Why do cats fight among themselves and how to make them friends?

Every person in his life has seen or heard a cat fight at least once (it is simply impossible not to hear these warlike cat screams). Despite all their cuteness, cats can be very aggressive when in danger. They zealously protect the territory from the invasion of uninvited guests and are ready to pounce on any representative of the fauna who violates the borders. We have prepared for you 5 facts that you should know about cat fighting.

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Options to correct the situation

It is quite easy for a person to cope with the aggression of an animal. The main thing is to understand exactly what caused it. The cats need to be separated, given the opportunity to calm down, fall asleep, feed them, and only after that, after a while, start trying to introduce them again. The following tricks will work for this. You can build a transparent wall between the cats, which will help them see each other, but not get into fights. It is especially better to start doing this when the cats are friendly and relaxed. This therapy can take up to two weeks.

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My cat got into a fight. What should I do?

If you find out that your pet has just gotten into a fight, you should take him home and not let him go outside. Since after clarifying relationships with their relatives, cats are often overexcited, you should not pay increased attention to your furry friend. It is best to leave him alone, giving him the opportunity to calm down. It is also recommended to inspect the animal. Superficial cuts and scrapes are usually easy to see, but bite wounds can be difficult to detect. Cat teeth leave deep but narrow marks; cavities fill with bacteria and quickly close; as a result, an abscess may develop. Lethargy, withdrawal, avoidance of contact, lameness are signs of an inflammatory process and a reason to contact a veterinary clinic.

Causes of cat fights

Cat fights can occur for a number of reasons. Most often, cats living in the same territory are prone to conflicts due to the following factors:

• temporary isolation;
• aggression provoked by fear;
• social pressure due to the large number of individuals;
• unsuccessful acquaintance with each other.

Why do cats fight?

The reason for male conflicts lies in the nature of the cat's origin. To take a place in the sun, small predators made their way to it with teeth and claws.

In most cases, cats are called to fight by the instincts of the hunter, and sexual desire also plays a big role. Therefore, fights for territory are organized by mature, uncastrated males, especially if there is a “walking” cat nearby.

Most often, fights between cats are caused by defending the territory in which they live. This applies to a greater extent to outdoor cats. The cat defends its territory, following instinct. The more land under his paws, the more satisfying he will eat. In addition, the cats living in this territory will be exclusively at his disposal.

How to recognize conflict between pets? Will it lead to a fight?

Cats adapt well and share space with other pets even in the absence of any connection with them. Animals living in the same household may form cliques or splinter groups. In them, relatives coexist side by side, but each remains “to his own opinion” and tries to avoid contact if possible. This does not mean that there will not be cases of open confrontation between members of isolated factions over access to certain resources at certain times. This suggests that instead of physical “fighting”, cats will prefer “psychological pressure” as a more effective tactic.

Within the cat group there are individuals who seek to suppress their relatives, and they need a victim. It becomes a pet, which reacts strongly and with pronounced fear to the threatening actions and posture of its cohabitants. The more afraid an animal is, the more willingly its relatives are involved in this “game”. Some representatives of the cat family do not stop until they kick the victim out of the house. Cats that are being bullied begin to get sick due to constant emotional stress. Therefore, it is very important to notice “quiet” cat conflicts in time. Signs that your pet has turned into a victim include staring in its direction, trying to take its place to sleep, obstructing attempts to climb onto your lap, jumping on it while resting, and blocking passages (for example, an aggressor animal may block the flap window in the door or the path to the tray with your body). Psychological bullying is not easy to spot. A tyrannical cat, lying between its fellow cat and some place attractive to cats, does not look aggressive. From the outside it may seem that the animal is simply choosing a location that is convenient for itself.

Peace-friendship

If there are two cats (or tomcats) or even more living in the house, and they cannot improve their relationship, the intervention of the owner will be required. If fights arise due to a reason known to the owner (a favorite place for both, food, toys), then it can be eliminated by blocking access to the favorite place, which is a bone of contention, removing the sofa or chair, etc.

