How do I stop one cat from attacking my other cat?

If one cat keeps attacking a particular cat, the first step is to separate the cats from each other completely — in separate areas of the house. Do not allow them to paw at or smell each other through a door. If they must be in adjoining rooms, place a barrier at the bottom of the door.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on resources.bestfriends.org


How do you get one cat to stop dominating the other?

If your cats begin to fight, separate the cats as quickly as possible. To do this, you can try throwing a blanket or towel on them. You can also try making a loud noise to break their concentration. Water works well to startle and scare fighting cats.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on vivipet.com


Why does my cat only attack one cat?

Territorial problems often occur when a new cat is brought into a household, when a young kitten reaches maturity, or when a cat encounters neighborhood cats outside. It's not uncommon for a cat to be territorially aggressive toward one cat in a family, and friendly and tolerant to another.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on paws.org


How do I get my older cat to stop attacking my new cat?

Let your cat and kitten interact when they are calm.

Reward your cats with treats if they behave and stay calm when they're together. If your cat starts attacking the kitten again, separate it from the kitten for another 1–2 days before trying to introduce them again.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on wikihow.com


Why is my cat attacking my other cat?

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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on kb.rspca.org.au


How to Deal with Cat Fights



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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on comfortzone.com


Should I let my cats fight it out?

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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on aspca.org


How can you tell which cat is dominant?

How to Tell Which Cat is Dominant
  1. A Dominant Cat Might Challenge Another Cat. ...
  2. A Dominant Cat Might Sit on or Mount Another Cat. ...
  3. A Dominant Cat Might Hoard Food or Toys. ...
  4. A Dominant Cat May Spray or Bunt. ...
  5. Territorial Reasons. ...
  6. Lack of Feline Socialization Also Causes Dominance Or Aggression Problems.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on betterwithcats.net


How do you get cats to like each other?

How to Get Your Cats to Like Each Other
  1. Make sure each cat has plenty of his or her own space. ...
  2. Don't give the cats catnip. ...
  3. Have plenty of their favorite cat toys around to distract them from fighting.
  4. Make the time they spend together as pleasant as possible.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on pethelpful.com


How do I get my cat to stop biting my other cats neck?

How Can You Stop Aggressive Biting?
  1. Use distraction and redirection. When a cat engages in inappropriate and aggressive play behavior, it's best to pick up a toy and distract the cat. ...
  2. Don't reward. It's best to try to stop the behavior before they start the biting. ...
  3. Don't punish. ...
  4. Be consistent.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on hepper.com


How do you know which cat is the Alpha?

What Do We Mean By “Alpha”?
  1. Doesn't stop when told.
  2. Continues unwanted behavior even when punished.
  3. Chases or pursues other cats.
  4. Behaves aggressively in some situations.
  5. Demands attention, food, or play on their own schedule.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on felineengineering.com


How do cats show dominance to other cats?

Dominant cats may attempt to establish their dominance in a multiple cat household by hissing, hitting, and growling. They may also urinate outside of the litter box in areas that the other cats frequent, push other cats out of the food bowl until they are done eating, and make the other cats feel threatened.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on thesprucepets.com


How do you calm an aggressive cat?

Give the cat its own space.

After an aggressive episode it's best to let the cat decompress and calm down on its own. Don't interact with it until it has calmed down and it comes to you for interaction or attention. You may even want to keep it sequestered in a room by itself with food, water, and a litter box.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on wikihow.com


Do cats eventually get along?

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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on paws.org


How do you reintroduce a cat after a fight?

Here are the basic steps for reintroducing cats after they have gotten into a fight:
  1. Keep cats completely separate, with no eye contact.
  2. Wait until they have calmed down (I recommend at least a day)
  3. Begin feeding on opposite sides of the door at all mealtimes (keep door closed, still no physical or or visual contact yet)
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on furraticbehavior.com


Do cats get jealous of each other?

Can Cats Get Jealous of Other Cats? Jealousy over the presence of another cat is very common. All cats have different personalities, and some will be made insecure and display jealousy more easily than others. It is important to watch your cat and observe their cues and triggers.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on petmd.com


Will catnip calm an aggressive cat?

Catnip is often associated with over-stimulation, but it can also be used to help calm your feline. Research suggests that the catnip targets receptors in their brain to make them feel happy. After an initial bout of stimulation and excitement, the herb helps soothe your cat and calm its aggressive behavior.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on emmysbestpets.com


What causes a cat to become aggressive?

Territory Aggression

Cats are creatures of habit and routine. Some cats may become protective of their territory if changes occur in their environment. Changes such as new animals, new people, major renovations may trigger territorial aggression.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on weddingtonanimalhospital.com


Will catnip stop cats from fighting?

The attention of even fighting cats can be diverted to something else. When the male cat appears to be contemplating an attack or even when an altercation is in progress, stay relaxed, keep your voice relaxed and have treats close by for all the cats or toys or catnip.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on askthecatdoctor.com


Does the dominant cat eat first?

A large study of feral cat colonies in Rome produced the surprising finding that the biggest and fiercest male cats eat after women and children. When it came to meal time, the females became dominant over the males, and kittens were often allowed to eat first.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on pets.thenest.com


Should you hiss back at your 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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on betterwithcats.net


Are female cats more territorial than male cats?

Female cats are territorial, but not to the same extent as males, as they defend much smaller territories. However, they're still aggressive toward other cats and humans if trespassing occurs. This behavior is more prominent in females that are protecting their litter.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on seniorcatwellness.com


How do you know which cat is the aggressor?

Behavior typical of the aggressor includes staring the other cat down, hissing and swiping at the other cat, raising its back and hackles (the erectile hairs on the back are raised), and thrashing its tail back and forth.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on petmd.com


Why do cats lick each other and then fight?

Cats May Sometimes Play Fight after Grooming

Sometimes cats that groom each other will suddenly start to "play fight." This may simply be a case of over-stimulation. Cats can sometimes become irritable or stressed around people if they are touched for too long.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on comfortzone.com
Next question
Is Pandora a girl or boy name?