Why is my cat always 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.
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How can I stop my 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.
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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.
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Why does my cat keep fighting with the same cat?

Strange new cats in the neighbourhood.

Cats can fight with both strange cats and cats they know well, but fighting with cats they don't know is more common. This is because cats that know each another tend to try to tolerate each other, especially if they have enough resources to go around.
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Should I let my cats fight it out?

Never let your cats “fight it out.” Cats don't resolve their issues through fighting. Interrupt aggression or fighting by clapping your hands loudly, squirting the aggressive cat with a water gun, or directing compressed air (without noise) at the aggressive cat.
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Should I intervene when my cats fight?

If it's a real fight, never let your cats fight it out. Cats don't solve disagreements with aggressiveness. You don't want to get in the middle of two fighting cats, so try to distract them instead, with a loud noise or sudden movement to break their concentration on their fight. Don't punish your cat.
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How do you discipline a cat for attacking?

At the very least they tend to make the cat wary of your approach. Instead, whenever the cat begins to swat or play attack, immediately stop the play by walking away or by using some non-physical form of punishment such as a water sprayer, can of compressed air, cap gun, hand held alarm or perhaps a loud hiss.
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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.
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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.
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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 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.
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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.
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Why is my cat biting my other cats back?

This can be a pleasure thing or a dominance thing. Some cats will do this because they like to… and will do it to other cats, stuffed animals, dogs, etc. If it doesn't bother your other cat – then maybe it is not worth worrying about.
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How do you tell if your cats are playing or fighting?

If your cats' bodies are relaxed or their ears are pointed forward, they're likely just playing. If your cats flatten their ears, hold their ears back, or puff up their fur or tails, this is a sign that they're fighting, not playing.
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Why does my cat bite my other cats legs?

This can occur in response to punishment or the threat of punishment from a person, an attack or attempted attack from another cat, or anytime he feels threatened or afraid.
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Why are my cats avoiding each other?

Cats are a territorial species. While some cats overlap their territories a great deal, others prefer to keep a good distance from their neighbors. Two unrelated males or two unrelated females may have a particularly hard time sharing space. Another cause of strife may be a feline personality clash.
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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.
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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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How do you fix an aggressive cat?

Recognizing aggression and startling an aggressive cat without physical contact is usually effective. Avoid situations that you know make a cat aggressive. Separate cats that act aggressively toward each other and reintroduce slowly with positive reinforcement, as described in the Territorial Aggression section.
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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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Should I spray my cat with water when it bites me?

4. Spray him! It's simple — when your cat bites or scratches, squirt him with a spray bottle or small water gun. The only problem: It needs to be done consistently and directly following the incident, or the cat will not learn to associate the two events.
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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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Will cats fight to the death?

So, physical fights are the last resort. Cats will rarely, if ever, kill each other during a physical fight. But the injuries sustained from bite or scratch wounds do have the potential to become infected, and left untreated, these could ultimately lead to a cat's death.
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How do I get my 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.
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Why is my old cat hitting my new cat?

In most instances of territorial aggression, one cat - often the new arrival - becomes the aggressor and repeatedly attacks one or more of its feline house mates. Think about your new cat's arrival from the perspective of your animals. Your resident cats are comfortable and familiar with their environment.
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