But often, the origin of conflicts is not so obvious. In this case, you can defuse the situation by providing the cats with their own accessories. Pets should have separate trays, bowls, beds, toys, etc. When fights occur out of boredom, you can add entertainment to the cat - new toys, scratching posts, build a house or special moves. If the cats calm down, it means the owner made the right decision.

And the most important thing is that when having several pets, the owner must take into account that he should not have favorites. All cats need attention and affection, even the most phlegmatic ones

It is worth taking into account their characters and characteristics, making the life of pets more comfortable, calm and safe.

A cat is a universal animal that can save you from loneliness, calm you down and even cheer you up, and two or three cats can double or triple these qualities. But when there is discord in the cat family, there can be no talk of any peace for people either. If they themselves are not able to coexist peacefully, then the owner should not rush into the decision to get rid of one of the pets. We need to give them time and improve the conditions of living together.

In case of injury

Light bruises are treated with cold compresses, astringents, pressure bandages, and subsequently it is impossible to do without thermal procedures and alcohol-drying bandages.

And, most importantly: after providing first aid, immediately consult a doctor. Especially if you are concerned about the severity of your injuries.

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The answer to this question should be sought in the character of the pet, temperament, and the very essence of the feline. These four-legged creatures are freedom-loving, independent and sometimes even proud creatures. Deep down, every second cat is an egoist who divides everything around him into two halves: “mine”, “not mine”. The latter is rarely brought up for consideration. Even for some breeds, such as the American Wirehair cat, the owner is branded

as "mine". The animal's territory is also no exception. By regularly checking its territory, the pet identifies changes and innovations each time, evaluating them.

However, what happens if two individuals are placed in one room or other enclosed space?

And it doesn’t matter at all whether they are same-sex or different-sex. In the second case, we exclude the period of estrus

If you come back after a while, you can see a picture of cats fighting

. It can be very rare when, in a closed room, two representatives of the cat family sit opposite each other and look at each other with unblinking gazes. This may be possible if the meeting of rivals took place on the street and everyone has the opportunity to run away at any time. Then yes, the opponents will be in each other’s field of vision, and exchange threatening sounds, postures, “drilling” their gaze at the opponent.

Game - as a manifestation of instincts

Behavioral stereotypes are formed by innate instincts and personal experience. Thus, cat play can be seen as honing the most important instincts:

• defensive;
• hunting;
• territorial;
• sexual

Month-old kittens' eyes are already open, and their paws are getting stronger day by day, requiring training.

Observations. It is enough to observe the offspring to track the behavior of an adult animal in one or another element of the game:

1. The breadwinner instinct manifests itself in the pursuit and capture of a rolling ball, a rustling candy wrapper, or the twitching tip of the mother's tail.
2. Growing kittens try their hand at tracking each other like “prey” from an ambush, attacking in a jump and biting the head and neck.
3. Hunting passion is demonstrated in the form of possessive displays towards the “prey” during general feeding.
4. Defensive skills are practiced during “military exercises,” when kids pretend to wave their paws, copy combat grips, and dodge the “enemy.”
5. The games of male cats, which from the age of 4 months can grab their sisters by the withers with their teeth and sit on top, are full of shades of sexual behavior.

Male vs female

Most often, owners are misled by the cat's behavior towards the cat. She seems to accept his dominance and fulfills his every whim. However, this is not the case. The cunning of females knows no bounds, and they successfully use it, “powdering the brains” of both the cat and the owner. This tactic of behavior allows the cat to achieve what it wants without open conflict, and fights between animals of different sexes are rather nonsense.

Yes, the male can afford to hiss at his girlfriend or lightly touch her with his paw, but this is not a full-fledged fight, but only a reminder of who is boss in the house. Serious fights between a cat and a cat break out extremely rarely, and only if the female ceases to obey and shows leadership qualities. Usually cats go crazy because of this behavior of cats and find no other way out than to give the presumptuous “madame” a beating. In this case, short fights can break out out of nowhere; they proceed loudly, but not for long.

