Why does my male cat keep attacking my female cat, they are from the same litter?

Question

I got two kittens from the same litter last May when they were 10weeks old. They were neutered at the same time at 5months old and have always played together, occasionally the fighting has got a little boisterous but I found separating them for a few minutes tends to do the trick. However in the last couple of months they are being more aggressive to one another and the playfulness seems to have gone, the female is usually submissive and will lay on her back and show her belly but this doesn't seem to stop him. Where he is so much bigger and stronger than her it worries me they will cause real harm. I have noticed that since April time there have been a couple of other cats in the garden who seem to show a big interest in the female, could this be the problem or is there another reason why his behaviour would suddenly change or anything I can do to stop it? He's a lovely natured cat and only seems to have a problem with her!

Answer 1

dont worry about it!! its soo natural for cats!. u said they are quite young its just growing up and they are reaching mating age. i know it's a bit disgusting but u dont need to worry about anything or take them 2 vets. its just growing up.

try keeping them away from eachother for a week. preferably for a week and see  how they act. they should forget bout fiting eachother and they should stop being so aggresive.

hope this helps just keep them in separate rooms for a week dats wat i did :D x*x

Answer 2

I have the same problem with my two female cats from the same litter.

They used to sleep, eat and play together but over the last month or so they have gradually started to fight more and more.

Because they are from the same litter - ( siblings) doesn't mean that they will always like each other.

It won't help that you have other cats hanging around but it is one of those things that they have to put up with and get used to.

Make sure you give each cat the same amount of affection and don't favour one over the other.

You could try some cat nip which may calm them both down but it doesn't always work and make sure  each cat has their own food bowl, litter tray place to sleep as that will minimise and friction between them.

They may never like each other like they used to but they will learn to tolerate on another in time.

Good luck.

Answer 3

The fact that they are littermates means nothing to them - it's just us humans who attach special attributes to "family".  They will like or dislike others based on personalitly, etc. and not on any family ties.  In any case, it sounds like a case of what's called redirected aggression.  He's upset at the intruders in the garden, and he's taking it out on her.  You'll need to either keep them both indoors until the behavior stops, or keep other cats out of "his" territory, and even out of his eye sight.  The same thing can happen when indoor cats spy a cat outdoors when they are at a favorite window.

Answer 4

I've noticed something interesting: cats from the same litter generally don't get on as well once adult as cats from different litters. I have two black cats and my cousin has two black cats. Mine are male and from different litters and with a big difference in age. They get on fine together. My cousin's are female and from the same litter. As far as I can make out, at best they ignore each other. Years ago my family had cats that were brother and sister from the same litter and they pretty much ignored each other too.

Answer 5

The male cat, Tim, I used to have did that a lot my female cat, Bobbie. I think some of it was jelousy because he almost always did it when she was getting attention and he wasn't getting all our attention at once.

Also, male cats often become territorial and try to make themselves the dominant one especially when they're going through the cat version of puberty when their hormones are rushing around as your cats are now. They sometimes bully female cats too. It could be one or a comination of those things. Next time you catch him trying it on, say 'No!' in a firm voice and squirt him with a bit of water. Do this each time he does it and he'll learn that when he tries it again something unpleasant will happen to him.

For the water bit I filled an old washed out hairspray canister with water.

Answer 6

'cos females smell and they're horrid

Answer 7

It might be their age, as they're now both maturing into adults and becoming more aware of their social status.  Perhaps your male cat is trying to assert his dominance over the female cat?  Or it may simply be a clash of personalities.  Like humans, just because they are siblings is no guarantee that they will become best friends. (They do say that you can choose your friends, but not your relatives.)  Possibly the male cat is upset by the arrival of the other cats in his territory, and unable to vent his anger on them, he's taking it out on his sister.

The web site below has a good article on cats that don't get on, with lots of information and advice on ways that you can improve their relationship.

http://www.celiahaddon.co.uk/pet%20probl...

This web site also has helpful advice on inter-cat conflict.

http://wizz-catz.co.uk/multicat.html

Years ago I adopted 2 kittens from the same litter and they never really got on.  The play fights became more aggressive and eventually they had little to do with each other and went their separate ways around the home.  I even kept their food & litter boxes in different locations to minimise competition between them.  Yet both cats were very affectionate towards humans.  I think Charles S may have a point, as the 2 cats that I have now are from different litters and they get on really well together.  

Hope this helps you find a solution.

Answer 8

Erm, sounds like your cats horny and getting rejected.

Guys never take rejection well!

Answer 9

you need to teach your kitties disciplines!  

Answer 10

Well My uncle owns a zoo with lots of Siberian tigers. His child and wife hahve died so he lets me spend a lot of times with the tigers ( my favorite animal) Anyway we once had a litter and the siblings would offten attack each other with claws sheated and a few weeks before left by there mother with unsheated calws. This is all trainining for the future though feamales are normally more aggresive

Answer 11

Sibling Rivalry.  

Answer 12

What you must know is that there are sometimes that pets do misbehave. if you can, separate them but if its not possible and that the action is irritating you, just sell one and get another to see if the problem could be solved.

Answer 13

The male cat is just jealous of the other neighbourhood cats being attracted to its litter and heart mate.Thus the solution is to keep the two together and let them have a nice cool tyme together as in mating or makingluv coz i guess the time is out for the little she cat to remain a virgin for any longer.Let them just go ahead and have a dose of each other.Tuddleeee!

Answer 14

Ask the cat