- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Cats love to play like they’re fighting. But sometimes, the squabbles are real. Clear signs that your cats are fighting and not just playing include growling, hissing, baring teeth, flattening ears, and swatting with claws out. A real fight might also be unbalanced, with just one cat initiating the chase while the other runs away.
While fighting among newly introduced cats is common—and can even happen among bonded cats—it’s important to intervene. Leaving your cats to duke it out and resolve fights on their own can lead to serious injuries, chronic stress, and a host of behavioral issues.
Breaking up fights can be scary, though. That’s why we spoke to multiple cat behaviorists about how best to do it. With their expert insight, we share why your cats are likely fighting in the first place and how to help your cats get along in the future as one big, happy fur family.
What Causes Cat Conflicts?
Cats fight each other because of various emotional, physical, or environmental factors. Here are a few common reasons why your cats might be fighting all of a sudden.
Territorial aggression
If you’re wondering why your two male cats are fighting, they might be territorial. While any cat can display this behavior, unneutered adult males are more likely than other cats. This behavior can seem like it appears out of nowhere, as it typically doesn’t start until your cat has reached social maturity, around two or three years old.
Territorial aggression often occurs with a new cat in the house. But it can also happen if your cat is allowed outside and feels threatened by neighbor cats entering his perceived domain.
If you suspect territorial aggression is what’s causing conflict, note where your cats tend to fight. If brawls always happen next to coveted spaces and prized possessions, like toy boxes, window perches, litter boxes, or food bowls, territorial behavior might be the culprit.
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Play aggression
If your sweet kitty turns into a mean cat while playing, this might be what’s called play aggression, and it often stems from poor socialization. When a cat hasn’t had experience playing with other cats, they won’t understand the consequences of scratching or biting too hard, or the cues that the other cat has had enough.
“When one cat is done and walks away, often the other cat respects that cat’s choice,” says Dr. Kat Pankratz, a veterinary behaviorist at Animal Behavior Clinic in Portland, Oregon. “Fighting is less balanced when one cat continues to pursue the other cat while the other cat attempts to flee.”
Not getting enough exercise can also cause play aggression and lead to fighting. Consider when your cats are more likely to get into fights and whether or not it correlates with less physical stimulation.
Stress and fear
Stress can cause bonded cats to start fighting suddenly. Think about when the conflict between your cats began, and see if it correlates with any changes in their environment, like a disrupted schedule or moving to a new home.
Fear is another factor to consider. If your cat starts a fight after being spooked by another animal, person, or event (e.g., a loud noise outside), they could be redirecting their aggression onto your other kitty.
Health issues
Medical conditions can cause a cat to be irritable, short-tempered, and quick to aggress. Cats with undiagnosed pain may also lash out when another cat bumps into them or bops them in an area that doesn’t feel good. Any time there are sudden behavior changes, it’s always a good idea to check with your veterinarian to rule out any underlying health problems.
How To Break Up a Cat Fight
The best way to break up a cat fight is to act immediately, as Rover cat behavior expert Dr. Mikel Maria Delgado, an animal and cat behaviorist at Feline Minds, points out. She notes that cats don’t tend to work things out on their own and will continue to fight and stress each other out while also holding a grudge.
“Cats do not have the same types of ‘forgiveness’ or appeasement gestures that other species have, so it can be a much harder process to get them to forgive and forget,” she says.
What to do in the moment
If your cats are in the throes of a fight, take action by following these three steps.
- Step 1: Don’t put yourself in the middle. Placing your body or hands between the two cats can lead to scratches, bites, and serious injuries.
- Step 2: Toss a thick blanket or towel over one or both of your cats, or wedge an object like a chair or broom between the two. “You may also be able to place a pillow or couch cushion between them or gently drop a laundry basket over one cat to separate them,” adds Delgado.
- Step 3: Separate your cats, placing them in different rooms or areas of your home. Wait until enough time has passed for them to cool off before slowly reintroducing them under careful supervision.
What if your cats are outside?
If your cats get into a tussle outdoors, whether with each other or a neighborhood intruder, you can use a noise deterrent, like a blast from a can of compressed air. Or clap your hands to startle the cats and redirect their attention. Tossing something into the yard can also cause a much-needed distraction.
