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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Cats are fighting

7 replies

TheUnexpectedMorrisDancer · 25/03/2015 22:25

Bit of background. We got two rescue cats just over a year ago. A 6 year old male called Leo and a 4 month old female called Maggie. Both had been desexed. We brought them home two weeks apart, and kept them separated but they kept trying to get to each other. Under supervision we let them meet, they showed no hostility and have been close ever since. They sleep curled up together, groom each other, just generally get along really well.
We have a ten year old golden retriever that both cats have got along with from the beginning. Basically all the animals are friendly and affectionate with each other.
The cats are predominantly indoor cats, our neighbour has nasty dogs that would kill a cat if they went over the fence. The cats are allowed out when we supervise them.
So to the problem, this morning I was woken up by yowling and hissing to find both cats under the kitchen table. They weren't fighting but were both being very aggressive. The dog got between and they both ran off.
Since then they have both been slinking around and avoiding each other. When they do spot each other there is more hissing and growling. It appears to be Maggie, the younger female cat, who is attacking Leo.
Nothing in their life has changed recently, so I can't think of a reason that either of them would be stressed. They both recently had check ups and are healthy. Both cats and dog are wormed and flea treated monthly.
Does anyone have any ideas what could be the issue? At the moment Leo is hiding in the bathroom and Maggie is slinking around the rest of the house. I just want them to be friends again!

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 25/03/2015 22:42

You said 'predominantly' - how do they get outside if they go there ? (I'm wondering if you could have, say, a mean tom in the garden who is stirring things - maybe even getting into the house when your back is turned.)

TheUnexpectedMorrisDancer · 26/03/2015 00:53

We have screens on all doors and windows, live in Australia so needed to keep out flies and mosquitoes, and no cat flap. Cats only go outside if we open the door for them. Haven't seen any other cats around, certainly no way for one to get in the house. I really can't think what has set off this behaviour this morning.

OP posts:
butterfly2015 · 26/03/2015 01:02

Are their food bowls far apart? Separate rooms is better if you have space but if not then as much space between them as possible.

The younger one is asserting hersel f maybe? We have a cat who is about 13 and we had a rescued female who was one and she used to chase him all the time, wanting to play but he didn't like it so there would be some hissing. Unfortunately she got run over and we've now got an 8 year old female who does not like my boy cat and she pretty much lives upstairs and he stays downstairs.

Make sure they have their own space and places to sleep. Maggie might just have grown out of the baby stage and doesn't want to be crooked by your other cat or it might be a food thing.

TheUnexpectedMorrisDancer · 26/03/2015 02:43

butterfly I think you might be right. I think Maggie just might be asserting her independence a bit. They have spent the past six hours either snuggling up together asleep or hissing and growling and taking swipes at each other.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 26/03/2015 08:50

That's good - looks like there was just an 'adjustment' going on then? (The dog likely wont worry about it either - my experience of big flobbly breeds like golden retrievers is that they just shake their heads in a sort of 'Oh Gawd, they're at it again......' way and leave the cats to it.)

ragged · 26/03/2015 12:23

Cats fuss at each other a lot. It's normal & okay as long as they don't draw blood.

Fluffycloudland77 · 26/03/2015 16:46

I wonder if the male tried to take liberties & the female has informed him she is not that sort of girl.

We occasionally had fighting because the male tried to mount the female. All neutered too.

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