troublemaker And How To Manage Them

Some cats just won’t give peace a chance. Cats fight is actually a natural behavior, and the key to get cat fighting to stop is to understand why the cats are fighting in the first place and the fact that they won’t report each other to you like young teenager do before engaging in a fight makes the whole situation bad, what make the whole situation worse is that you can’t ask them why they are fighting…

Nobody likes a cat fight — the hissing, the yowling, the potential for real harm to one or both cats. Yet tiffs among felines are more common than you might think.

There are numerous reasons your cat might pick a fight with another furry feline, even if it’s his normally beloved littermate. But if you learn to read the signals your cat is sending, you’ll be able to minimize the chance of a squabble occurring or stop a fight that’s brewing. here are some causes of Cats fight

That “New Cat Smell” Causes Cat Fights

You think you’re doing your cat a favor by bringing home a companion and playmate. But your cat might see the newcomer as a rival and a threat, especially if you immediately thrust them together. When you bring a new cat into the home, he will have a new cat smell that screams “alien invader” to your resident cats. Some cats are more troubled by this than others. Integrating their smells can expedite a resolution of their conflict.

Jealousy Makes Cats Fight

A new cat will almost always get more attention from you than your existing brood does. Set aside extra one-on-one time with your other cats to alleviate their fears that the new cat is stealing all your love. Jealousy is more likely to be an issue with breeds like the Siamese that bond closely with their people, and they will need lots of reassurance that their place in your heart is secure.

A Noisy Home Can Affect the Kitty Emotionally:

Cats can easily get influenced by the vibe that dominates their home. If a household is particularly noisy, it can overstimulate a feline member. This over-stimulation caused by the excited energy circulating in the house might release in the form of aggression towards the other feline that is a part of the same household.

Sickness

When you’re not feeling well, you might retreat to another room to be alone. And you’d probably reprimand a child who jumped on your back for a piggyback ride shortly after you returned from a trip to the chiropractor. Similarly, a cat who isn’t feeling so hot might take a swipe at a buddy who’s trying to play, or at a normally beloved littermate who accidentally slides into its sore hip. “Cats hide illness pretty well,” says Peterson, noting one indication your cat might be under the weather is sudden aggression toward a furry pal.

Competition For Social Ranking

If your cats are still in the getting-to-know-each-other phase (the first few months after a new cat has been brought into the home) and are doing the kind of play fighting described above, don’t worry. They’re probably battling for the alpha cat position in the household.

Territorial Behavior

If one or both cats begin feeling territorial about their favorite lounging spot, their litter box, or their food bowls, this can cause fights. If you notice fights that seem to come from one or more of these things, you’re going to need to do some separation.

Recommendations For Managing Your Cats Fights

• Never let the cats “fight it out.” Cats don’t resolve their issues through fighting, and the fighting generally just deteriorates. Interrupt aggression with a loud clap of your hands, spray from a water gun or a burst of compressed air (no noise).
• Separate their resources. Reduce competition between the cats by providing multiple, identical food bowls, beds and litter boxes in different areas of your house.
• Provide additional perches. More hiding spots and perches will allow your cats to space themselves out as they prefer.
• Don’t try to calm or soothe your aggressive cat, just leave her alone and give her space. If you come close, she could turn and redirect her aggression toward you.
• Reward desired behavior. Praise or toss treats to reward your cats when you see them interacting in a friendly manner.
• Try pheromones. Feliway™, a product that mimics a natural cat odor (which humans can’t smell), may reduce tensions. Use a diffuser while the aggression issue is being resolved.

How To Break Up A Cat Fight

Through all of this, you’ll probably need to break up a few cat fights. Never reach in and try to separate fighting cats yourself. Instead, squirt the cats with a squirt gun or toss water on them from a distance (so that they’re not aware that you’re the source of the water). It’s good to keep loaded squirt guns throughout the house for this purpose. Alternatively, loud noises (an air gun, a can full of pennies or banging a pan) can be effective.

NEVER hit them or chase them with a broom. It will only make them more aggressive, and it can permanently destroy their trust in you.

References

https://pets.webmd.com/cats/aggression-between-cats-in-your-household#2

http://www.animalplanet.com/pets/3-watch-out-for-illness/