LEARN WHY DO CATS FIGHT

When a cat fight cat it is very normal thanks to their extremely active nature. Cats can fight for many reasons– it could be because of under-socialisation, territorial issues, or just stress and anxiety. If your cat is fighting, it’s essential to identify the cause to restore peace. Whatever the cause may be, we as pet parents can always take the right measures to prevent cat fights. The aim of this article is to provide a deeper understanding of why cats behave the way they do and what measures can pet parents take to avoid these unnecessary situations and actions to take when the cat is fighting.

WHY DO CATS FIGHT

Here are the common reasons why do cats fight, and understanding them can help in preventing conflicts between your feline companions:

• Territorial disputes: You may have noticed that cats usually hiss, growl, or even chase other animals and humans. This is because cats are extremely territorial. They go into a frenzy when they perceive that their territory is being encroached upon.
• Competition for resources: Competing for resources can make a cat fairly aggressive. This behaviour does not showcase itself only in stray settings. Even when a cat has a home and a family, it may not want to share its resources with other cats, especially when there is a new cat in the house.
• Stress or anxiety: Stress and anxiety are one of the biggest reasons for feline aggression. Stress and anxiety can stem from many different reasons. Your cat may not like the presence of a new pet/human or may not want to play with other pets.
• Play or hunting behavior: It is very normal for friends to get really aggressive while playing. They love to chase, swipe, bite, scratch, and pounce while playing. Though this behaviour while playing is normal for cats, sometimes it can lead to aggression due to overstimulation.
• Maternal aggression: If a cat has recently birthed kittens, it will be on high alert about its surroundings. Cats’ maternal aggression stems from feeling possessive about its babies. Cats may hiss, growl, chase, or even try to bite another cat or a person if they get too close to their babies. This usually stops after the kittens have stopped nursing. 

UNDERSTANDING CAT BODY LANGUAGE

You can understand a lot about a cat's feelings through its body language. It’s ears, eyes, tail, and body communicate feelings very evidently. Pet cats fighting can be a serious issue and should not be ignored.

• If you notice that your cat's pupils are dilated, it may be feeling submissive, aggressive, or just nervous.
• Sometimes, when a cat's tail is lying low or stuck between their legs, it is a sign of them feeling anxious. Tail wagging also means that it is feeling agitated.
• If a cat's ears are sideways, lying flat, or backward, it is most likely scared, angry, or annoyed.
• If your cat's back is arched, it is a sign that it is extremely scared or angry.
• If you notice that your cat is continuously howling, it means that it is in pain or it is afraid/trapped.

TIPS TO PREVENT CAT FIGHTS 

• Provide enough resources: If you have two or multiple cats in your home, ensure that you provide enough resources for all. It may help to keep each cat's feeding bowl separate, so there are no fights for food. You must also assign different litter boxes for your cats and comfortable sleeping spots to avoid frequent feuds.
• Create separate spaces: Cats are very territorial and having to share their space can lead to some intense aggressive cat fights. Create different spaces for your cats so that they have their own territory and space to rest.
• Introduce cats slowly: If you’ve brought a new cat home, introduce it to your home slowly and gradually so that the old one does not feel the need to be aggressive. Territorial aggression can sprout from cats not liking to share their space. Introducing them to their home slowly and gradually will give them more time to get comfortable in their surroundings.
• Use Feliway diffusers: Using a Feliway diffuser can help calm your cat. These diffusers use synthetic pheromones to help reduce stress and anxiety in cats.
• Keep cats stimulated: Keeping your cat stimulated by providing scratching posts, toys, and more can help reduce cat fights.
• Spaying/Neutering: Spaying or neutering your cat can greatly reduce aggression, territorial marking, and also mating-related fights. This procedure can calm your feline friend quite a bit and keep any cat fights at bay.

Pet cats fighting is not unusual, but it can be prevented. If your cat is fighting, this guide can help you create a better environment for your cat and keep cat fights at bay. With patience and behavioral strategies, you can create an environment where your cats thrive without engaging in aggressive behavior and identify triggers behind a fighting cat to address and resolve conflicts effectively.