![]() ![]() ![]() When one cat is winning, they may meow as a way to assert their dominance over the other cat. Play fighting is a way for cats to determine dominance and hierarchy. These are some of the possible reasons why they vocalize while play fighting. ![]() Taking time to set them up for success from the start can help them develop a strong relationship, enriching the lives of both the cats and the owners.To us, it may look like they are actually trying to hurt each other when it’s just a game to them. This should relieve some of the pressure on a cat who is constantly the target of unwanted stalking, pouncing and grabbing.įor owners that work long hours or spend a lot of time out of the house, knowing their cat has a friendly play mate to spend the day with is a big reassurance. With one super playful cat and one with less enthusiasm, spend time playing with the more enthusiastic cat yourself to help channel some of their energy away from the other cat. Doubling up on their resources (food and water bowls, litter trays, beds, scratch posts, etc.) and placing them near their favorite places can help them share the territory without competing for these. ![]() The most important consideration to make here is to reduce any potential competition between them in the household. Cats that engage in aggressive interactions will be less open to friendly play as they may expect it to turn sour. Steps to avoid negative interactions at other times of the day can be taken to prevent their relationship deteriorating. Two kittens from the same litter usually work best as they are perfectly matched in terms of age and there is no risk of rushing the introduction process. Taking the time to match activity levels and temperaments can really pay off when looking for a pair that develops a strong, positive relationship. Pairing an energetic kitten with an elderly cat may potentially bring problems and the kitten’s attempts to play may be met with a hostile response. Set them up for success with matching pairsīefore bringing two cats together, give careful consideration to their expected activity levels and play drive. It is not such a good sign if they display negative behavior towards each other, such as blocking access to rooms or resources, hissing or swiping as they pass by, or watching them intently as they try to go about their normal activities.Įncouraging cats to play together can be very difficult, but there are a number of things you can do to help. Sharing food bowls is not necessarily a sign of a positive relationship, nor is sleeping apart on the same bed or sofa. Look for positive social behaviors, such as meeting with their tails up, cuddling up together, mutual grooming and face or body rubbing. To help, the cats’ behavior at other times can be considered too. This can make it more complicated when judging if cats are friends or not, and their behavior during play is not always an accurate reflection of their overall relationship. One may begin to hiss, claws may come out and they may consistently run away rather than returning to the game. Either one or both cats can suddenly feel they’ve had enough and things can quickly turn. These are often seen with young kittens and include rearing up on hind legs, and side stepping or hopping.Ī common problem with distinguishing playing from fighting is that it can change from one to the other momentarily. There are also specific play behaviors that are not usually associated with aggressive or negative interactions. Vocalization – play usually doesn’t involve any aggressive vocalizations often seen before or during a fight, such as hissing, growling or yowling.Turn taking – chasing and pouncing is more equal during play, and more one-sided when fighting.Claws – these are generally retracted during play and come out during a fight.Intensity – play is loose and bouncy, and less tense than fighting.It can certainly look painful! Although the behaviors can be when fighting or playing, there are subtle differences: These behaviors include staring, pouncing and chasing, as well as grabbing, wrestling and bunny kicking with their back paws. Playing together is considered one sign of a positive relationship, but the behaviors displayed when playing can be difficult to interpret as friendly as they can be very similar to those seen when cats fight and it can be difficult to tell the difference. Cats can have different relationships with each other in the house, depending on their individual personalities and behaviors. Many cats live in a multi-cat household, and naturally, owners hope for their cats to get along together happily, particularly when they are younger.īut the dynamics of a multi-cat household can be complicated. ![]()
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