How to make friends between two cats or cats in the same apartment, what to do if they fight and yell?

Two representatives of the cat family: pros and cons

If you plan to have several cats, it is better to do this at the same time. It’s easier for kittens to get used to each other, because they lack aggression and competition for primacy. Babies from the same or different litters quickly find a common language, play together, attack, but do not seriously fight. If the pets are of different sexes, castration should be planned, since there is a high probability of unwanted matings in the future.

When a feline is already living in the house, problems are likely to arise when introducing a new animal. The most complex relationships occur between two sexually mature males. Females are more reserved, but rarely become attached to their territorial neighbor. A female cat and male cat can be affectionate and caring, but it is important to neuter both to avoid producing offspring. It is better not to use hormonal drugs, as they negatively affect the health of animals.

When planning to add a second cat, it is important to take into account the temperament of both animals. It is desirable that they match. If we are talking about purebred pets, it is easier to find out the type of temperament, since certain qualities are inherent in a particular breed. The British have a relatively calm character and will not be able to get along with active Orientals. You should also pay attention to the age of the animals: older pets will not like being next to playful kittens.

How to stop aggression

Aggression is a normal reaction of a predatory animal to stress, the appearance of a rival, or an unfamiliar creature. It manifests itself at the level of natural instincts; a person is not able to fully predict and prevent it. But in the case of pets living together, the owner can and should intervene in this process and reconcile the cats. This must be done carefully, competently and in a timely manner.

Causes of aggression

Felinologists identify several main reasons for the aggressive behavior of cats:

1. Social rivalry. The struggle for the role of alpha male.
2. The fight between old and new pets.
3. Territorial behavior. Cats can fiercely defend their eating, sleeping, and toileting areas.
4. Reaction to a new smell. After visiting the veterinarian, the animal brings with it unusual smells of medicines - this can cause aggression in other pets. An unusual smell turns a familiar cat into a “stranger.”
5. Bad feeling. The disease changes the animal's behavior; it may become more restless and aggressive.
6. Stress. Any stressful situation negatively affects the behavior of cats.
7. Personality conflicts. Just like people, cats are all different and do not have to like each other. A mismatch of temperaments can lead to struggle.
8. Maternal aggression. The cat protects its offspring in this way.
9. Fighting game. During joint games, cats can attack each other, jump, bite, and watch from around the corner.

In each specific case, you need to act in accordance with the situation.

If aggression occurs, cats fight and bite, do not ignore it. Don't think that cats will figure it out on their own. These methods will help stop aggressive behavior and save your pets from unwanted mental and physical injuries.

Tips for stopping aggression

1. Interrupt the fight with a loud sound (clap), throw a blanket over them, or spray the animals with water from a spray bottle.
2. Neuter your animals. Unneutered cats are the most aggressive.
3. Stop competition. Provide each pet with its own food bowls, trays, and beds. They must be the same or similar.
4. Build more shelters and high places to rest and observe the world around you.
5. Spray pheromones. Products with pheromones are sold in pet stores. Their aroma will help relieve tension that arises between animals.
6. If aggression is severe, separate the animals into different rooms. Swap them from time to time - this way they will quickly get used to each other's smell.
7. While licking, the cat is busy with itself, relaxed and does not pay attention to the other animal. Lubricate your cat's scruff with tuna oil or granules of her favorite food - this will distract and calm your pet.
8. Use calming anti-stress medications and feed additives to correct the behavior of your animals: “Cat Bayun”, “Stop Stress”, “Feliway”.

Cats fight, although they used to be friends. What to do?

Sudden enmity between cats that previously lived peacefully is one of the most common reasons for seeking help from animal psychologists.

The reason for the enmity is fear, which is associated with the other cat. Here are two illustrative examples: 1) An old cat was sleeping on the nightstand, a young cat was sitting next to her and washing herself. The hostess came and turned on the TV. Somehow it turned out that the TV was set to maximum volume and it literally roared. The old cat jumped in place and the first thing she saw was a young cat. She, frightened by both the sound and the sudden movements of the old cat, twisted and hissed... A split second later, the older cat attacked the younger one. When the owner managed to separate the cats by pouring water from a jug on them, the cats scattered to different rooms. From that moment on, the older cat began to watch and mercilessly beat the younger one. In this case, the fear of loud noise became associated with the presence of the second cat.