It is worth noting that the war between a cat and a cat is a fight to the last drop of blood. As soon as one of the pets obeys, peace and grace sets in in the cat kingdom.

Tips for hosts

Can cats “take away” their owner’s illness?

By observing the body language of animals, you can determine whether cats are enjoying the game or sorting things out. You should pay attention to:

• the animal’s claws remain in the sheath, but if cats have released their claws, they should not scratch each other’s faces or pierce the skin;
• if this is a game, then the ears should remain in their normal position and point upward. When fighting they are thrown back;
• animals do not raise their withers, their hair does not stand on end and their tail does not fluff;
• there is no hissing or growling, meowing can be heard when playing;
• Cat bites during play are painless and do not lead to wounds or injuries.

Why are my cats fighting?

Your cats may fight for several reasons.

For example, if one cat has just come from a place that may have a distinctive smell (like the vet), it will smell unfamiliar and perhaps a little scary to your other cats.

Cats communicate with each other primarily using their sense of smell.

• If one cat comes back into an apartment with an unfamiliar smell, it may upset the other cats in the house. To try to avoid this type of fight, it may be a good idea to keep your returning cat in a separate room for a few hours or overnight when you bring them home to allow them to regain a familiar scent.
• Sometimes aggressive behavior has nothing to do with your other cat. The fight instinct can be caused by something completely different. This can damage the relationship between cats that live together, so if separating them for a period of 24-48 hours does not solve the problem, it is a good idea to contact a cat behaviorist.

Why did my cat attack his companion when he saw a stranger outside the window?

Cats that are under stress and are suddenly threatened may redirect their aggression towards a nearby cat. Animals have a survival instinct that triggers the attack/flight mechanism. It involves the release of adrenaline and filling the muscles with blood; thus the body prepares to face danger. This cat reaction can be caused by a sudden sound, movement or appearance of a cat outside the window. At this moment, the pet may accidentally attack an innocent relative who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The consequence of the mistake is a damaged relationship between the furry inhabitants of the same house.

To restore calm to a cat’s life, immediately after the attack, place the cats in different rooms for 1-2 days. If the aggressive reaction recurs, longer isolation will be required.

If cats fight

The causes of aggression can be different, so you need to approach the issue individually and analyze what exactly happens to the animals in each specific case.

Cats may act nervous for the following reasons:

1. Fear. This is the main factor that provokes aggressive behavior. Cats who have not previously had contact with other animals and have little idea of ​​what to expect from such a neighborhood are prone to it.
2. Territorial claims. They most often appear in males, as well as in animals that have lived in one place for a long time.
3. Wrong reaction of the owner. It often happens that owners, without knowing it, provoke aggression in their pets - in an effort to calm their pet, they give it a treat or gently stroke it after a negative episode has occurred. This is an incorrect behavior strategy because the animal maintains a positive behavior pattern - anger is followed by reward. This shouldn't happen. There must be punishment, but in no case should you use brute force or beat animals. A shout, a rolled-up newspaper, a loud noise, or water from a spray bottle are good training stimuli.
4. Dominant behavior of a newcomer. Usually, in a new place, a kitten or adult cat recognizes the right of primacy of the owner and does not show obvious aggression, but there is also the opposite pattern of behavior when the arriving animal clearly provokes the first cat and claims rights to the territory. This should be limited immediately to prevent further conflicts. Typically, young, uncastrated male cats and teenage male kittens behave this way.

Accordingly, the procedure for reconciling cats should be something like this.

• You need to set aside a place in the apartment that will be temporarily reserved for both pets. It is divided into two parts by a dense mesh or other non-solid partition, through which you can sniff each other, but no harm can be done.
• Bowls with food and water are placed on both sides of the partition at a safe distance - this is how animals learn to live side by side.
• Once a day, the cats are changed places, allowing them to get used to the smells.

It is important to pay attention to the following point: the dominant cat, which initially considers itself the master of the territory, should not have serious limitations in space. You can’t lock her in the kitchen or in a small room, this will only provoke the development of a conflict situation.

