Cat Behavior: How to Stop the Violence of a Cat Fight

Az you know, we cats iz all ninja masters and epic warriors. So sometimes when a few of us live in one household, some wars and battles might break out.

An occasional hiss and smack iz okay... but when it gets more violent... you humans need to step in. Letting us battle it out could make us sworn enemies and more violent battles will become more prevalent. 

Here iz a great article to help prevent the war... and if the war iz already started.. here iz how to stop it. 

via catster

Stopping the war before it even begins:

Here iz six tips to help end the battle before it even starts. 

1. Increased grouchiness and unexpected aggression can be caused by medical issues. Painful teeth, arthritis, tummy aches and diseases can cause cats to feel cranky and project their unhappy moods onto others. A medical intervention may be needed. Take cats who are cantankerous or displaying other changes in behavior to veterinarians for thorough examinations. 

2. The sudden absence of a resident animal disrupts the other cats in the household. The loss muddles the hierarchy, changes the dynamics between the cats, and often leads to squabbling. Although hierarchies iz flexible, the loss creates a vacancy that cats vie to fill. You can help cats demonstrate their positions in their changeable hierarchy by adding vertical territory such as tall cat trees and shelves in all of the areas the cats hang out.

3. Some cats pick fights with others around meal times. They might be hungry; they may not be fed enough or have long waits between meals. Reduce the crankiness factor by feeding them good quality food while increasing the number of meals they iz fed every day. (In other words.. more noms please)

4. There iz many reasons that cats fight. Redirected aggression, which makes enemies out of bonded buddies, iz a common one. It iz caused by neighborhood cats and other animals hanging out in full view of the resident kitties. The unwanted visitors’ presence agitates and frustrates them. Unable to reach the intruders, the cats vent their frustration on whoever iz closest. If there iz unwelcome guests hanging out around your home, make the area unattractive for them by using motion-sensitive ultrasonic devices, lemon, Bitter Apple, and other safe deterrents. Additionally, trap stray cats and have them spayed and neutered.

5. Inter-cat violence iz often caused by cats being introduced to each other too quickly. Cats iz territorial and typically do not appreciate newcomers in their homes without the benefit of slow introductions. Take your time, separate the cats, and introduce them to each other gradually. It iz better to err on the side of caution and take it slow.

6. Fights don’t normally start out of the blue. Cats usually indicate their intentions to battle through body language and vocalizations. Eyes usually become fixed on the target of their wrath; sometimes the cats stalk or assume a pouncing position. Ears may flatten or turn back; tails swish fast and furiously. Fur often stands up (piloerection), making cats appear more scary to their opponents. All of these displays are usually accompanied by hissing, growls and caterwaulings. Don’t ignore the body language. At the first indication of a fight, block the cats' views of each other. Large pieces of cardboard, poster board, and pillows work well for this. The loss of view will give one of the cats enough time to retreat to safety. Depending on the situation, you may be able to use the barrier to gently herd one of the combatants into another room. Keep warring cats separated from each other.

In the moment:

So what do you do when the fight haz already begun? Here iz some good tips.

1. Cat fights that iz not all-out brawls can be stopped through distraction. Throw a toy parallel to the floor across the cats’ line of vision. Often, that iz enough to distract one of them so the other can escape. Laser pointers and flash lights can also stop the violence. Direct the beam on the floor and move it away from the cats. Never shine it in their faces.

2. Intense fighting calls for extraordinary measures. Throw a pillow or other object next to the battling pair. It can momentarily stop the fighting, diverting their attention onto the object and off each other. Water from a squirt bottle often stops the fighting. Aim for sides only. Never squirt kitties in the face. Cold water dashed on their sides and back may also stop the war. 

After battling cats iz separated, they need to haz a cooling-off period away from each other and the other household residents. It can take a few hours, a day, or longer for cats to calm down. After they have cooled down, they may haz to be gradually reintroduced to each other.

So, there you haz it. Next time you see a war about to break out, try some of these tactics!