How to prevent a catfight
Cats are known to treat their home like their kingdom and other household members as loyal subjects, so it can get a little rocky when there are two cats trying to rule the roost.
Catfights can turn nasty, resulting in injury to the cats and sometimes to the people trying to break it up. There are a few things you can do to try and avoid this unwanted situation.
Know the signs of a catfight
Before a catfight, there is lots of noise to alert you of the situation. Yowling and hissing is the stage before a physical fight, giving you time to act. Make sure other pets and humans are safely out of the way before addressing the fight.
Don’t reward bad behaviour
If your cats are fighting, do not use treats to lure them away. This will reinforce aggressive behaviour. Instead, preoccupy them with toys. This will allow them to associate each other with fun and playtime instead of fighting.
Give them space
Cats are territorial animals and sharing their space can cause issues to escalate. Giving each cat their own area in your home can ease this tension. Make sure the space is complete with food and water bowls, a scratch post, bed and a litter tray if needed.
If there isn’t room in your home for more than one area, make sure that the space has two of everything so that your cats don’t have to share.
Consider neutering
If your cats are displaying very aggressive behaviour, it could be down to hormones. When a cat, especially a male, reaches maturity (between the ages of two and four) they can become more territorial.
You can reduce aggression by spaying or neutering your cats, which should help to eliminate fights. If your cats continue to display aggressive behaviour after neutering, pheromone products such as Feliway can also reduce tension in the household.
Don’t get hurt
The most important thing to remember is do not get involved in a catfight as you could be injured. Distract your cats by throwing a blanket or soft pillow at them. Another method is to make loud noises, such as banging a pan. As a final resort, sprinkle some water on them.
If your cat is injured in a catfight, make sure they have insurance to cover any treatment. Visit www.argospetinsurance.co.uk for a quote today.
Argos Limited is an Appointed Representative of Home Retail Group Insurance Services Limited which is authorised and regulated as an insurance intermediary by the Financial Conduct Authority.
No cat fights here. Colette is in charge. Simone and the human obey. Tranquility!
Haha ?
Amazingly, when hostile noises have started between cats in my house (currently the home to two females, one having adopted me as recently as six months ago), I find a stern, old-fashioned-policemanlike “NOW THEN, NOW THEN, WHAT’S ALL THIS?” is really effective and they even look guilty and pretend to be busy with something else. Suzy the new one realised long ago Emma belonged and is merely very curious about her. Emma initially resented Suzy’s arrival, which happened when Emma, a very outdoor cat, was rarely in. She was also more than a bit scared and stopped going to all sorts of places where she could get trapped if Suzy turned up. But she’s learnt she can go right past Suzy close up without trouble and is now reclaiming places she hasn’t been in for a while – without objecting to Suzy’s presence. I took them both to the vet’s this morning and I think they helped calm one another down.
I’m going to have to try the old fashioned policemen style. ?
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One way I stop a potential cat fight is singing, “Everybody nicey, nicey.” Sometimes I need to raise my singing voice, yet it always prevents them from fighting. LOL, Merlin and Rhiannon made their own safe zone by their food; it must be cat’s instinct.
? I’m going to have to try that one.
Only keep one cat?
That would be an option but you know us crazy cat people. 😉