Cats vs dogs

The most common picture is a dog chasing a cat, and the cat runs away. In real life, cats themselves often begin to attack dogs. But, regardless of the situation, we are not talking about the same thing, and conflicts arise due to misunderstandings. If we consider all dogs, they can be divided into 2 types. The first category includes dogs that are distinguished by their sociability, who strive to make new acquaintances and are not averse to communicating with other animals, including cats that are not very sociable.

In this case, the pugnacity of the latter is caused not by aggression, but by a completely understandable desire to protect one’s own person from intrusive attention. Felines do not particularly like physical contact and try to explain this to dogs. At first they do it softly, as if brushing it off. But if the dog doesn’t understand, then they can release their claws.

The second category is dogs that have a pathological hatred of cats. Whatever this feeling causes, the meeting of such an animal with a cat often turns into a tragedy. Large dogs can not only injure a cat, but also cause fatal injuries to it.

If such hostility occurs in the house, then the issue should be resolved immediately. Either resettle the pets or seek help from a dog handler. A specialist will not teach a dog to love cats, but will make him ignore her.

Causes

Cats are extremely emotional and sensitive animals. They react to love shown to them and to fear, hatred, and aggression directed at them. And if positive feelings are perceived with such intensity, any negative manifestations towards the cat result in hostility, fear and angry behavior towards the owner or any other person who comes into contact with him. For this reason, when you see an animal, do not show fear or be afraid, then trust in you will be higher and there will be less chance that the cat will attack. However, there are other reasons for cat aggression.

Fear. Not only children, adults also often have fun by scaring cats. For some animals this is not a problem, but for shy ones, it is a reason to be wary, fearful and defend themselves. If a cat is afraid, it can run away, hide, press its ears to the floor, and behave warily. In rare cases, the cat takes a position of defense and attack, rears, hisses, and rushes. Defense of the territory. The second common reason for aggression is defense of territory. Cats consider their home their territory, and do not always agree with new residents or changes. Their territory is always marked by their scent. Moreover, even if the cat is neutered, he still leaves his unique smell on the things he touches, eats from, or plays with. Therefore, if a new resident, a child, an adult or another animal appears in the house, the cat may begin to defend its place and its things, and become very aggressive. Health problems often cause aggression. If a cat is in pain when he is held incorrectly, or if his joints, teeth are inflamed, or his stomach hurts, all this can affect his emotional state. Just like a person’s, if your hand hurts, it’s better not to touch it, but a cat can’t complain about pain, for example, in its thigh, and that’s why it grins when they pet it there.

Castration, or rather its absence, can lead to aggression in an adult cat

For this reason, it is important to castrate the animal before the age of one year, so that it does not begin to behave aggressively, and does not become accustomed to such behavior.

Adult cat and kitten up to six months

A sexually mature male, whether castrated or not, is unlikely to accept the baby friendly. But he will never get into a fight with him, even if the new pet attacks him himself. It can hit with its paw, but will not cause serious injuries and will not extend its claws.

If the kitten is very small (a month or a month and a half), then you should not leave the animals alone until the younger one grows up and gets stronger. In the wild, a male will eliminate a defenseless enemy from his territory, even if it is a child.

When the kitten is three months old, the cat will no longer be able to strangle it.

If the cat is neutered, then most likely he will accept a new tenant and the pets will quickly become friends.

Cats are not pack animals

A cat is a predator that walks on its own. If you have several pets living in your home, make sure that everyone has personal items: a bowl, a scratcher, a scratching post and a pad. They don't tend to share with their siblings, so sharing the same toy or cup of water will most likely end in a fight.

If you add a new kitten to a cat you already have at home, then remember that fights are inevitable. The old resident will definitely show the new one who is boss here. This time must be endured. You should not artificially “introduce” cats to each other by pushing their faces together. Let everything go naturally.

According to experts, well-socialized cats (those who have had experience interacting with other cats as children) will be more sociable than those who have not had such experience.