2) The owners decided to keep the kitten from their purebred and very beautiful cat. The cat was a little timid, but the cat - her son - grew up, on the contrary, cheerful, perky and brave. A few months after giving birth, the cat was sterilized. She was very nervous after the operation and took a long time to recover at home. Gradually, all the experiences were forgotten, but they reminded me of themselves 1.5 years later, when the cat was taken to the veterinary clinic to be neutered. When he was brought home, he was lethargic and inactive. The cat came up to smell him and then went into another room. Outwardly, she seemed calm. When the cat came to his senses, he tried to approach the cat. She immediately assumed a threatening pose and hissed. He grew up in this house and was used to treating his mother cat quite familiarly, so he did not react to the threat. Then she attacked him with a heartbreaking scream (as the frightened hostess said). For the next few days, the cat chased the cat and tried to attack him as soon as she saw him. He no longer tried to approach her, did not defend himself, only tried to hide. Here the cat smelled the medicine from the cat and transferred negative associations with the experience of the surgery to him.

In most such cases, the problem of sudden aggression between cats can be dealt with within 2 weeks. So that you can do this yourself, I will tell you about a step-by-step behavior correction scheme. But before we get started, let me remind you:

1) I tell you simple techniques that are accessible to everyone. Most likely they will help you solve the problem. But, also, they may not be enough if the problem is very large, or it manifests itself in combination with other difficulties in the cat’s behavior. In this case, it is better for you to contact an animal behaviorist for individual recommendations.

2) when you undertake to follow the recommendations, do not skip steps, do not change their sequence, and do not violate the time frame, as otherwise you risk aggravating the problem rather than solving it.

We reconcile cats step by step:

Stage 1

Aggression in cats is largely related to brain physiology, namely endorphin synthesis. If a cat’s brain produces “pleasure hormones” in normal quantities, it can more easily cope with any difficult situations and does not have to be scared and defend itself from an imaginary threat. Correction of “sudden enmity” begins with maintaining endorphin synthesis with the help of special drugs. (!!!The drugs described here are sold without a prescription, without contraindications, however, if the cat is not healthy, is allergic, or for some other reason you have doubts, be sure to consult a veterinarian!!!) Veterinary pharmacies sell, for example, Serene Um, Calmex, Good as Gold, Sanal Relax and others. The main thing you should know when looking for a medicinal product: it should contain B vitamins and L-tryptophan (or better yet, take drops rather than tablets: drops are easier to add to your cat’s food).

Drugs with this composition do not calm animals, do not make them slow or drowsy. These are not “heavy” antidepressants. Preparations with tryptophan and B vitamins strengthen the nervous system, similar to those vitamins and supplements that are prescribed to schoolchildren and students during exam periods. About 3 days after starting to take the drug, the cat becomes more cheerful, lively, as if younger, she looks happier. It just becomes easier for her to cope with stress. But don't be under the illusion that this is enough to bring peace to the cats. This is only support in behavior correction, and not the correction itself.

Following the instructions, add drops to your cat's food. It usually takes 10-14 days to compensate for the lack of essential microelements, vitamins and amino acids. This period is most favorable for carrying out behavioral correction, so do not waste time and move on to the next stage:

Stage 2

The general idea is this. It is necessary to create such a space so that the cats can constantly see, hear and smell each other, but at the same time they are separated by a solid mesh/lattice, and are free to move enough to move away from the mesh by at least one and a half meters.

Technically, you need to look around the rooms or the entire apartment, divide the space, allocate each of the cats their own part, choose a grid and secure it. For example, you can fix a net in the interior passage, leaving one cat in the room and the other in the corridor. You can rearrange the furniture, but carefully arrange everything so that cats cannot get around or climb over obstacles on their own.

You can use a section of an enclosure for a puppy as a mesh, you can ask your friends for a large enclosure for a puppy (with a floor, a roof and four walls), you can connect several oven grates... In general, show your imagination, but do not rush to spend a lot of money on the perfect grate , since you will need it from three days to four weeks, no more.

An important condition is that cats should be able to decide for themselves how close they want to be.

If you are afraid of cockroaches and are forced to tolerate one in close proximity without being able to move away, then you will also begin to experience aggression. Cockroaches in a jar at your strange entomologist friend's house are quite tolerable, since you don't have to go near them and eventually someday you will leave his hospitable home. Allow cats to approach or move away from the bars at least 1.5 meters away.

