Inside cats fighting do we stop them- female 2year old have been inside all this time and happy- why now..

Question

Is there any triggers to set cats off fighting? Any suggestions to get them back together? We have kept them apart in different rooms all day.....

Tried to introduce them back together by opening the door between them and one bolts off and the other chases then a fight breaks out.

They have been inside cats for 2 years, are female and fixed...Help

Answer 1

Are you sure that it is proper fighting? As outbreaks are normal from time to time to establish the hierachy between the two of them as one will always be the boss and this position can change. If the fights are bad is it possible that one of your cats is under the weather or has recently recovered from an illness or operation? As sometimes a healthy cat senses the other is ill and will act differently towards them. It may be worth taking your cats for a check up to rule out this and the vet may have some useful tips to help you solve this problem, good luck.

Answer 2

I totally agree with the above answer from a fellow veterinary nurse.

And Daniel? Don't advocate smacking your cats if they fight. That's not only abusive, but irresponsible to put that on here. And if you do hit your cats, you don't deserve to have them. Cats do not understand violence from humans, and are likely to change their behaviour around you.  

Answer 3

has there been a difference in house hold family members? have your had someone else move in or out? have you got new neighbours? do you have a new cat in your neighbour hood who is spraying around your house? There is a spray called feliway which you can spray around the house and it is like a calming smell for you cats making them less likely to fight. Your can also get feliway in a diffuser which you plug in so it will continue to release the calming smell.  the smell it releases is the ferimone which cats release when they are happy. We can not smell it but cats can. Its what happens when your cat rubs their face against you they are rubbing their happy ferimone on you so you smell like them. If it is the one cat who is starting the fights  perhaps get him checked by a vet to make sure there is no health reason for the behavioural change. good luck hope this has helped

Answer 4

DO NOT LET THEM FIGHT EACH OTHER!!!!

just when they fight give they a smack (not very hard, but hard enough) or spray them with water if they fight. or you can get a machine that has a censor in it and it sprays if something comes in front of it try doing the door thing again, it worked for me

Answer 5

Is it fighting or simply determining which cat is the alpha cat?  Is it fighting, or simply roughhousing?  

It is interesting to watch two cats square off.  First, they do a staring contest, then the ears go back, then a paw lifts, and then a wrestling match ensues.  It can look rough, but it really is how they play.

Now, if their tails are fluffed up huge, and there is a lot of growling and hissing, then it is a bit more serious.

As far as a chase, that expends energy which is good, and keeps them in shape.  Nothing like hearing a sound that seems like a herd of thundering elephants to know they are active.

Are there triggers that can actually start a real fight?  Yes, normally that is known as displaced aggression, and is due to an outside stimulus, such as another cat coming by. Basically, they get spooked and go into defend mode. Then, the back is arched, the tail is fluffed, and they attack the nearest object, which could be the other cat, or even you.  Then, you have to intervene and quiet them down.  Normally, it is short lived.  A stern NO! works, as well as a squirt bottle although normally it is over before you can get to a squirt bottle.