My cats attack each other and sometimes they start biting each other's paws and I can't calm them down. Their just kittens and we got them near January this year. How can I calm them down without hurting them?
2006-11-08 03:36:08 · 18 answers · asked by honeyfairy5 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Cats who are friends play fight like that, and they have their own ways of communicating in play. Cats who are friends also occasionally have real quarrels, usually a short period of a lot of noise, but no harm done. If you observe your cats, you can easily tell the difference between the way a cat who is playing acts, and the way a cat who is seriously fighting acts, their body language, sounds, etc between play and serious fighting are quite different. If they are causing a disturbance by playing, a squirt gun, a squirt from a can of canned air, or sometimes, just hissing at them will convince them to move their play to a different part of the house. Theres no need to panic or worry about it. And incidentally Ive had cats that played like that even in old age.
2006-11-08 03:49:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is their fur raised when they are "attacking?" Are their tails poofy? Is there a lot of hissing/spitting? Do the bites puncture the skin?
If not, this is just cat-play. It is natural, and healthy, for this to occur. It provides exercise and mental stimulation. If it gets too rough - one cat will let the other know, and the other will most likely back off.
However, if your answers to the above are yes, then your best bet is to SEPARATE the cats completely. Are they both males? Are they spayed/neutered? Perhaps if they are both male, and they aren't neutered, the operation will calm them down a bit. They won't be so aggressive towards each other.
To be honest, they have been living together long enough that they should be acquainted - if they aren't used to each other by now, they probably never will be. These two cats may just be incompatible.
NEVER step in the middle of a real cat fight. You put yourself at risk for being bitten or scratched - while the cats are trying to get at each other, they might mistake your hand for the other cat. Try to distract them by spraying them with water, or stomping hard on the floor close to them. Once you have stopped them, quickly separate the cats. Check both over, and if the wounds are serious, take them to a vet.
I hope that you have just confused real fighting with their form of play. Good luck!
2006-11-08 03:47:12 · answer #2 · answered by cpenrod19 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are they just playing? Kittens play fight all the time.
If it is a bit more rough than play, try using a water gun on them. A quick shot behind their ears when they start fighting should get them out of the habit. I trained my cats so that when I clap, they know I mean business. They get a clap, then if they carry on, the water gun comes out. My cats are now 3 & 4 and I haven't needed the water gun for quite a while!
You could also try and coax them into playing instead of fighting. Get a fish on a string (not a real one, and I mean fish not fake string!) and trail it around them while they are fighting. This might catch their attention instead of scrapping with each other.
2006-11-08 03:40:28 · answer #3 · answered by Liggy Lee 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know it looks like theyre hurtin each other but they will grow out of it, Are they boys?? This would definately explain things, but even if theyre not, its totally normal. My kitten tries to play fight with me all the time, and i mean REALLY fight and if my hand played back hed do it all the time, and be pretty rough. If there is another kitten playin back, i can only imagine what they get up yo!! Theyll grow up.. plus if they are boys gettin them neutered really helps.. id recommend it to anyone!!!.. calms them down a treat!
2006-11-09 00:02:47 · answer #4 · answered by Jenie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with liggy lee. I have two cats aged 3 and 4 and they still play fight all the time. There is no harm in it until either of them squeals then you know they are hurting each other. I use the clap method everytime and is works well. the water pistol is also a good idea but don't use it to often because they will become immune to it.
good luck
2006-11-08 03:43:52 · answer #5 · answered by smudge 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are they actually hurting each other? Cat play often seem s too rough for us humans to handle, but normally, they never cross the pain threshold; their play is natural and controlled and designed to teach them future skills. Maybe you are thinking too much about it? Kittens love to play rough.
If, however, they are injuring one another to the point where bleeding occurs, you need to consult your vet as this is something I have never heard of before.
Hope it works out!
2006-11-08 03:45:59 · answer #6 · answered by kiteeze 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my two toms were like that, so much that their names are Frank & Tyson after the boxers. they grow out of it, kittens always play rough with each other, as long as neither of them get physically hurt its probably nothing to worry about. distract them with toys when they do it
2006-11-08 04:53:13 · answer #7 · answered by stacey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are just kittens , they love to play , they will grow out of it. When they get older, maybe get some toys they can play with.
2006-11-08 10:36:41 · answer #8 · answered by kitty 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are 11 months old, they're not kittens. Put them on the naughty step!
2006-11-08 06:54:23 · answer #9 · answered by chutney 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you sure that they're attacking each other? A lot of animals look like they're fighting when they are actually playing.
2006-11-08 04:59:33 · answer #10 · answered by Emily 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