How to Stop One Cat Beating Up Another

A cat that beats up on another cat in the household can disrupt the peace for everyone. Cat aggression between two cats is often the result of territorial disputes, dominance issues or fear. Often it occurs when a new cat is introduced into a household, but it can also happen spontaneously between cats who have known each other for years.

Things You'll Need

  • Water gun
  • Feliway cat pheremone plug-in
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Instructions

  1. Stop Cat Fighting

    • 1

      Determine whether the aggression is truly a problem behavior or merely play between the two cats. In cases of play, both cats will participate in the mock fighting and there will be no hissing, growling or other signs of negative emotions involved. If one cat is being frightened and trying to hide from the other, this is a sign that the aggression is a problem that needs to be dealt with.

    • 2

      Learn to recognize the signs of aggression and fear. Aggressive cats will often flatten their ears back, lash their tails and dilate their eyes before attacking. Fearful cats will take a defensive posture, which looks similar to aggression but also includes crouching down low to the ground.

    • 3

      Keep the two cats in separate rooms for a few days or weeks and reintroduce them gradually and only under supervision. Give rewards for pleasant or calm interaction, such as a kitty treat or a small amount of food. Allow them a few minutes of time together at first and slowly increase the time they spend together, watching for aggressive behavior from the dominant cat.

    • 4

      Squirt the aggressive cat with a water gun from across the room if he starts a fight. It is best if the cat doesn't see you or the gun, so he won't associate the sudden wet sensation with you, but with his behavior.

    • 5

      Buy a plug-in calming pheremone product such as Feliway and use it whenever the cats are together. These types of products release a calming scent into the air to prevent cats from becoming aggressive.

    • 6

      Take the aggressive cat to the vet. Cats who continue to show aggressive behavior against another cat may have an underlying medical problem. If no problems are found and the cat continues to beat up on other felines in the household, the cats may have to be permanently separated.