How to Reduce the Chances of a Cat Fight

A cat fight can break out for various reasons. Cats may be fighting over their territory or for the rights to mate with a female. A cat fight may also break out if a mother cat feels the need to defend her kittens. A cat fight usually consists of hissing, screaming, wrestling, biting and slaps. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Cat owners who have more than one cat may have trouble determining whether their cats are playing or having a real cat fight. One way to determine this is if the cats take turns being the dominant cat or the aggressor. If the cats are taking turns, it is a play fight. If the cats are actually hurting each other, it is a real cat fight! Beware! You should never try to break up a cat fight physically. The best way to break up a cat fight is to do something which distracts or scares the cats such as making loud noises or wetting them.
2. If you bring a new cat into your home with an older cat, you may want to take the necessary steps to try to keep hostilities on the down low. Sprinkling both cats with powder and rubbing it into their coats can cut down on the animosity. The cats will smell similar and not irritate each other as much. Likewise, rubbing the cats down with one towel can help to transfer their scents to each other. This may also help to reduce the chances of an all out cat fight from occurring.
3. Keep in mind, it is only natural that when a new cat is introduced into the home of an older cat they will want to get to know each other. This may involve some major hissing and growling. You should introduce a new cat into the home slowly. This will help the older cat adjust to the new cat and it may reduce the chance of a face-to-face cat fight. Many cat owners suggest keeping a new cat in a bathroom or bedroom for a few days away from the older cat. They suggest feeding the older cat by the door where the new cat is living so the two cats can smell each other and virtually eat side by side--even though a door is separating them!
4. Cat owners also find that allowing the new cat to roam in the home while putting the older cat in the new cat’s room can help cut down on a cat fight breaking out later. This gives the new cat the chance to explore the home, find a hiding place if she wants and learn the smell of the older cat. The older cat will spend her time in the new cat’s room smelling and becoming accustomed to the new cat’s smell, too. They then suggest that you return the animals to their rightful places and leave the door cracked open for a few hours. This will enable the cats to see each other. Repeating this process for a couple of days will slowly introduce the cats to each other without an all out war occurring in your home.
5. Once the new cat emerges and she and the older cat are living together in the home there may be romps and occasional acts of aggression. Simply distract the cats as mentioned above. Your new cat and your older cat may never be bosom buddies, but they can learn to co-habitat together peacefully. Introducing them to each other slowly can go far in helping even the most aloof housemates tolerate each other.