Cats Starting to Fight

sclass on 19/04/2022 - 22:45

I got two kittens last year and they've always been very caring towards each other.

However, for the last few months, the older brother (who is physically bigger) has been chasing after the younger sister and doing a range of things like jumping on her and biting her (seemingly in a play fight manner), but she will always hiss, growl or even shriek in response. There haven't been any injuries and they do seem to mix it up in that the sister will chase after the brother on occasion.

Is this behaviour worrying? Is there something I should be doing to resolve this?

Pets

Comments

  • Hybroid on 19/04/2022 - 22:47
    +2

    Do you have Feliway plugged in around the house?

    A degree of play fighting is normal in cats though.

    • BewareOfThe Dog on 20/04/2022 - 15:07

      Feliway doesn't always work. We only use it when they need a shave (Good clippers are cheaper than a few Vet visits).

      I generally have a spray bottle I spray on the Agressor, and they soon start to learn. Otherwise a laser pointer to distract them (or both) from the other.

  • Benoffie on 19/04/2022 - 22:48
    +3

    Are they desexed?

    • sclass on 19/04/2022 - 22:56

      Yes

  • Drakesy on 19/04/2022 - 22:59
    -3

    a 22 magnum.

    • payless69 on 20/04/2022 - 10:05

      some cats need a 44 to erase all 11 lives.

  • SF3 on 19/04/2022 - 23:13
    +2

    Adolescence.

  • Some Human on 20/04/2022 - 00:32
    +2

    Mine have always hated each other. Sometimes I wake up to my girl cat growling because my boy cat is a few feet away staring at her. Or she growls because she wants to use the outdoor litter box and he won't let her pass through the catflap to get to the cat run.

    I think my boy cat is just a prick by nature.

  • Payne on 20/04/2022 - 10:30

    If it's play fighting, then yes, it's normal. Keep in mind though that it's up to you to set the boundaries if they take it too far.

    To put it another way, if they were dogs and the same thing was happening (i.e. one animal was taking it too far), would you step in? I only say that because some people seem to discipline dogs much more than cats, when really their needs are the same. They need to know the boundaries and what's not acceptable behaviour.

    Also, are they allowed to go outside?

  • Prince K on 20/04/2022 - 15:05

    I have two siblings cats. They can’t stand not being near each other but the past few months one of them has been hissing too when the other tries to play fight.
    They’ve been play fighting since kittens and are 5 years old now. I think as long as there’s no injuries you can just let them be.

  • srsparky on 20/04/2022 - 16:17

    We have the exact same scenario. We have lots of hiding places, and places that only our girl can get up to (because she's 2/3 his size) and a bit more agile.

    When he is being overly aggresive, we go separate them, or distract them.

  • Apolloz666 on 05/05/2022 - 19:15

    The older cat is bored. Get some toys that move on their own, as toys that just sit there aren't nearly as interesting.

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