Dealing with aggressive cats

What makes the world go round for cats? Territory. In the wild, cats are solitary hunters, and may cover great distances in pursuit of prey. Fights may ensue when one animal crosses another's territorial boundaries.

Household cat fights over territory

You may notice a similar dynamic if you share your home with more than one cat. Has each pet staked out his or her favorite spots for sleeping and playing? If another cat goes to lie down in one of those spots, is he sent away with a swat or a hiss? Animals living in multicat households must learn to respect each other's territories if they are to peacefully co-exist. Unfortunately, the fur can fly if a new cat is brought home, or if resident felines invade each other's turf.

Aggression between cats is most often seen between unneutered males. Tomcats who are allowed to roam often return home with ripped ears and puncture wounds, the scars of battles for territory and mates - yet another good reason for keeping cats indoors. Unneutered adult female felines can be argumentative, too. But unlike males, they are more likely to stay out of each other's way than settle it with a fight. The solution to this type of aggression is simple - have your pet spayed or neutered as early as possible.

Ever bring one of your cats home from the veterinarian only to have the other resident feline bite, growl and hiss at him? This is very common, even with cats who have lived together for years. The returning animal simply smells different, which may set off the other cat's need to protect his territory. The solution? Experts recommend that you rub a little juice from a can of tuna packed in spring water on your hands, and then rub the backs of your pets. Not only will they both smell the same, they'll start grooming themselves. This serves as a calming, coping mechanism. And by the time they've licked themselves clean, they may even start grooming each other!

Cat fights & newcomers

Introducing a new cat into the household can provoke serious aggression between felines. It may take several months-and sometimes longer-before the hisses and growls are minimized. In some cases, the resident cat will never accept a newcomer. If you are thinking of getting a second cat, consider an animal the opposite sex of your resident feline. A younger and smaller cat is the ideal choice. A 4- to 7-month-old kitten is a good match for all but geriatric resident cats. Keep in mind, too, that felines who were able to spend their first 8 to 12 weeks with their littermates tend to be more accepting of other cats.