However, if you simply “bar” one cat from a room, the other cat may decide that it will simply live in another room from now on. This way, reconciliation will not come, and conflicts will continue to occur on the borders of territories in the future. So the space will still have to be limited for both cats. Again:

The more time cats see, hear and smell each other, the faster a truce will come.

It often happens that owners cannot find the ideal grille and say: “we will buy it in a week and then we will start making corrections.” This is a bad decision. It is better to start working right away, even if you use imperfect bars, keep an eye on the cats, keep them in the space only in the evenings, when you have returned from work and you have time to deal with them. Even in the case of severe and (without exaggeration) bloody conflicts, cats need no more than 3 days for fear to turn into discontent, dissatisfaction (with a quivering tail tip) gives way to mild irritability, and then... complete calm and peace suddenly sets in.

If you manage to create a common space with a good grid, then the correction will take you three days (don’t forget about endorphin synthesis). If you manage to study with cats only in the evenings after work, then success will come when you accumulate about 72 hours of practice in total.

Another little "trick". Take a kitchen towel and cut it into two pieces. Wet and wring out - the towels should be slightly damp. Use one half to wipe one cat, and the other half to wipe the other. Then place the cloths so that the cat can sniff the cloth with the scent of its ex-girlfriend. Repeat this manipulation every day. If you have to separate cats in different rooms while you are not home, nothing prevents you from at least leaving them with cloths with the smell of another cat. This will speed up the correction process a little if you do not have time to devote enough time to this every day. Cats may mark these rags. This is generally a good sign. You just have to throw away the dirty ones and lay out new rags.

Stage 3

Place bowls of food at a distance of one and a half meters from the grate separating the cats. If the cats refuse to eat (but they are definitely healthy!), ignore them and continue feeding the same way and in the same place. Animals often tolerate stress more easily when they are hungry, so if your cat misses 1-2 feedings (but she is healthy!) there is no need to worry. Most likely, on the third feeding, she will eat, as if nothing had happened, one and a half meters from the grill. Both cats need to be fed at the same time.

At the next feeding, you can move the cat's bowl a little closer to the grill. Take your time, move the bowl literally 5-10 cm. If the cat itself begins to come closer to the grate, you can move the bowl more. If the cat begins to lie near the grate, turning away from the other cat, you can place the bowls literally 30 cm from the grate.

Of course, portion feeding (where your cat's bowl isn't filled with food 24/7) gives you a big advantage in this case, so it makes sense to switch to it if you haven't done so before.

Feel free to communicate with each of the cats, pet them, play. The second cat can watch you communicate through the bars. This will not make her jealous; on the contrary, it will help restore trust in the other cat.

Stage 4

After 1, 2 or 3 days (in total), you will see that the cats somehow calmed down and began to approach the bars and rub against them. Perhaps they will start sniffing through the bars, leaning back against it and acting relaxed and relaxed. In this case, you can try removing the grille. To do this, prepare a spray bottle and everything that can help you separate the cats in case of failure.

Play with one cat, then with another cat, so that both “shed” excess energy. Place the bowls again at a distance of one and a half meters from the grill. Then toss a small handful of food into each cat's bowl. Be prepared to remove the grate and do so by the time both cats have finished eating. If one of them doesn’t finish, put the bowl of food somewhere. Then just watch, don’t interfere. Breathing deeply, meditating, imagining a place of peace, and whatever else makes you feel calm will help your cats feel better.

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If everything went well, that's it. You did it! Congratulations! If it has passed more or less, but you are still not sure, it’s okay, this is also a good result and I also congratulate you!

If any of the cats resumed aggression, then at some point you were in a hurry - either you moved the food bowls too quickly, or you needed to wait a few more days before removing the grate. In this case, go back to the previous steps and don’t worry. Everything will work out if you continue to practice this way.

In case of confident (and uncertain) success, praise yourself, but at night, as well as during your absence from the apartment, return the grille for at least 2 more weeks (it is important to do this within this period). In your presence, most likely the cats will communicate in the same way as they did before the conflict. And after two weeks, you will be able to fearlessly leave them together when you leave home.

If the problems return...

