If you have more than one kitty in your household, you've probably already watched them chase each other intensely or exchange a couple ofclawing at each other It's completely natural for cats to enjoy freely exercising their instincts. They can play imitating combat situations, hunting or fishing, for example. The problem appears when the game is so intense that it is difficult to differentiate a real conflict from a fun between partners.
If you're wondering how to tell if your cats are playing or fighting, you've come to the right page. In this article on our site, we will tell you a little more about feline body language and we will give you some tips to easily differentiate moments of fun and tension between your kitties. Can you come with us?
What should I do to know if my cats are playing or fighting?
Cats have a rich body language. Although they can use certain sounds to communicate with each other or with us, they tend to express themselves mostly through their postures and facial expressions A cat that is about to fight has a mood Quite different from a cat that is having fun with a companion. Consequently, your body will also adopt a completely different posture when challenging an opponent than to invite a friend to play
Therefore, the best way to know if your cats are playing or fighting is to observe them and interpret the signals that their body transmits. Logically, you will need to encourage yourself to understand the non-verbal language of felines a little better. But to help you, we summarize below the most notable differences between two cats fighting and two cats having fun playing.
1. Fighting stances vs. game poses
Usually, a cat preparing for a possible fight will stare at the other animal and bristles its fur and body Before the fight, you will see one of the cats take a dominant stance (as if challenging his opponent) and advance on him, while the other cat fights back to defend himself. During the fight, cats often emit long and loud meows, as well as high-pitched screeches (similar to a scream). At the end of the conflict, the cats will most likely distance themselves from each other and avoid each other for a long time, either out of mutual fear or loss of interest.
On the contrary, when two cats play, you will notice that they tend to imitate each other's movements, alternating who's role defends and who constantly attacks. During their fun, they will be able to meow and even snort, but these will be shorter and much less intense And when they finish playing, they won't be afraid of each other, even when they choose to distance themselves for a few minutes to rest easy.
Another obvious difference between a fight and a game between cats is the result. Two cats that play will be able to exchange some claws and even exceed each other with meows. However, very they will rarely get hurt or injured for having fun In feline fights, the results almost always require immediate veterinary attention, so it is essential to prevent your kittens get into real combat.
two. Form and rhythm of approach
When a feline is interested in playing, he will often approach in a friendly way to "feel out"the other's disposition. He acts as if he wants to say to his partner "Hello! Shall we play?". If the other cat wants to play, he will answer yes with a similar movement. While they play, you will also see that they set the rhythm of the movements together, attacking, defending or chasing each other evenly and even in sync.
In a fight, the approach is quite different: the aggressive cat moves forward to attack and the other has no choice but to defend or try to escapeif the confrontation seems very unfavourable. The rhythm is more uneven, being marked mostly by the feline that has the advantage (which can be alternated during the fight).
3. Signs of friendship
Felines that live peacefully in the same home and maintain a friendly relationship, reveal signs of this friendship in their day to day By example: they can rest together or next to each other, allow one to eat or drink from the other's feeder or drinker, share the same litter box, etc. Through these demonstrations, they are telling each other that your presence is welcome in the territory.
When two cats do not have a friendly relationship, they will generally avoid any kind of contact and will probably fight when they observe that one intervened in the other's territory.
How to stop the fight between two cats?
If you recognize that your cats are fighting, it is very important that you stop the conflict before one or both get injured. Remember that wounds resulting from a fight favor the development of numerous infections and various pathologies, such as uveitis.
You should never intervene directly or put yourself between two angry cats, otherwise you will also get hurt and the result will be even more unfortunate. It is also not effective or recommended to be aggressive with your kittens, since violence generates more violence. To quickly grab the felines' attention and make them scatter, you should make some loud noise You can clap your hands loudly, bang on a table or door, or let drop a metal object, such as a pot or pan.
However, this is an emergency resource to prevent your cats from hurting themselves further. We should not frighten our pets or create situations of high stress, to avoid transmitting negative feelings, such as fear or insecurity. If you notice that your cats start to fight frequently or are more aggressive than usual, do not hesitate to consult a ethologist or feline specialist It is very important to find out the why the change in behavior of your felines, since this may indicate some imbalance in their body.
How to prevent your cats from fighting?
Just like most animals, felines have a strong territorial instinct that allowed the survival of their species. If from one day to the next, you introduce a new animal into your cat's home, it is very likely that you will attend some fights for territory. In addition, it may happen that one of the cats isolates itself or remains hidden to avoid a new confrontation or because it has created a trauma from the new environment. In any case, you will be facing a coexistence that is not positive for both kittens.
What to do to avoid it? If your feline has not been socialized early, you should start its socialization process as quickly as possible, to prepare it for the arrival of another animal in its territory. When your cat is more prepared, you can gradually start introducing him to the other kitty. Remember never force them to interact, but stimulate their curiosity and reward their good behaviors using positive reinforcement in this process.
It is also essential to prepare your home for the arrival of a new family member. Each of your felines should have their own space, where they feel comfortable and safe. The kitten you adopt must have its own utensils (litter box, drinker, feeder, etc), toys and other essential accessories for its well-being. This will make them feel welcome, favoring their adaptation, and will avoid possible fights over objects or spaces. We also include in this category having several beds or nests.
Little by little, having socialized and introduced your kitties, you will see that they themselves will show curiosity to meet, interact and have fun together. However, it is crucial that you intervene to facilitate and stimulate this process. How? Enriching the environment of your kittens with accessories and interactive toys that allow them to carry out activities together. For example, you can make yourself an inexpensive multi-storey scratching post, which will turn out to be a real amusement park for your kitties. Remember that more important than knowing if your cats are playing or fighting, is to encourage them to play and prevent them from fighting
