Why are my 2 neutered male cats, who are house mates, fighting?

Question

Just recently my 3 year old neutered male has been attacking my 8 month old neutered male. They've lived together for about 4 months now without any problems. He seems like he's stalking him 24/7. There is no warning of an attack, no hissing or growling. There are never any puncture wounds but slight skin abrasions around the kittens neck but alot of screaming and howling once the fight has begun. I've tried squirting with water, scruffing and actually hissing at the attacker and also time outs but nothing has worked. Most of the time they get along but there is at least 3 fights a day. I'm at a loss. My husband is fed up with it and threatening to get rid of my older cat. I would just let them fight it out but the kitten never seems to be able to get out of the hold of the older cat. Besides, it's very unnerving to hear in the middile of the night. Please help!!! Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Answer 1

If they have lived together for 4mths without problems, your older cat clearly does not intend any harm to the younger cat. They could have fallen into a new pattern where the games they play get rougher (like you said, no injuries). Try and notice if the kitten is also pouncing onto the older cat. The older cat is better able to defend himself so you may only notice when it's the kitten who's in trouble. Try and transfer all that energy into games. Get them toys and bouncy balls that'd wear them out a bit and distract them from stalking games. For your husband's benefit, you may want to separate them at night. In a few months, the kitten will be almost as large as the older cat and be better able to tell the older cat to back off. Your older cat may also be trying to instill some form of pecking order in the home now that the youger cat is no longer a harmless kitten but potentially someone who could usurp his position in the home. I had an old cat who was extremely well behaved. He started smacking my 5mth old kitten around and we couldn't understand it and punished him for it. Later we realised the kitten was in the habit of stealing food from the countertops etc and the older cat hated him for it. We praised the older cat and worked at training the kitten instead and months later, there was peace again. The key is to keep calm and observe. Hang in there and good luck.

Answer 2

properly, i think of they battling is by technique of the fact now, 'Sooty' is an enemy of the older cat. Sooty is of mating age and the older cat probable does not elect to lost territory or friends (whether there are no female cats; this is nevertheless instinct). If Sooty is now a million and the cats are a 365 days and a a million/2 aside, that makes the different cat 2 a million/2, the main suitable option? properly, if so, the different cat is in simple terms too previous for the operation and the extra youthful cat would desire to be as properly. call your vet to discover what the a protracted time are for the 'operation'. stable success!

Answer 3

Are they stressed from a confined space without the open sky, smells of greenery and sightings of potential prey? If you can'tgive them a small enclosed yard, design a miniature garden on your balcony or patio. May effectively distract them from focusing aggressively on each other

Answer 4

I agree with "aken" and his answer.
Just give it a month or two things will be better.
Try putting them in different rooms at night so you can get some sleep for now.

Answer 5

Seperate them for a week. And if they start fighting after that kick em'.