HOW TO HELP STOP CATS FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER
Tips To Stop Cats Fighting
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Use FELIWAY Friends to help restore harmony between cats
- Releases “happy messages” to help cats get along
- Scientifically proven: to aid in reducing tension and conflict
- May help even if the cats have been fighting for years
- Plug the diffuser in the area where your cats spend most of their time
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Follow living together “golden rules”
- Number of resources: each cat should have their own food bowl, water bowl, litter tray, scratching post etc
- Separate resources: spread resources around your house, so 'dining rooms' are away from 'bathrooms'. Make sure each of your cats has their own space
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Conflict management
- Do not punish your cats when you see signs of conflict
- This would increase their stress and could lead to more conflict
- Manage your cats' resources (see above)
- Ensure there are different options for your cat to escape to safety
- Provide plenty of opportunities for your cat to hide and to be in elevated places (try and make sure they can access these without being in contact with another cat)
We recommend:
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Recommended by vets
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+ 25 years of expertise
TESTIMONIALS
See how FELIWAY helped these cats:
Jip & Lizzy
Mandy & Jade
Zira & Dewey
WHY DO MY CATS FIGHT?
First of all, make sure you understand your cats' body language. Fighting and playing can be hard to tell apart!
When your cats are just having fun, they don't make any noise, with gentle biting, retracted claws and they both chase each other. If you notice your cats biting each other seriously, with their claws out, you hear screams or one cat only is chasing the other, then these two are not best friends!
Cats are naturally solitary hunters but they can live with friends, especially if they have grown up together from kittens. However, cats living together often actually just tolerate each other and signs of conflict can be very subtle, such as staring at each other, blocking the pathway of other cats and hiding away.
The usual cause of conflict is competition for access to resources, such as the water bowl, food bowl, litter tray, scratching post, etc. To make it easier for your cats to live together, it's best to provide each of them with a set of resources. Place them in separate areas to avoid tension caused by competition. This can sometimes be achieved by placing the bowls at different levels, e.g. one on the ground and one higher up out of sight.
The rapid introduction of a new feline is also likely to cause tension as they need time to adjust to a new cat.
When there are signs of conflict or tension, it will not get better with time. After a fight, they do not make up. On the contrary, the tension persists and signs can worsen. Cats find it difficult to forgive and forget!
Using FELIWAY Friends will help your cats to live together in harmony. If your cats spend most of their time in different rooms, use several diffusers.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY CATS ARE FIGHTING?
Cats living in the same house are not always in perfect harmony. However, even if they don't get along, the situation is not always irreparable, and there are solutions you can try to put in place to make it easier for your felines to live together. You should start by understanding the source of the conflict. Then you will be able to consider the measures needed to reduce the tension between your companions. Read our advice for restoring harmony between your cats.
YOU'VE JUST ADOPTED A KITTEN AND YOUR CAT ISN'T ACCEPTING THEM
It's often not easy to get a resident cat in the household to accept a new kitten. The arrival of a new kitten in their territory is a big change, which can create stress, and consequently tension between your companions. A few precautions should be taken to avoid conflict, and to ensure that your newcomer settles well into the household. Consider each cat's resources and their distribution in your home. Each cat must have easy access to them at all times, so it is best to have one of each resource per cat with one extra. Secondly, gradually introduce the cats to each other. It is important to go at the pace that works for each cat. All the steps are detailed in our article on introducing a kitten to a cat.
INTRODUCING CATS TO EACH OTHER
All cats have their own character. While some are very sociable, others are more shy and prefer to keep to themselves. When you introduce a new adult cat into another cat's territory, it is important to follow some introduction steps to start their relationship positively. Time is needed for bonds to form and develop. However, there is a risk that they will never get along if their introduction is too quick or their environment is not right.Read our tips to help your cat get along.