Is it possible. It happens that after six months or a year the situation repeats itself. Usually it is very similar: again the cat hears a sharp sound or smells an odor associated with a negative experience, and again begins to attack another cat. In this case, you will have to repeat everything again. A little faster than the first time, you will achieve success again. And this new success does not mean that the problem will not arise again if...

What can be done to ensure that conflicts no longer arise?

The culprit of the “sudden conflict” is usually a fearful older cat who hides when guests come to the house or in some other situations that disrupt the usual way of life. She lacks the initiative to learn something new. As a result, her life is boring and poor. An animal needs eustress, and by coping with it, it gains invaluable experience, like confidence in its ability to act in difficult situations.

Once you have achieved success in reconciling cats, do not stop there. Make it a habit to play with your cat for a few minutes a day (you may have to work hard to find a game that keeps your cat engaged). Offer your cat an intellectual toy that she can roll on the floor to shake out the goodies. She can easily give up such toys to a more active younger cat, this is not scary. The main thing is that she does not leave, but watches how the younger cat plays with the toy. Sooner or later the older one will also try to play. Now, if the older one turns away and leaves, then you will have to hold the younger one and still try to teach the problem cat to enjoy games.

The simplest game is to tie leaves (for example, tea bags) with different smells into rag bags and lay them out in front of the older cat, let her get used to it, and then explore new smells. A little imagination, and you will come up with similar entertainment on the go. If you manage to stir up a problem cat, its character will change, it will begin to relive its childhood, and it may even act out (if it never did this when it was a kitten). All this suggests that she is “blooming”, “coming out of her shell” and, most likely, being frightened again, she will be brave and strong enough to cope with stress on her own and not transfer the associations to her four-legged companion.

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How to accustom two cats to each other?

How to make friends between two cats living in the same territory? Conflicts between girls arise less often than between boys. Why? This is due to the fact that there are fewer cats in nature, and they are accustomed to sharing territory with other animals. Moreover, if the cat has been the only pet for many years, a negative reaction to the appearance of a new cat is possible. This is especially true for elderly, pregnant and lactating females. If you are planning to purchase a second pet, it makes sense to wait until the first cat gives birth and feeds its offspring, and only then introduce a neighbor.

If, despite all the measures taken, cats fight, castration of both may help (if matings are not planned). After the procedure, the animals’ sexual instinct and associated aggression disappear. The merger of such cats goes more smoothly.

Causes of cat fights

Cat fights can occur for a number of reasons. Most often, cats living in the same territory are prone to conflicts due to the following factors:

• temporary isolation;
• aggression provoked by fear;
• social pressure due to the large number of individuals;
• unsuccessful acquaintance with each other.

Why do cats fight?

The reason for male conflicts lies in the nature of the cat's origin. To take a place in the sun, small predators made their way to it with teeth and claws.

In most cases, cats are called to fight by the instincts of the hunter, and sexual desire also plays a big role. Therefore, fights for territory are organized by mature, uncastrated males, especially if there is a “walking” cat nearby.

Most often, fights between cats are caused by defending the territory in which they live. This applies to a greater extent to outdoor cats. The cat defends its territory, following instinct. The more land under his paws, the more satisfying he will eat. In addition, the cats living in this territory will be exclusively at his disposal.

Most often, cat fights are caused by a struggle for territory.

When we moved to a private house, we inherited a cat. He lived somewhere in a barn, walked exclusively on the roofs, and ate what we gave him there. He was absolutely unkind, I was even afraid of him. But nevertheless, all around was his territory, which he fearlessly defended from uninvited guests. We sometimes observed these fights with our own eyes, but more often we saw the consequences in the form of scratches on the brave man’s face, torn out shreds of fur. We realized later how important defending this territory was for us personally, when the cat died. The yard was filled with cats darting here and there, each of whom considered it his duty to mark the territory. All this, to put it mildly, smelled unpleasant, and we just had to get a new cat - a yard guard.

Why do cats fight?

There are frequent cases of fights between females. Of course, for a lady it’s an unworthy occupation, but you can’t escape from nature. Cats, due to genetics, are much less prone to aggression and, it would seem, they have no reason to start fights. But if cats are seen fighting, then the reason for this is the mating season. Females can compete for the attention of a cat, even if there is no one in sight.

