How do cats resolve conflict?

Passive displays include staring, blocking, and hiding. Some cats choose to run away or spend more time outside in order to avoid the conflict. Conflict between housemate cats may have elements of fear, anxiety, self-defense, or territorial defense.
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Will cats eventually stop fighting?

Never let the cats “fight it out.” Cats don't resolve their issues through fighting, and the fighting usually just gets worse. Interrupt aggression with a loud clap of your hands or spray from a water gun. Neuter the cats. Intact males are particularly prone to aggressive behavior.
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How do you comfort a cat after a fight?

One reason cats may find a need for their humans is after a fight, especially if they're on the losing side.
...
Use Calming Pheromones
  1. Cat collars.
  2. Pheromone diffusers.
  3. Pheromone sprays.
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How do cats fight for dominance?

When cats are exerting their dominance, they will stiffen their ears and rotate them sideways. This is matched to standing upright, prolonged staring, and raising the base of their tail (while drooping the tip). Verbal displays of dominance include hissing and yowling.
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How do you show your cat you're the Alpha?

Showing Your Cat Affection and Positive Reinforcement
  1. Petting and cuddling.
  2. Praise – use your voice, tell them that they're being well behaved.
  3. Giving treats or using catnip.
  4. Playing their favorite game or with their favorite toy.
  5. Encourage social behavior. Use treats if you must, to lure them out and socialize.
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How to Deal with Cat Fights



Is one cat always dominant?

Why Are Some Cats More Dominant Than Others? While cats can be solitary animals, social hierarchies are also normal when many cats live in the same small area. Some cats are considered more dominant or more submissive and this can be within the normal spectrum of cat behaviors.
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Do cats go into shock after a fight?

Causes of Shock in Cats

There are many causes for shock in cats. The primary cause is usually trauma, such as being struck by a car or sustaining a serious or life-threatening physical injury. However, another cause may be an allergic reaction.
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How long does it take for a cat to calm down after a fight?

How do you get two fighting cats to live in harmony with each other? It's a slow, gradual process, sometimes taking several weeks before the cats agree to a ceasefire, so be patient. To start with, house the cats separately, closed off from each other, each with their own food, water, bed and litter box.
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Can cats become friends after fighting?

It takes most cats eight to 12 months to develop a friendship with a new cat. Although some cats certainly become close friends, others never do. Many cats who don't become buddies learn to avoid each other, but some cats fight when introduced and continue to do so until one of the cats must be re-homed.
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Will my cats ever get along again?

Not all companion cats are going to get along 100% of the time; just as with people, there are bound to be some misunderstandings and miscommunication, but if you notice a pattern of intimidation, there may be more stress between your cats than you originally thought.
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Should I separate my cats when they fight?

If your cats have suddenly started fighting, the safest option is to separate them into different rooms for 24-48 hours until they have both calmed down. You should also keep them inside for this time in order to avoid them meeting and fighting outside.
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Why is one of my cats suddenly attacking the other?

Some of the underlying non-medical causes for aggression between cats in the same household include fear, lack of socialisation, inappropriate introduction of a new cat, overcrowding (i.e. not enough vertical or horizontal space, too few resources etc), redirected aggression, play and predation.
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Do cats ever stop hissing at each other?

If cats frequently hiss at each other, it's possible to improve their relationship with behavior modification. “But owners should be aware that they may never actually get along,” Stelow adds. “Aggression can arise suddenly between cats that have been fine together for months or years.”
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What do you do when cats don't get along?

Thankfully, there are steps you can take to help your cats get along again.
  1. Give Them Their Own Territory. Cats often don't like to share and can become selfish with resources. ...
  2. Visit a Veterinarian. ...
  3. Use Calming Diffusers. ...
  4. Look for Triggers. ...
  5. Reintroduce Your Cats.
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How do you know if your cats don't like each other?

They may freak out a little if they accidentally touch each other. You might also see signs of insecurity in one or both cats. These signs can include hiding, pooping outside the litter box, spraying in inappropriate places outside the box, or becoming extra destructive and even lashing out at you.
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Do cats remember traumatic events?

Experts think that the long-term memories that “stick” the most in pets are those having to do with very positive or very negative events, “such as those related to food and survival, and events that have an emotional impact,” as PetMD puts it. Some cats will remember traumatic events for the rest of their lives.
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Do cats hurt each other when they fight?

How to stop cats from fighting? Watching your cats fighting can be heart-breaking; here are two animals that you adore and they are hurting each other! A common solution is to distract them, but you can also ask the vet or a pet behaviourist for advice. Socialisation can also help cats stop fighting.
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What should I watch after a cat fight?

Get blood tests. It is a good idea to get your cat tested after it gets into a fight. Cats can transmit infections through bite wounds. Common infections they can transmit include the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV).
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How do I know if my cat is traumatized?

What Are the Symptoms of Emotional Trauma in Cats?
  1. Increased Attachment & Clinginess. Let's imagine your cat recently got into a bad fight. ...
  2. Aggressive Behavior. ...
  3. Fearful & More Easily Startled. ...
  4. Sudden Mood Swings. ...
  5. Reduction in Appetite. ...
  6. Failure to Use the Litter Box. ...
  7. Destructive Behaviors. ...
  8. Withdrawn & Increased Hiding.
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How do you tell if a cat is hurt?

How do you know if your cat is in pain
  1. Agitation (unsettled, trembling)
  2. Cat crying, growling, hissing.
  3. Limping or difficulty jumping.
  4. Avoids being petted or handled.
  5. Playing less.
  6. Licking a particular body region.
  7. More aggressive.
  8. Change in posture or gait.
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Can a cat with a broken back be saved?

Although many animals may be paralysed as a result of the fracture, they will often recover, provided that they retain the ability to feel pain and that they are managed appropriately. Some cases can be treated medically, but it is often necessary to consider surgery to stabilise a fractured spine.
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Why are my bonded cats fighting?

They're Insecure about Territories. Sometimes sudden outbursts are caused by unease about territories in the home. Cats are naturally territorial, but friendly cats have learned to share their space peacefully. If you recently moved to a new home, they may need to work those issues out again.
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Do house cats have an Alpha?

Cats are incapable of considering a human to be an alpha. They have no concept of alpha and beta dynamics, even among themselves. If you feel like your cat doesn't respect you but respects another member of the house more, it's not because it thinks you are weak. It just doesn't feel attached to the other person.
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How do you tell if your cats are a bonded pair?

How can you tell if two cats are bonded? If you are unsure of whether cats are bonded, there are some things to look for. These include enjoying playtime together, and also sleeping next to each other. Other bonded behaviors include rubbing their bodies and faces against each other, and eating food at the same time.
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Should I hiss back at my cat?

You shouldn't hiss at your cat because they might perceive your hissing as a threat and become scared. Since cats use hissing as a defensive mechanism to express discomfort, stress, or fear and to avoid confrontation, you should also avoid using hissing to discipline them.
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