Never Make It Worse When Your Cats Fight 🤔🐱, by CatsWithDec on YouTube. 4 min 10 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 10 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Watch for early warning signs: flattened ears, a twitching tail, fixed staring, hissing or growling. Step in before they lock eyes and start swatting.
Keep your hands and face out of the fight. Cat bites and scratches can get infected fast, so never pull them apart with your skin.
Clap loudly or shake a can of coins to startle them apart. If that fails, toss a thick blanket or a large piece of cardboard between them to block their view.
When they pause, move one cat into a separate room and close the door. Leave the other cat where it is so each cat has its own space.
Leave them apart for at least a few hours, or overnight if things were bad. Do not scold or punish either cat, because extra stress makes the next meeting worse.
Check both cats for bites, scratches, limping or hiding. Cat bites can abscess, so call your vet the same day if you find a wound or a cat seems unwell.
Reintroduce them slowly. Swap their bedding for scent, then feed them on opposite sides of a closed door, then a cracked door, then short supervised meetings.
Give each cat its own resources: one litter box per cat plus one extra, food and water in separate spots, and a cat tree or shelf to escape to.
If fights keep happening, book a vet check to rule out pain or illness, and ask for a behaviour referral if the tension continues.
Tips and common mistakes
Never use your hands, a spray bottle or shouting to split a fight, because punishment raises tension and makes another clash more likely.
Put a bell on the more confident cat's collar so the other cat hears it coming and can move away.
Feed cats in separate rooms or at opposite ends of a hallway, and do not leave food bowls side by side.
If there is blood, a limp, a bite wound or a cat stops eating, call your vet.
Questions
How long should I keep cats apart after a fight?
At least 24 hours, and longer if either cat still hisses at the door. Start with scent swapping before any face to face meeting.
Can I just let them sort it out?
No. Real fights with hissing, yowling and fur flying can cause injury. Separate them and change the setup so each cat has its own space and resources.
Why do my cats suddenly fight?
Pain, illness, a new cat, moved furniture or a stray cat outside the window can all raise tension. A vet check is a good first step if the fighting is new.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