Another reason for fighting between two cats is motherhood. This instinct gives rise to aggression not only towards its fellow tribesmen, but also towards the owner.

I have 4 cats: a mother and her three daughters. Naturally, they all grew up together. We also got pregnant at the same time. I have never seen any signs of aggression between them. They even gave birth in the same box, although a separate place was prepared for each, and together they fed their babies indiscriminately between their own and those of others. But after sterilization, fights began between them. It is not clear to me what they shared among themselves, but two cats had to leave their common house for a while. And only the coming cold brought them together again - together, apparently, it was warmer.

Why does a cat fight with a cat?

If you carefully consider the hierarchy of the cat family, it will immediately become clear that the male occupies the dominant place. A cat is always more flexible, since nature dictates that the male is stronger. But, just like in human families, cats often have discord and fights can break out.

Most often this happens if the cat strives to take a leading position. The male will not stand on ceremony with such disobedience. Fights between cat and cat rarely continue for a long period. Often they are not taken seriously.

The cat goes at the cat

In the wild, cats adjacent to each other require less territory than males. The cat’s domain is more extensive; it unites several scattered areas where the “brides” live. Therefore, it is genetically easier for cats to get along with their own kind, and they allow the possibility of close proximity.

Why then do squabbles still break out between them, even if they have been living together for a long time and are surrounded by love? First of all, it's a matter of hierarchy. Usually the strongest female establishes her “dominance” and a set of rules. For example, she determines her favorite places and will not tolerate them if her partner takes them. Moreover, even if she herself is busy with other things at that moment and is not going to rest here.

The second point is that the period of sexual heat causes a strong sense of competition in cats. And this manifests itself in everyday life, even if there is not a single candidate for gentleman around. Usually pugnacity goes away quickly if one of the cats accepts the superiority of the other. Of course, she will periodically remind you of her position, but this can no longer be called a real brawl, so a couple of blows with a paw, a hiss or a grunt - and the incident exhausts itself.

But there are situations when cat fights are ongoing, and the animals themselves suffer greatly in the process. Here, most likely, we are talking about two quite ambitious females with pronounced territorial instincts. Such a war is reminiscent of cat fights, and the result of the war can be one - only one leader animal must remain!

Will two cats become friends?

It's not easy for two adult cats to get along with each other. Before meeting, it makes sense to give both sedatives, after consulting with a veterinarian regarding the choice of drug and dosage.

Neutered cats who do not mark their territory are more likely to make friends. It is important that both pets undergo surgery, as an uncastrated cat will begin to offend the castrato. At first, it is recommended to isolate the animals from each other by placing them in different rooms. When reuniting, conflicts are possible, so both should have their claws trimmed, and the doors should be left open so that the fleeing pet can retreat. It is necessary to ensure that all windows are closed.

During the adaptation period, it is important to give both pets the same amount of care and affection. You need to intervene in “showdowns” only in case of a fight. If cats are simply yelling or hissing, it makes sense to give them the opportunity to solve the problem on their own. You shouldn’t take the side of one of them, because this way you won’t be able to reconcile them.

Peace-friendship

If there are two cats (or tomcats) or even more living in the house, and they cannot improve their relationship, the intervention of the owner will be required. If fights arise due to a reason known to the owner (a favorite place for both, food, toys), then it can be eliminated by blocking access to the favorite place, which is a bone of contention, removing the sofa or chair, etc.

But often, the origin of conflicts is not so obvious. In this case, you can defuse the situation by providing the cats with their own accessories. Pets should have separate trays, bowls, beds, toys, etc. When fights occur out of boredom, you can add entertainment to the cat - new toys, scratching posts, build a house or special moves. If the cats calm down, it means the owner made the right decision.

And the most important thing is that when having several pets, the owner must take into account that he should not have favorites. All cats need attention and affection, even the most phlegmatic ones. It is worth taking into account their characters and characteristics, making the life of pets more comfortable, calm and safe.

A cat is a universal animal that can save you from loneliness, calm you down and even cheer you up, and two or three cats can double or triple these qualities. But when there is discord in the cat family, there can be no talk of any peace for people either. If they themselves are not able to coexist peacefully, then the owner should not rush into the decision to get rid of one of the pets. We need to give them time and improve the conditions of living together.

Why do cats fight?

