Advice on fighting

[ScantyNebula]

The fighting between Toby and Lily has gotten out of hand and I can't think of anything to do! They are fighting every single day at least 4-5 times a day .. they claw at each other, bite each other, and generally look angry with each other! What do you do in these situations?? I hate seeing and hearing them fighting all the time and I'm afraid they might actually hurt one another some day ...

Any advice?

Johanna

[jenluckenbach]

Are they fighting or are they playing roughly? If one runs, hides and avoids the other then it might be fighting. Or if they are both provoking each other trying to be dominant, it might be fighting. But if they always come back for more that it is probably rough play. When Biddy plays with Kim is sounds like fighting. But she does not fear him or provoke him . She just tells him loudly that he plays rough.
Are the sessions short, or constant? Another clue. Playing will be short bursts of fight sound and then off to do something else. A real fight may continue for a long time, especially if one does not back down.
If you really hate it, squirt them with water to break them up.

[ScantyNebula]

Jen to tell you the truth .. I can't tell the difference, but from what you are saying, I think its fighting. They fight for up to 20 minutes straight sometimes .. and they both provoke each other. I watch them and they often stare at each other with their ears pinned back and tails swinging like mad, and lily lets out a little meow sometimes then one of them pounces on the other!

I guess I'm on my way to get a water squirter!

[sasvermont]

I would break them up if it starts to get on your nerves. When Graemer and Miley would beat up on each other to the point of distraction, I would put one cat in a time out, and allow the other to cool off too. I don't know if this fighting stuff was going on while I was not at home, but while I was home and it happened for long periods of time, it seemed that a time out helped.

Good luck.

Sometimes teenage kittens can be a real pain in the butt. Juni bugs Miley to the point of growling .... then I step in and start yelling.......I think they are jealous of each other when I am around.

Keep us posted!

[jazzcat]

Since I've had Scout for two months now I have finally learned the difference between fighting and rough play. Scout and Jazz wrestle around and play, very rough, up to 10-12 times a day but ever so often Jazz is not in the mood and it turns into a fight with usually Scout getting the harder end and running off. Jazz, who had never hissed before Scout, has learned to do this pathetic scratchy hiss when she has had enough. If Scout doesn't get the message then Jazz usually whacks her extremely hard with claws out. I try to intervene when I hear the hiss so Scout won't get hurt but she did get scratched on the top of her head about a month ago.

Their play is very similar to fighting too with their ears down, eyes dilated and tails flicking but they never make that little growl or cry.

If you don't have a water bottle handy try throwing a small light weight pillow or towel at them to break it up. I found that works great when Ripley is having one of his rage fits and attacks me. (that's another very long story).

[moosmom]

If their ears are flat, that's usually a sign that it's fighting. The best way to break them up is keep a spray bottle at hand with water. Squirt them both and that should defuse the problem.

Having 8 cats, I keep a bottle in every room. Another thing you can do is put marbles or pennies in a soda can and tape it shut. Everytime they fight, rattle it as hard as you can. They hate the noise.

Good luck.