How to solve fights between cats?

 

Cats are very territorial animals and for that reason disagreement is common among felines. If you have more than one at home, you must have already witnessed some fights and possibly had some difficulty calming the kittens.

The main reasons that cause fights between felines are hierarchy (a new cat in a house already inhabited by another), the dispute over the female in the season of estrus and in case they feel threatened.

We have some tips to help you work around the situation and prevent these episodes from happening again.

Prepare your kitten before a new resident arrives

The arrival of a new cat in the house is a very important event not only in the life of the tutors, but mainly of the cats that already live there. The felines feel like the owners of their home, and the entry of a new one represents an invasion of their territory. For this reason, it is essential to prepare the environment for this situation.

At first place the cats in separate rooms, with a litter box, water pots, food, scratching post, toys, etc. In this way, they will be able to meet their needs without the other being watching.

Over time, promote moments in which they remain in the same environment and offer food or snacks there, making the meeting a pleasant moment. Don't try to get them to play or interact, these behaviors will emerge when they are comfortable. 

Attention to the health of kittens! If male kittens live with females, it is recommended to check with the veterinarian for the possibility of sterilization, this procedure helps to reduce aggression, avoids the stress caused by heat and even surprise litters. In addition to this factor, kittens must undergo tests in order to check their health, so work on prevention and take them to the specialist.

 

How to stop a fight?

Before anything else, it is necessary to differentiate a fight from an alert , if there is something bothering the kitten he may growl, snort and even show his teeth, and this may not be the beginning of a fight. Pay attention to the signs, sometimes it's just a complaint.

Do not repress this natural behavior, it can result in an aloof and aggressive cat, since we teach that it should not growl, it can simply attack directly without warning. When a cat snorts at the other, don't worry, he's just explaining what his limits are.

If there is a real fight, don't let them continue, this will prevent them from getting hurt and they will stop this bad behavior. When the kittens start to fight, follow the tips below:

• Do not try to separate: when cats are fighting you should not put your hands on them, as they may scratch and even try to bite you;
• Call attention: say "no" or another word of order very loud and firm, it's also worth whistling and even clapping your hands to generate noise, so cats will lose attention in the fight and the less dominant individual will have a tendency to run away;
• Use positive reinforcement: when the kittens calm down, you can offer them a treat or toy they like, this will reinforce the reconciliation. Never use physical punishment, aggression, in addition to being inadmissible, will only establish violent behavior.

How to avoid fights?

First of all watch your kitties, there is a pattern of behavior, and it's easy to tell when they are tense. Each cat has a behavior for a certain situation, it is up to you tutor to analyze in which your furry is intemperate. Check out these tips to reduce the possibility of fights:

• Anticipate: when you notice tension in the air between the kittens, if they start to approach, draw attention and thus avoid a confrontation;
• Promote a pleasant environment: leave toys in easily accessible places, place walkways so that they can move around the environment with tranquility, and avoid loud noises, so stress will be alleviated;
• Find out the reason for the fight: knowing for sure what the reason for the fight is is practically impossible, but you can observe the events that precede the disagreement and prevent them from happening. Sometimes the felines fight over a toy, to dispute the litter box and even the bed, if this is the case, arrange for the objects to be individual.

What if you're not home?

In the adaptation phase, the ideal is to leave the kittens in separate environments, so fights will be avoided and they will be more comfortable.

Remembering that in the environments where the felines are going to stay, it is necessary to have food, water, walks, toys, a sandbox and an area where they can rest and play. Intelligence toys like the kong, in addition to not letting the kitten get stressed, stimulate and exercise the mind.

Kittens can be very affectionate with each other, in a matter of some they will already be adapted to the new routine, liking each other or just accepting the presence of the new friend.

It is important to analyze if the aggressive behavior continues despite taking all the care, the kitten may have a health problem, for that reason consult the vet.