The reasons should be sought in the very nature of these small predators, in their instincts that allowed them to survive during evolution. Without strong teeth and sharp claws, it would be impossible to take such a strong place in the sun.

Of course, this primarily concerns males. Cats fight among themselves for territory, especially for animals living in the wild. It is difficult to find large owners in this regard. After all, for a cat, “his” land is not only a territory for hunting (the larger the area, the fuller the belly), but also a place where every cat will belong to him.

Type in the search bar the query “cats fighting photos” or “cats fighting video” - the likelihood that you will see a picture of a fight between two mature, non-neutered cats is close to 100%. The hunting, territorial and sexual instincts that drive these “hot guys” often lead to tragic consequences when two cats fight, especially if they sense a cat walking nearby.

Therefore, to the question of what to do if cats are fighting?”, there is only one answer - to intervene. True, this must be done competently so as not to fall under the hot hand - this is also fraught. Many people recommend scaring fighters with something loudly rattling or rustling, but perhaps the most effective time-tested method is to pour or spray the “macho” with water. This is a priority measure.

In general, if domestic cats are constantly fighting, then the owners have only one solution - castration. There is an opinion that brothers from the same litter can live under one roof, but it is controversial and does not guarantee peace in the house.

What to do if an adult cat (cat) does not accept the kitten, hisses and attacks him?

Cats accept babies much more willingly than males, because the former have a maternal instinct. It is important to take into account age: a cat will accept a kitten less than six months old, because after 6 months these animals begin puberty. If the pet hisses at the baby and refuses to accept him, the animals should be temporarily separated. When a cat and a kitten live together, there are two possible scenarios:

• indifference of an adult animal towards the baby;
• negative reaction (the male hisses at the kitten, bites, does not accept it).

In the worst case, the cat can strangle the kitten, because in nature such behavior is not uncommon. A baby should not be left alone with an adult animal immediately after it arrives in the house. Only after a period of adaptation and the establishment of a positive relationship between the male and the kitten can the animals be left unattended.

It is impossible to say how long it will take to accustom pets to each other; it all depends on the individual characteristics of the animals. If the pets are similar in character and do not show jealousy, they can become friends quickly. There are times when two animals fail to get along after several months or even years. In such situations, one of the pets experiences severe stress and may become ill. There is only one way out - to put the newcomer in good hands and begin to restore the physical health and emotional state of the first cat.

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Male vs female

Most often, owners are misled by the cat's behavior towards the cat. She seems to accept his dominance and fulfills his every whim. However, this is not the case. The cunning of females knows no bounds, and they successfully use it, “powdering the brains” of both the cat and the owner. This tactic of behavior allows the cat to achieve what it wants without open conflict, and fights between animals of different sexes are rather nonsense.

Yes, the male can afford to hiss at his girlfriend or lightly touch her with his paw, but this is not a full-fledged fight, but only a reminder of who is boss in the house. Serious fights between a cat and a cat break out extremely rarely, and only if the female ceases to obey and shows leadership qualities. Usually cats go crazy because of this behavior of cats and find no other way out than to give the presumptuous “madame” a beating. In this case, short fights can break out out of nowhere; they proceed loudly, but not for long.

It is worth noting that the war between a cat and a cat is a fight to the last drop of blood. As soon as one of the pets obeys, peace and grace sets in in the cat kingdom.

Conflicts between individuals of different sexes

Only at first glance it may seem that the cat is completely subordinate to the cat. However, in reality the female is much more cunning. She easily leads the more powerful ruler of the territory by the nose, without entering into open conflicts with him. Therefore, a cat fights with a cat quite rarely. In addition, a male can easily allow himself to slap his girlfriend hard and hiss at her. This is not a reason for a cat family to start fighting. This is how the male demonstrates his power.

Individuals of different sexes can fight for no particular reason: near a bowl for a tasty morsel, colliding in a narrow corridor, choosing a more secluded place to rest. Although the conflicts are quite noisy, they are very short. There is no need to help pets in this situation. Animals of different sexes rarely “fight to the last.” It all depends on the characters of the pets. Ultimately, one will definitely submit completely to the other, sensing in him a full-fledged leader.

However, every breeder must understand that the comfortable living of several animals in one territory depends only on him. It is necessary to take care of the proper feeding of cats, providing each with a separate bowl. Pets’ trays should also be different and not located in the same room. Of course, you can’t deprive your pets of affection by singling out your favorite. Cats are very sensitive creatures and you shouldn’t give them an extra reason to start fighting.