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How To Prevent Cat Fights
Use positive reinforcement training and implement management to prevent your cats from fighting. Avoid physical punishment, as it can worsen a cat’s fear, anxiety, or aggression.
Redirect and reinforce
At the first sign of tension, Dr. Pankratz suggests redirecting your cats’ attention away from each other to something positive. For instance, reach for a crinkly bag of tasty treats, or open their favorite can of food to diffuse the situation. Ensure your cats have plenty of space to move away from each other.
Once your cats have enough distance to stay calm, give them something they love when the other cat is around, like food, treats, or a favorite toy. The goal is to build a positive association (the other cat = tasty treats) and reinforce actions you prefer (moving away, calming behaviors, etc.). This tactic also works to make cats and dogs get along in a multi-pet household.
Use anxiety-calming pheromones
Pheromone sprays and diffusers might be worth a try to help calm your two cats and make them get along. These products mimic the pheromones, or “feel-good” chemicals, your cat releases via glands on their heads, cheeks, and paw pads. They’re best used where your cats spend most of their downtime, like on their bed or perch.
Pheromone sprays and diffusers might not work for every cat. But some pet parents have reported noticeable changes in their cat’s behavior after using them. They’re also frequently used at vet clinics and shelters to help cats relax.
Create the right environment
“One of the most important recommendations for behavioral treatment plans includes management of the environment,” says Dr. Pankratz. To create a home space where both of your cats will get along, she advises focusing on these five pillars.
- Provide each cat with a safe place to call their own, whether it’s a hiding spot, blanket, or high perch.
- Give each cat their own things, including a litter box, food bowl, water bowl, scratching area, and bed.
- Offer daily opportunities for solo play and one-on-one play with you. Provide outlets for predatory behaviors like chasing, kicking, and scavenging via interactive toys such as food puzzles and wand toys.
- Be consistent and predictable with your interactions with both cats and their schedule so they feel they have more control.
- Be mindful of the odors in your house. Avoid using scented cat litter and cleaners with a strong smell. Wash your cat’s bedding on rotation instead of all at once so their scent lingers where they rest, helping them to feel secure.
Slowly reintroduce your cats
After a fight, separate your cats until they’re relaxed, playful, and comfortable on their own before introducing them to each other again. As you follow the steps below, monitor your cats’ body language and behavior. If either of your cats seems distressed or aggressive at any point, take a step back and wait until they’re calm before moving forward.
- Step 1: Start with complete separation. Split your home into two areas, separated by a closed door. Create positive experiences in these separate spaces as your cats cool off. Play with or feed your cats on opposite sides of each door. This should be far enough from the door so your cats are comfortable but close enough so they know the other cat is there.
- Step 2: Swap scents. Exchange bedding or rub a cloth on each cat. Place each scented item in the opposite room so the cats can get used to the other’s smell again.
- Step 3: Swap spaces. Let your cats switch rooms and explore the other cat’s area. (Ensure they don’t see each other during the swap.) They should be relaxed and unbothered by being in each other’s space.
- Step 4: Allow visual contact with a barrier. Put up a pet gate, screen, or other kind of barrier to block the doorway. Your cats should be able to see each other without physically engaging. Start far away from the barrier and slowly get closer, using treats, food, play, or other rewards your cats love. Repeat these sessions until your cats are okay with being around each other.
- Step 5: Supervise without the barrier. Let your cats be together in short sessions. Keep the encounters brief and positive as you gradually build duration and frequency and, ultimately, reduce supervision.
How Long Will It Be Until My Cats Will Be Friends Again?
There’s no definitive answer on how long it will take for your two cats to get along again. But signs that your cats have made peace include:
- Relaxed body language, such as a lowered tail and slow blinking
- Playful interactions
- Sharing space
- Nose bumping
A veterinary behaviorist or other qualified behavior professional can help you better understand why your cats don’t get along and how to develop and implement a plan to help them co-exist peacefully.
“For some cats, this may be very difficult if not impossible,” says Delgado. “But with environmental modification, training, and sometimes behavior medications, many cats can get to peaceful co-existence even if they never become friends.”
