Aggressive play or mock fighting are normal aspects of feline behavior; however, it may be difficult to tell every time if your cats are playing or wrestling with each other. To establish this, you need to carefully observe their body language, as well as assess the nature of the fight. Usually, playing cats alternate in roles; if they are fighting, stop the fight by making loud noises or placing a barrier between them.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Observe Body Language
Step 1. Listen for them to growl or hiss
In general, cats that play wrestling don't make a lot of noise; when they are quite loud, they are more likely to meow than hisses or growls.
If you hear a constant succession of hisses and growls, it means that a fight is taking place
Step 2. Look at the ears
During a mock fight, cats typically hold them upright or forward, or just slightly backward. Otherwise, if you see them facing very backwards or flat on the head, it is very likely that there is a fight going on.
Step 3. Pay attention to the claws
When playing, domestic cats keep them hidden or retracted most of the time; even if they are well visible, they are nevertheless not used to intentionally injure other specimens. However, if you find that they are being used to intentionally attack or harm other cats, it is very likely that they are fighting.
Step 4. Check if they bite
During a game session the bites are usually very small and do not hurt; However, if you notice that cats use their fangs for the purpose of hurting themselves, it is much more likely that they are fighting rather than playing.
- For example, if an animal cries out in pain, hisses, or growls, it is fighting.
- During the games, the cats take turns biting each other; if one specimen often bites the other who instead tries to escape, it is unlikely that it is a playful activity.
Step 5. Observe the position of the body
When they are feinting, the weight is shifted forward; when it comes to an aggressive encounter, the body is tilted towards the hindquarters as the animals strike each other.
Step 6. Check the coat
Cats that really fight tend to stand on end; it is an instinctive reaction to appear bigger. Also, if you find that the fur is swollen on the tail, body, or both, the cats are more likely to be fighting and not playing.
Method 2 of 3: Assess the Nature of the Fight
Step 1. Observe their mutual behaviors
During a fighting game the cats alternate in the dominant role; in other words, both should stand on top of each other for the same period.
If the cats are chasing each other, it means that they are following the same rules of the game; they should alternate in the role of hunter and prey without one specimen always continuing to chase the other
Step 2. Check the pace of the fight
Playing cats stop and start over and over again; in this way, they pause and change positions. When they actually fight, the pace is more frenetic and the fight doesn't stop until there is a winner.
Step 3. Review the behavior at the end of the action
If you still have doubts about the nature of the fight, observe how the cats act after the fight; if they have quarreled, they avoid each other or at least ignore the other.
When they play, however, they maintain a friendly and normal attitude even at the end of the activity; they can take a nap and lie down next to each other
Method 3 of 3: Stopping a Fight
Step 1. Make a loud noise
Slam a door, your hands, yell, whistle or hit objects together to create a loud noise; the sudden sound should distract the cats and stop the fight.
Step 2. Make a barrier
It is a useful tool because it prevents animals from seeing each other. Place a pillow, piece of cardboard, or other similar object between the cats to prevent them from seeing each other. once the fight has been stopped, put them in separate rooms for them to calm down.
- It may be necessary to introduce cats slowly to avoid fights in the future.
- It is always useful to have a baby gate close at hand to separate them; in this way you can gradually get them used to each other's presence and allow them to interact without getting hurt.
Step 3. Don't use your hands to stop a fight
If you put them between two cats in a fight, you risk being scratched or bitten; one or both may even reach your face.
- In addition, one of the two quarrels may notice you and direct his aggression towards you, changing his behavior towards you even after the fight is over.
- If a cat bites you, you should go to the hospital or emergency room as soon as possible; these wounds often become infected with Pasteurella strains of bacteria which can trigger cellulite infection (not to be confused with skin blemishes). Prompt treatment is the best cure or prevention.
Step 4. Avoid future fights
To do this, make sure cats don't compete with each other for food and water; each should have their own litter box, their own bowl of food and water, their own kennel, perch and toys, all located in distinct areas of the home. You should also think about spaying or neutering cats to mitigate their temper.
