Social Aggression In Cats

Social aggression among cats is sometimes called territorial aggression. This type of aggression often occurs when a new cat is introduced to the household. If the new cat is a kitten, the aggression may not begin until the cat reaches maturity at about two years of age. When a cat reaches maturity, another cat in the household may become aggressive towards that cat. The aggressive cat is not necessarily the oldest cat nor the one that has been in the household the longest.

The cats may have gotten along before the aggression began. The social aggression typically starts as mild assertions against the target. The aggressive cat may hiss at the new cat. These signs of aggression should not be tolerated. The cat owner should separate the cats at the first signs of cat aggression.

If a cat fight occurs, the cat owner should never try to pull the cats apart. In that situation, the cat owner is likely to get bit. Cat bites can be severe and are prone to infection. Instead, a cat owner should make a loud noise, squirt the cats with water, or throw something soft at the cats.
To stop social aggression, the two cats should be kept in separate rooms. The cats should then be switched after a few days. This allows the cats to become accustomed to each other’s scent. After a few more days in isolation, the cats should be allowed to see each other, but not interact.

It’s important for the cat owner to help the cats associate the presence of each other as a positive experience. While the cats can see each other, each cat can be given cat treats. Some cat owners separate the cats with a door that is just slightly open and secured with a latch such as a hook-and-eye closure. The idea is to let the cats see each other without interacting. Each cat can be given a special cat toy, catnip, or another special treat in the presence of the other cat. Gradually, the cats can be brought together and given treats in each other’s company.