How to Stop Your Cats From Growling & Cuffing Each Other

If your cats are growling and cuffing each other, they are displaying aggressive behavior. Cats fight for a number of reasons, and even cats that are generally friendly with each other might fight from time to time. If your cats are fighting more than normal or if you fear that there is serious risk for injury, it is important to find the cause of the behavior and treat it. Prevent your cats from cuffing and growling at each other to ensure their health.

Things You'll Need

  • Extra food bowls
  • Extra litter boxes
  • Towel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Observe your fighting cats. Figure out where they fight and when the fight. While some cats fight as soon as they see each other, other cats fight only at certain locations or at certain times.

    • 2

      Feed your cats separately. If your cats are fighting over a communal food dish, place them in separate rooms and feed them individually. This prevents fights over food.

    • 3

      Give your cats separate litter boxes. Cats may quarrel over who can use the litter box, and another litter box allows them to stake out their own territory.

    • 4

      Rub a towel gently over one cat and then rub the towel on the other cat. Cats are highly dependent on scent, and if the other cat smells familiar, there is less chance of aggressive behavior. This is a good tactic if the squabbles happen when one cat returns from an unfamiliar place, bringing strange smells with it.

    • 5

      Close the blinds. Some cats express displaced aggression. If they see an unfamiliar cat through a window, they may become agitated and aggressive. Because they cannot reach the outdoor cat, they may become aggressive toward their familiar companion cats. Close the blinds and prevent the cats from seeing outside.

    • 6

      Take the aggressive cat to the veterinarian. If a formerly sweet cat has turned aggressive, there may be a medical problem.