Cat parents who are considering adopting a second cat often worry about how the two cats will adapt to each other. Particularly if the cats fight, how can we prevent injuries and help them get along? This article provides an ‘Emergency Guide to Preventing Cat Fights,’ which includes essential concepts for introducing new and old cats, reasons why cats fight, when to intervene, how to avoid getting hurt, and how to distinguish between play and fighting. It also covers how to properly stop a cat fight, avoid long-term disputes, and prevent fights when bringing a new cat home or after a visit to the vet. For those who frequently deal with cat fights, this guide offers insights on what to look out for. How to tell if cats are playing or fighting? In multi-cat households, cats may engage in playful pounces or nibbles. However, constant intervention by the pet parents might upset the cats or give them the impression that their play is being disrupted, leading to resentment. Here’s how to correctly determine if they are playing or fighting: if the same cat is initiating the attack, or if the one being pounced on or showing its belly is always the same. Common reasons for cat fights include territorial disputes, redirected aggression, and environmental changes or unfamiliar scents. Behaviors that can be left unattended include maternal aggression and playful attacks. How to properly intervene in a cat fight and avoid long-term disputes? When bringing a new cat home, the following steps can prevent fights: Step 1: Allocate two separate rooms and place cat supplies in each. Step 2: Allow cats to interact through a slightly opened door. Step 3: Once the door is open, encourage them to play together to strengthen their bond. Step 4: Place cat supplies in multiple rooms. To stop cats that used to get along from fighting again: Step 1: Separate cat supplies and place them in different rooms. Step 2: Move supplies close to a connected door. Step 3: Exchange rooms or different items like carpets for the cats. Step 4: Use transparent glass, thin boards, or barriers instead of completely closed doors. Step 5: Open a small crack in the substitute door. If attacks resume after opening the door, handle it by: Step 1: Wipe the cats with a shared blanket. Step 2: Let the cat that went out use the other cat’s litter box. Step 3: Apply the cats’ favorite food on each other. What should cat parents pay attention to if their cats frequently fight? Be aware of signs of injury, regularly check for wounds, and learn how to clean them. Common questions about cat fights: How to distinguish between play and fighting? In multi-cat households, cats may engage in playful pounces or nibbles. However, constant intervention by the pet parents might upset the cats or give them the impression that their play is being disrupted, leading to resentment. Here’s how to correctly determine if they are playing or fighting: if the same cat is initiating the attack, or if the one being pounced on or showing its belly is always the same.
When cats are engaged in a fight, they may emit screeching or hissing sounds. **Extended Reading**: What do cat meows mean? Understanding the emotions cats express through their vocalizations. Both cats display their claws or sharp teeth. The attacking cat may bite the other cat’s throat with its teeth or kick with its hind legs. Cats’ bodies and tails puff up, and fur flies everywhere. **Extended Reading**: Interpreting cat emotions from their tail status. Even if separated briefly, they may continue to fight upon meeting again. How to determine if cats are fighting? Observe for the above-mentioned conditions! Why do cats fight? The cattery has compiled common reasons for cat fights, especially useful for those planning to welcome a new feline family member. Common Reason 1: Territorial or Resource Conflicts This often occurs when a new cat joins the household. The presence of a new cat can lead the existing cat to feel that resources are being taken away, or that their status has changed, resulting in aggressive behavior. Items such as cat bowls, water bowls, litter boxes, and the attention of cat parents are considered resources that the existing cat may feel are being threatened, so cat parents must pay special attention. The introduction of a new cat causing territorial or resource conflicts that change the status of the existing cat is a common reason. Common Reason 2: Displacement Aggression Cats that were playing nicely may suddenly start fighting? Regardless of whether they are new or existing cats, when the dominant one is scared, they may randomly vent their anger on another, which is a more common reason for cat fights in multi-cat households. At this point, cat parents should intervene. Common Reason 3: Environmental Changes or Strange Odors Changes in the living environment, such as changes in household members, and the presence of strange odors in the home, can make the cats feel that their status has changed, leading to fighting or conflicts over resources. Possible behaviors that may lead cats to feel a change in status and fight include: someone moving into the home, the birth of a baby, guests staying over, someone moving out of the home, cat parents traveling or going on business trips, renovations or adding new furniture, changes in cat parents’ daily routines (such as applying sunscreen before going out, or carrying an umbrella every day during the rainy season), another cat going to the vet or getting sick, and cat parents getting sick or a new cat appearing (bringing strange odors). Especially if the new cat has not been isolated and introduced to the others first, the existing cat may feel a change in home status or resource competition due to the new cat’s strange odor, leading to fights. All new cats must go through isolation and allow the existing cat to get to know the new cat. What cat fighting behaviors can cat parents temporarily not intervene in? Behavior 1: Maternal Aggression Although not common, nursing cats may attack when they see other cats or humans approaching. This aggressive behavior usually subsides as the kittens grow up. Behavior 2: Play Aggression This is more common among kittens and if it only occurs between them, cat parents do not need to intervene. However, if the kitten attacks or bites the cat parents, it should be stopped to prevent the cat from developing a bad habit of biting people. **Extended Reading**: What to do if a cat bites people? Understand the steps to teach a cat not to bite! Nursing cats may exhibit aggressive behavior, but once the kittens grow up, the mother cat usually returns to normal. How to correctly stop cats that are fighting? Do not break up the fight with your hands: This could lead the cats to target you as an attacker, causing scratches and injuries.
