How to Deal with Cat Fights, by Jackson Galaxy on YouTube. 6 min 12 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 12 s
- Time to do it
- 2 to 4 weeks
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Break up the fight without using your hands. Drop a thick blanket or a large piece of cardboard between the cats, make a loud noise, and never reach into a tangle of claws.
Check both cats from nose to tail for bites, scratches and limping. Cat bites abscess easily, so call your vet the same day if the skin is broken.
Set up a base camp for each cat in a separate room with its own litter box, food, water and a hiding spot. Keep the doors closed so they cannot see each other.
Treat this as a full re-introduction, not a quick time out. Start the whole introduction process again from zero rather than expecting them to settle in a day.
Swap scent daily. Rub a towel on one cat's cheeks and leave it in the other cat's room, and swap bedding back and forth so each cat gets used to the other's smell.
Feed both cats on opposite sides of a closed door, starting a few metres apart. Move the bowls closer over days, and only shift them when both cats eat calmly.
Expect setbacks and plan for weeks, not hours. Aim for calm at each stage before you move on, and go back a step whenever hissing or growling returns.
Open the door with a baby gate or screen between them for short sessions. Watch tails, ears and pupils, and end the session while both cats are still relaxed.
Let them share the room only when both stay loose and can eat, walk away and use the litter box without tension. Supervise every session and separate them again at the first sign of a standoff.
Tips and common mistakes
Never punish a cat after a fight, because it links the punishment to the other cat and makes things worse.
A wide-eyed stare, flattened ears, a lashing tail or a low yowl means back off and go slower.
Have one litter box per cat plus one spare, placed in different spots, to reduce guarding.
If fights keep drawing blood, ask your vet about a behaviour referral rather than letting them sort it out alone.
Questions
Should I just let them fight it out?
No. Real fights with biting, yowling and fur flying raise stress and injury risk, and cats do not make peace that way. Separate them and restart the introduction slowly.
How long does reintroduction take?
It varies by cat. Some pairs settle in a week or two, others need a month or more. Move at the pace of the more nervous cat, not the calendar.
When should I call the vet?
Call the same day if there is a puncture wound, swelling, limping or a cat that hides and stops eating. Bites under the fur can abscess quickly.
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.