Nature has made cats natural fighters due to their predatory nature. The main weapon of all cats is their sharp claws. Often the game looks like a fight. But sometimes the action takes on a serious character, then the pets must be separated, because injuries are possible. But you must act correctly so as not to harm the person himself.

Advice from a zoopsychologist

Animal psychologists recommend analyzing the causes of unprovoked aggression. It is possible that the animal may have a mental illness that requires medication correction. But before making such a diagnosis, it is necessary to exclude standard causes that cause aggression.

Note! Cats convey a lot of information to their owner through their body language. Most of them try to avoid collisions, and they attack, as a rule, when they feel in danger and begin to defend themselves. If the owner does not have the opportunity to cope with the problems of aggression in an animal on his own, then a good way to change the situation is to turn to a professional, that is, animal psychologists. They will professionally advise you on how to correct your pet’s behavior.

Owners must remember that aggression and jealousy do not just appear in an animal. If cats do not get along in the same apartment, you need to love, pamper them and be sure to praise them if they coexist peacefully. You cannot kick out an animal while the owner is playing and petting another pet. It is necessary to show your love and favor so as not to cause rivalry among them. Good owners always remember that it is pointless to show your authority in front of a cat, since the animal may become embittered and stop trusting its owner. The most important thing is a kind and equal attitude towards pets and, of course, love, which will help eliminate hostility and rivalry among furry friends.

Preparing the house

To minimize the problems that will arise with a new pet, prepare your home/apartment in advance for this event.

What needs to be done to create a comfortable living environment for new and old residents:

1. Provide each animal with its own litter tray, place and utensils for eating, and a place to sleep (hammock, lounger, bedding, house, basket). This will reduce competition between cats and reduce stress.
2. Choose similar bowls, trays and beds. This is to prevent cats from feeling that you are favoring someone else.
3. Place food and water bowls in the same room, but at a safe distance. When eating, animals experience the most competition and stress. Cats should see each other while eating, but be protected from attacks by their relatives.
4. Create separate elevated areas for each pet: cat trees, vertical units and cabinets, wall shelves. Cats love to watch what is happening from above.
5. Provide cats with houses for playing together, tunnels, cardboard boxes with holes, and play complexes. These should be spacious structures with several exits. Cats should be able to escape from another pet while playing - they should feel safe.
6. Buy your own toys for the new resident. To reduce stress, at first do not play with your cats' toys with the newly arrived animal.
7. Get ready to give love and affection to all the inhabitants of the house equally. Jealousy towards the owner can provoke conflict.

How to separate fighting cats and calm a bully?

Separating cats with your hands is the worst advice you can give. Moreover, following it is very dangerous, since the cat's redirected aggression can turn your hands into a scary sight.

Spraying water from a spray bottle and loud noises, which in other circumstances help to stop the outrage, are unlikely to help separate fighting cats. On the contrary, they can inflame the fighters even more, since they are an additional irritating factor.

What remains? Turn to nature, because of which, in fact, all the fuss began. There is a completely natural and understandable way for animals to strictly and immediately suppress unwanted behavior. It is to him that the mother cat resorts when she wants to call her offspring to order. As you guessed correctly, we are talking specifically about holding by the scruff of the neck!

In the case of a cat fight, you not only make it physically impossible to continue the fight, but you also really prove to the cat that for any force there is always an even greater force. And if there is any leader here who lays claim to all resources without exception, then it is you.

Options to correct the situation

It is quite easy for a person to cope with the aggression of an animal. The main thing is to understand exactly what caused it. The cats need to be separated, given the opportunity to calm down, fall asleep, feed them, and only after that, after a while, start trying to introduce them again. The following tricks will work for this. You can build a transparent wall between the cats, which will help them see each other, but not get into fights. It is especially better to start doing this when the cats are friendly and relaxed. This therapy can take up to two weeks.

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You can also divide the room or apartment into zones in which cats will live separately. They can watch each other, but not enter someone else's territory. After a while, the new resident will not irritate the cat, and he will slowly begin to get used to him.

Important! It is not advisable to forcefully introduce a cat to a newborn baby. The animal itself must express a desire to get acquainted with it. The pet needs to get used to its smell.