Not only unilaterally punish the ‘dominant’ cat: Changes in status will only intensify cat conflicts. Punishment will also make cats distrust their owners and exacerbate fighting. Do not shout to stop: Shouting may scare away two cats, leading to a sharp increase in stress for both cats. Cats cannot understand what their owners say and will instead develop distrust. Do not unilaterally comfort the ‘bullied’ cat: This will not reduce cat fights. Instead, it will make the dominant cat feel that its status is shaken, greatly increasing the probability of cats being injured. How to stop fighting cats is very important. Pet owners must be careful not to get injured. How can we avoid cats getting into long-term fights? Take unneutered cats for neutering: Unneutered male cats are more aggressive. Therefore, taking cats for neutering is very important. [Extended Reading] Cat neutering guide? When should cats be neutered? How much is the surgical cost? Give cats enough space and enrich their living environment: If cats lack sufficient activity space, it is recommended that pet owners not over-adopt cats for the time being. Let cats get used to their current living environment and set up more cat perches, cat toys, etc. to divert their attention. Having a separate set of each item is the best way to avoid cat fights. Separate cat resources and do not let them eat side by side: Place cat bowls, water bowls, litter boxes, cat beds, etc. in different rooms to avoid cats competing for resources. Eating side by side will also lead cats to think they are being robbed of food and increase the probability of fighting. Reward cats’ friendly behaviors: In the initial stage, use petting and praise. Gradually progress to encouraging with small snacks to let cats know that friendly behaviors will be rewarded. When bringing a new cat home, how can we prevent fights between the new and old cats? Bringing a new cat home and avoiding fights between the new and old cats is surely a problem that troubles pet owners. Here, the director of the cat park has compiled some precautions before bringing a new cat home for pet owners’ reference: Step 1: Set aside two rooms and place cat supplies separately. Do not be侥幸 and think that cats may get along well. It is recommended to place the two cats in different rooms first and place resources separately. Step 2: Open the door a crack to let cats contact. You can first open the door about 3 – 5 centimeters so that cats can get familiar with each other’s smell and make the first contact. If cats have resistance to each other, do not open the door. If cats do not have obvious aversion or aggressive postures towards each other, you can open the door and let the two cats contact. After isolating the two cats, you can let them get in touch slowly bit by bit. Step 3: After opening the door, let cats play more together to strengthen their relationship. Do not overly prevent cats from contacting each other. Observe the playing situation of cats and let them get familiar with each other through playing and eating together. Step 4: Place cat supplies in multiple rooms. Even after opening the door and the two cats can get along peacefully. But for long-term peace, you can place water bowls and litter boxes in multiple rooms to avoid cats competing for resources. Each cat needs to have a separate food bowl, water bowl, and litter box to avoid uneven resources. How can we make two cats that once got along stop fighting? If the fighting is relatively mild or two cats that once got along start fighting, it may be changes in status or resources that make the two cats compete. Then how should we solve this problem? Step 1: Separate cat supplies and place them in different rooms. First, separate the food bowls, water bowls, and litter boxes of the cats and isolate the cats in two rooms until both cats enter a relatively relaxed state.
