It’s funny how your cats operate.  One second they are curled up together in their favorite resting spot, and the next minute they are clawing at each other’s throats.  Is it a love-hate relationship, or is there something deeper taking place?  If you have a multi-cat household, then you’ve probably seen the many ups and downs between your felines.  However, if fighting starts, then it needs to be stopped as soon as possible.

You may have heard a lot of about how dogs position themselves and others around them in hierarchical chains.  One person or animal is normally dominant over the others.  With cats, one can sometimes be a leader, but their hierarchy is much looser than those of dogs.  What does this mean to you?  Well, if a fight breaks out between two dogs, then the dogs can resolve the situation pretty quickly, and the decision normally has a lot to do with leadership.  Now, if a fight breaks out between two felines, then things are rarely worked out.  Instead, you have two angry cats, looking to pick fights.  Often, if one fight occurs, the aggression will only intensify.  So, if a fight breaks out, you should try to stop it immediately.  Don’t put yourself between your cats, or you may wind up with a few scratches.  Instead, make a loud noise to separate the cats, and then place them in different areas of your home.  After a few hours, try to reintroduce the cats to each other.  If there is still aggression, you may need to keep them separated for a longer period of time.  If the aggression does not subside, then it might be time to call a behavioral specialist.  Or, if the aggression develops out of the blue, then it may be time for a trip to the veterinarian.  Often, cats won’t show signs of sickness or pain until it is unbearable; sudden aggression can be a sign of a health problem.

So, why do your cats fight?  Feline behavior is not entirely understood, but there are different explanations for aggression.  Territorial aggression is one type that is seen among cats.  You can learn a lot by watching your cats.  Does one have a specific resting spot in the den, while the other likes to sit in the dining room, or do the two take turns napping in the same location?  If your cats enjoy their own, separate spaces, then they each have their own territories.  If they share spaces, then there are probably very few territorial problems.  Sometimes though, there are gray areas that can cause conflict.  If conflict arises from territorial aggression, then separate each cat into her own territory.  Leave them separated for the better part of the day, allowing them both time to cool down.

Non-recognition aggression is another type of aggression that affects cats.  If you take one cat to the veterinarian and leave the other at home, the cat left at home may act strangely towards the cat that went to the vet.  The “vet” cat is covered in new, unfamiliar odors, and the “home” cat may not recognize the smells.  Like bringing home a new cat, your “home” feline may not like the new arrival.  If non-recognition aggression occurs, then separate the cats into different areas of the home for a few hours.  Help the “vet” cat lose her odor by rubbing her with a blanket that she sleeps on or her favorite toy.  Slowly reintroduce the cats to make sure a fight doesn’t break out. 

Redirected aggression can also occur between felines.  Let’s say that both cats are napping in the dining room window when you drop a dish in the kitchen.  The dish shatters, echoing throughout your home.  Both of your cats jump into attack position, staring at each other.  Since the cause of the loud noise is unknown to them, they may mistake each other’s posture as an aggressive stance, causing a fight.  Once again, the best thing to do is to separate the cats until each has a chance to cool off.

Don’t forget that cats like to play!  There is a difference between aggression and playtime; often, the former involves teeth, claws, and hisses.  There are several reasons why your cats may fight.  The best thing you can do is stop the fight with a loud noise, and then separate your felines.  Never step in between the cats, because you could walk away with scratches.  If you suspect there is a health or behavior problem causing the aggression, then take a trip to your veterinarian.

Article provided by Pet-Super-Store a pet website featuring dog beds, dog ramps and dog bowls.