Sexual aggression can be removed by removing the gonads, which secrete hormones that cause animals to be attracted to the opposite sex. Males are neutered until they are one year old, and females until their first heat.

Outdoor cats are more accustomed to harsh sounds. But the home can react strongly to a sharp signal. He will confuse her, and she will dramatically change her behavior. Here a bunch of keys, which at that moment were in your hands, can come to the rescue; you need to throw it on the floor, or you can clap your hands sharply.

Note! A proven way to influence animals is to spray them with water from a spray bottle. Over time, they may develop an instinct where the animals will scatter just at the sight of a sprayer.

You always need to remember one thing: you can’t forcefully shake animals with your hands and you can’t yell at them. Disorientation is considered an effective way - placing them in different rooms, different boxes or beds.

You can’t punish too much; you must always understand that any aggressive behavior of an animal is caused by some factors, and which ones, the owner must figure out himself and eliminate them.

Causes of aggression in cats

Very often, owners can see cats fighting. To understand the cause of aggression in a pet, you need to be patient with the current situation. It is necessary to analyze which factor causes this and, if possible, eliminate it. Animal psychologists identify a number of main causes of aggression in cats, which can lead to a cat fight.

Cats fight each other for many reasons.

Why do cats fight among themselves? The first reason is the cat’s desire to take dominance in the house and show that she is the main one in the family. According to their psychology, they are designed in such a way that they defend their territory, regardless of whether it is within the boundaries of an apartment, a favorite chair or a couch. If a new furry pet appears in the family, the cat that previously lived in the house begins to actively protect the house. Because of this, cat fights most often begin.

Important! To prevent this situation, many animal owners advise buying their own feeders, bedding and houses for their new pet. This will avoid a fight.

Territorial aggression is caused primarily by the presence of other cats in the animal's field of view. If a pet attacks people, then, as a rule, these are people who have come to visit, in whom the cat sees a threat to the owners. This type of aggression is no less common. The pet hisses, hits with its paw, and rears up. As a rule, territorial aggression is shown by uncastrated cats, which are unlikely to be kept in friendship and harmony.

The second significant reason is cats fighting for food. A cat is designed in such a way that attacks of aggression are caused by other animals that carry out some active actions towards it. Protecting your food is an instinct that is inherent in nature and allows it to survive in difficult conditions. Sometimes four-legged pets are aggressive, even if the owner approaches their feeding trough, not to mention a new tenant, and even a competitor. Cats do not allow anyone to approach their bowl; they can hit with their paw or bite if someone approaches their feeder while eating.

During a fight, pets may bite and tear shreds out of each other.

The third reason is the manifestation of instincts that are inherent in nature. Most cats are domesticated, but they still have instincts, although they are no longer afraid for their lives, they understand that they will get food anyway, and there is no need to conquer their territory if there are no other relatives nearby. But when a furry animal is sleeping, it is better not to disturb it. Cats are often aggressive when they are scared. They are not aware of what caused their fear and can attack an innocent feline or even a weaker family member.

The situation is similar with a cat that has small kittens. The cat protects the babies and can attack if it feels danger to its offspring. She begins to growl and meow anxiously, warning that it is better not to touch the kittens.

Note! New scents that come home with, especially if it is a new pet, can cause aggression and a “beware the enemy” reaction. To avoid anything like this, you need to transfer the smell from one cat to another, wipe them with the same towel and change their beds. Thanks to this simple procedure, animals quickly adapt.

A new pet can cause jealousy in an old pet, since they spend more time with it, play with it, and the former resident feels useless. You need to try to replace jealousy with mercy and goodwill.

Another reason for aggression may be an unrealized hunting instinct. Thanks to him, animals survive in a normal environment, so the kitten is interested in balls, toys and all kinds of play equipment. Aggression during play is a fairly common phenomenon, especially when the kitten is too small and likes to throw itself at its owner’s legs.

Kittens don't always fight for real, that's how they play.

Another reason for aggression can be the presence of pain. If the owner touches the disturbing part of the pet, then he instinctively begins to rush and rush at the person.

Often cats can be found during a fight due to the fact that their mating season has begun, and females at this time are actively fighting for the cat’s affections. You may not be able to see the male up close, but the females smell him, which is why they put on a show. It is at puberty that cats begin to actively show aggression.