A relaxed state means that the cat can eat, drink, and use the toilet as usual without looking around or hissing in a vigilant state. Step 2: Move cat supplies near the connected door. Doing this can connect the scents of the two cats with pleasant feelings of delicious food, fun, and relaxation. Try moving cat supplies to two different rooms. Step 3: Exchange rooms or different supplies such as carpets for cats. Gradually exchange carpets, curtains, and other items in the room, or directly let the cats exchange rooms. During this period, try not to let the two cats meet directly. Let the two cats get familiar with each other’s scents for at least 3 to 7 days. Step 4: Use transparent glass, thin wooden boards, guardrails, etc. instead of completely closed doors. Let the cats start to contact or observe each other but not directly touch. This process is also recommended to last for 3 to 7 days. Step 5: Open a small gap in the replacement door. You can try to open a small gap in the replacement door, not too large, about 3 to 5 centimeters is fine. If the cat is relaxed and shows no aggressive posture, you can try to maintain the gap for about 3 to 7 days and then open the door to let the two cats meet. Let the cats get along slowly and get familiar with each other to avoid fights. What should be done if there are signs of aggression again after opening the door? Close the door and separate the cats again, and repeat steps two and three until the cats get used to each other’s scents. During this period, you can apply a small amount of snacks on the cat’s head and body to encourage the cats to lick each other’s fur. What should be done if two cats fight after taking them to the pet hospital? After taking the cats to the pet hospital and finding that the two cats will fight, what should be done? [Extended Reading] Recommended list of pet hospitals in various regions across Taiwan (including precautions before going). Step 1: Wipe the cat’s body with a shared blanket. If there is a shared blanket for the cats, you can wipe the bodies of the two cats to let them get familiar with each other’s scents again. Step 2: Let the cat that has gone out use the litter box of the other cat. Let the cat that has gone out use the litter box of the other cat so that the cat staying at home can smell the scent of the cat that has gone out when it excretes. Step 3: Apply the cat’s favorite food on each other. Apply the small snacks that the two cats like on each other’s bodies to encourage them to lick each other’s fur. After taking the cat to the pet hospital, you can follow the above steps to let the two cats get used to each other again. If the cats fight very fiercely… If the cats fight too fiercely, you can refer to the chapter ‘How to Make Two Cats That Used to Get Along Stop Fighting’ and start dealing with the cat fight problem by placing the two cats in different rooms first. What should cat parents pay attention to if cats often fight? If cats often fight, in addition to following the separation steps, cat parents also need to pay more attention to the following situations in daily life: Note 1: Understand the signs of a cat being injured. If a cat is injured, it usually tries to cover up the wound or hide. If you find that the cat likes to hide more often under the bed, under the sofa or in other corners, you need to pay more attention to the cat’s appetite and mental state and check for wounds on its body.
It could also be a sign of illness, which requires special attention. Note 2: Regularly inspect for any wounds on the body. Bites or scratches can be small and deep, making them sometimes hard for cat parents to detect. The worst-case scenario is when the wound appears healed on the surface, but there is an infection deep inside, leading to further complications. The top of the head, both sides of the neck, the paws or near the claws, cheeks, both sides of the brow bone, and the back legs are common areas where cats get injured in fights. In addition to checking for bleeding or trauma, you can also gently stroke and press to confirm if the cat has any other painful or uncomfortable wounds, so that treatment can be administered. Note 3: How to clean wounds? Superficial wounds can be washed with a saline solution. After cleaning the wound, assess the severity of the injury. If the wound is bleeding heavily, or if it affects the throat or eyes, it is necessary to seek medical attention. If it is just a scratch and the cat’s appetite and spirit are normal, but the fighting behavior continues, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian. Do not use alcohol to treat wounds. If teeth or claws have punctured the skin, even if the wound is minor, it is important to clean it and observe if the cat continues to show discomfort. If discomfort persists, immediate medical attention is required. If there is severe inflammation and antibiotics are needed, it is necessary to consult a veterinarian. Always pay attention to the cat’s physical condition and address any fighting issues comprehensively. How can you tell if a cat is playing or fighting? If one or more of the following conditions occur simultaneously, it indicates that the cat may be fighting or struggling, and cat parents should intervene: 1. The same cat initiates the attack. 2. The same cat is pounced on and shows its belly. 3. The pounced cat emits screams or hissing sounds. 4. Both parties show their claws or sharp teeth. 5. The attacking cat bites the other cat’s throat with its teeth or kicks with its hind legs. 6. The cat’s body and tail are puffed up, and fur flies everywhere. 7. Even after being briefly separated, they continue to pounce and bite upon meeting again. Should you stop cats from fighting? If cats are playing, there is no need to intervene. Interrupting their play might disappoint them. However, if they are competing for resources or fighting, they may get injured, and this is when cat parents should step in to handle the situation. Limited experience package, only 50 yuan, with free shipping discount code, click to use. Read the latest article from petdaddy: [Understanding Cat Body Language] Instantly Decode 18 Types of Cat Body Language 2023-02-03 [How to Stop Cats from Fighting] Preventing Cat Fights + Essential Emergency Guide for Multi-Cat Households 2023-01-26 Essential Knowledge for New Dog Owners: 7 Must-Have Items, Care Tips, and Related Knowledge 2023-01-23 [Why Cats Keep Meowing] 3 Minutes to Understand Why Cats Keep Meowing and How to Handle It 2023-01-08 [Foods Cats Can Eat] 20 Human Foods That Can Also Supplement Your Cat’s Diet! Eating These Can Make Your Cat Live Longer! 2022-12-24 Thank you for watching. If you find the director’s article very useful, you can click the share button below and share it on LINE, FB to everyone who needs the information.
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