Two male cats that fight constantly

[Scooter's Mom]

My two kitties are both neutered males. One is 10 1/2 the other is about 3. They have never gotten along, but lately it seems they are trying to kill each other. I can't tell who starts the fights, but the younger kitty (Charlie) ends up with tons of fur all over the house. I guess it's maybe because his hair is so long compared to Scooter Bug.

I usually end up separating them into different rooms, but hate to do that because one ends up in a bedroom while the other is "free" in the rest of the house.

They also pee on things... usually anything that is my husbands. But sometimes they'll get something of mine. Apparently they both claim me as their own, because they both want to be on me ALL the time.

Anyone have suggestions on how to get them to stop fighting?

Crystal

[Scooter's Mom]

Anyone? I'm so afraid I'll have to give one of them (Charlie, the youngest) up if I can't find a solution to their fighting and spraying. My husband is really losing his patience at having his clothes and bedding pee'd on.

[barncat]

It may be worth a trip to the vet. Sometimes things escalate if the "lesser" cat sees the older "king" is weaker or in ill health. After that's eliminated Try separating them both into smaller areas (bathrooms if you have to) and reintroduce them as if they are total strangers. It seems as if you believe the younger is starting things (I may be wrong, but since he's the one you talk of rehoming)....if that is true you could, next time you witness a fight, support the older one but noisily chasing off the younger and petting the old one. Sometimes, that gets the message that the old king may not be as strong...but he has powerful friends and order is restored.

The peeing is probably territorial and your husband is the male they both are "ranking" on....but eliminating the possibility of urinary tract problems or illness will help you know what you are dealing with. If nothing else, a mutual trip to the vet will make both of them smell different to each other and may set the restart process.

Good luck though, and try not to get too frustrated. There is a group (Cats International, I think) run by a woman named Betsy Lipscomb that has a website where you can ask questions and get suggestions too.

[AbbyMom]

Here is the link to Cats International--which has much useful information.

http://www.catsinternational.org/articles/index.html

My two cats (both females) fight because they are both alpha cats. Jealousy does set them off like yours. I use a Feliway plug in to help keep them calm. It sorta takes the edge off their simmering rivalry.

It's supposed to help with the inappropiate peeing, too. If it works, you can buy off an internet site, and it's much less expensive than a retail store.

One last thought: With my cats,the fighting goes in phases. Meaning, sometimes it's worse, sometimes it's better. The older they get, the less they fight.

Good luck to you and your cats. Hope it works out.

[Scooter's Mom]

I'll check out the information you've both suggested.

The reason I'd rehome the younger kitty is because I'm way too attached to the older one. He's been my best friend through a divorce, moving cross country, losing my mom and my sister-in-law within 3 weeks of each other, 5 major surgeries and too many minor things to count. I love them both, but Scooter is truly my baby since one of those surgeries took away my chance to have any 2 legged ones.

Thanks again for the info on Feliway and Cats Int'l.

Crystal

[Medusa]

I have the same situation; one male, Specs, is approx. 5 yrs. old and Boo is 14. Specs just won't leave Boo alone and he peed on my dining room buffet until it warped the wood. (I've since gotten new furniture and there's no way he's gonna get away w/it again.) I tried Feliway for a loooon time, to no avail. Finally, Dr. LeBeau put Specs on Clomicalm, a quarter of a tablet in the evening before bed. So far, no peeing and it's been about a month. I know that some folks don't like to medicate their cats for something like that and, honestly, I'm not crazy about it. But I'm also not independently wealthy and can't keep buying new furniture, not to mention that the house will eventually smell like a litter box if allowed to continue and it's also not the most sanitary of conditions. Specs is monitored and in the beginning, it did make him a little drowsy. But now he's acclimated to it and he's acting quite normal except without the peeing. Hope this helps.

Blessings,
Mary