Why Do Cats Fight and How to Prevent Deadly Clashes: Causes and Prevention Tips

Although cat fights can be brutal, they are also rarely deadly, and knowing why cats fight and how they fight can help you prevent serious harm. Cats fight to establish territory and mating rights, not to kill one another. Their fights follow predictable patterns and are unlikely to result in death unless a human intervenes or there are other underlying health issues. Most cat fights end with one cat running away after they have shown submission.

In this article, we'll explore the instinctual behaviors and evolutionary reasons for cat-on-cat aggression. By looking at studies by animal behaviorists, veterinarians, and wildlife biologists, you'll come away with a better understanding of what may appear to be random acts of violence. This knowledge can help cat parents recognize and de-escalate potentially dangerous situations before they turn into physical fights that endanger their pets.

Common Triggers and Causes of Cat Aggression

There are many reasons why a cat may become aggressive, including everything from territorial and fear-based aggression to play and redirected aggression. The ASPCA explains that territorial aggression occurs when a cat feels another cat or a perceived intruder is encroaching on its territory and can lead to stiff body postures, growling, and direct eye contact. Meanwhile, the WebMD points out that fear aggression can be the result of a cat feeling threatened or cornered and is often accompanied by defensive body postures, including crouching, hissing, and showing the claws.

While play aggression is a normal part of feline behavior, it can become a problem if limits aren't set and can lead to accidental injury due to rough play such as pouncing and biting, according to Cornell University. Redirected aggression occurs when a cat's aggression is aimed at a target other than the one that caused the stress or frustration that led to the aggression in the first place, according to the ASPCA. In addition, medical problems, including pain and neurological issues, can lead to increased aggression in cats. Knowing these common triggers and causes is important for preventing and dealing with aggression in cats.

How to Tell When a Cat Fight Is About to Happen

Cats will often use body language and vocalizations to let other cats know that they are feeling aggressive or threatened. According to Catster, signs of aggression in cats include arched backs, raised fur, flattened ears, dilated pupils, and aggressive vocalizations like hissing and growling.

It's important to be able to tell the difference between play and actual aggression so you can intervene before things get out of hand. As mentioned by Life with Cats, signs of play include a relaxed body, gentle paw swatting, and taking turns. Signs of aggression include intense staring, blocking, and one cat attacking another.

The Tuft + Paw guide explains that a cat's body language, facial expressions, and vocalizations can all be used to predict aggression. By learning to recognize these signs, cat owners can prevent serious injuries by stepping in before a physical fight occurs.

What Happens After a Cat Fight?

Although cats don't often fight to the death, the injuries that can occur as a result of a cat fight can be severe if they are not treated. The South Seattle Veterinary Clinic lists some of the most common injuries that can occur as a result of a cat fight, including bite wounds, scratches, abscesses, and the spread of diseases like Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV).

Outdoor and feral cats are especially susceptible to the more severe injuries that can result from a cat fight because they are less likely to receive medical care, according to Village Center Veterinary Care. Some of the symptoms of these more severe injuries include behavioral changes, lethargy, loss of appetite, puncture wounds, fever, and limping. It's important to get medical care for your cat as soon as possible to ensure that any injuries are treated and that infections don't occur.

Catster notes that the bacteria in cats' mouths and claws can cause infections in the event of an untreated wound, but that domestic cats with responsible owners can have their wounds treated by a vet. However, for feral or stray cats, these injuries can lead to death if they are not treated.

How to Prevent and Stop Cat Fights

To prevent and stop cat fights, it is important to understand the root cause of the aggression. The ASPCA explains that making sure that each cat has enough resources, territory, and personal space can help prevent resource and territory-based aggression.

Feliway's 7 Tips to Stop Cats Fighting explains that a slow reintroduction and positive reinforcement can help cats move past their aggression. In addition, using calming products like pheromone diffusers and ensuring a low-stress environment can help reduce tension and aggression, as stated by Comfort Zone.

In the most extreme cases, when other methods have not worked, PetMD suggests that pet parents work with a veterinarian or animal behaviorist to get to the root of the problem and come up with a long-term plan for a peaceful multi-cat home.

How to Help Cats Get Along

Cats are territorial, and they can be resistant to change, especially when it comes to the addition of a new cat. The ASPCA explains that proper introductions and slow reintroductions are key to helping cats live together in harmony. Meanwhile, PAWS recommends making sure that cats have their own resources, including food and water dishes, litter boxes, and scratching posts, to minimize competition.

Meanwhile, Catster explains that enriching the environment with vertical territory, hiding places, and playtime can help reduce stress and boredom, which can lead to aggression. In some cases, if cats can't seem to get along, Hepper explains that it may be best to permanently separate cats or rehome one of them, as the constant stress and anxiety that comes with living in a state of conflict can be bad for both the cats and their owners.

Conclusion: Understanding and Preventing Cat Fights

Although cat fights may seem brutal, they are seldom life-threatening interactions between otherwise healthy cats. Cats fight to establish territory and mating rights, and they go through a series of ritualized behaviors and body language before physical fighting occurs.

Knowing the reasons and causes of feline aggression is important for preventing and stopping cat fights. According to the ASPCA, aggression in cats can be caused by territorial disputes, fear, play, redirected aggression, and medical issues.

Recognizing the signs of aggression before a fight happens, such as an arched back, raised fur, and aggressive vocalizations, can help cat owners stop a fight before it starts. As pointed out by Catster, it's also important to know the difference between play and true aggression.

Although cat fights are seldom life-threatening, they can lead to serious injuries if they are not treated. According to the South Seattle Veterinary Clinic, common injuries include bite wounds, scratches, and the potential transmission of diseases. It's important to get veterinary care as soon as possible.

Preventing and stopping cat fights often involves identifying and addressing the causes of aggression, which can include providing enough resources and using calming products. In some cases, professional help from a vet or animal behaviorist may be necessary, according to PetMD.

When it comes to multi-cat households, creating a peaceful environment often involves proper introductions, separate resources, and environmental enrichment to reduce stress and competition. In some cases, permanently separating cats may be the only way to ensure that they are safe if they can't get along, according to Hepper.

With the right information and action, cat owners can help their cats coexist peacefully.