Cat relationships...

[CaptWentworth]

Big cat and wee cat have been with us since 8 weeks old, they are now 3.5 years. Their relationship is turbulent to say the least. On the whole they tolerate each other, but swing from apparent affection to fighting. Big cat is a big soft lump, he has a chronic respiratory problem, which is well controlled but I feel like it makes him easy to pick on. They will sleep on the same bed (at opposite corners) and feed from the same bowls together without any problems. But the fighting...

It doesn't happen often, but they've had full scale screeching/hissing/fur flying disagreements. 10 minutes later, wee cat is sitting licking big cat's head like nothing happened.

I'm confused. I don't want this behaviour to escalate. Is it likely to get worse? Is there anything I can do to help them get along better?

There are no signs of stress, no inappropriate toileting or hiding or anything. They are also free range indoor/outdoor cats.

Sounds a bit like my two. They are sisters and the rescue told me they had to go together as they were inseparable. Hmm! They go out if their way to avoid each other. Occasional fisticuffs but never any hissing or actual fighting. They share a food bowl and litter tray with no issues.but if one thinks her sister is under threat they are very protective. When either are at the vets the other is very clingy. Like yours one of mine had breathing issues and I think it's allowed her slightly more dominant sister to take over. I'm not sure how to make them live each other either! Feliway doesn't work for them.

Can't they have seperate bowls? I wouldn't want to share a plate with someone.

I've tried that. They don't use them. But maybe worth another try. They definitely won't use separate litter trays. Though.

Sorry, should have been more specific. They have two bowls, in the same place, which are interchangeable between them.

Wee cat is the instigator I feel. He will quite happily approach big cat while he's sleeping, lick his face a bit, then go for him. As if he just wants to pick a fight

It's the inconsistency that troubles me. I don't really know what's going on. Maybe they're target is actually me, they want to mess with me 🤔

*their

If there is no blood shed or injuries (apart from to their dignity at losing fur!), then it's most likely sibling type squabbling. My 2 are very bonded to each other, doesn't stop them having squabbles & the odd fight - usually prompted by one of them being bored.

They were very quiet cats when I got them never uttering a sound, probably due to their feral start in life, so they don't make a noise when they fight but I do occasionally find a bit of fluff afterwards, and the ears tend to go flat back as they wrestle/box.

Forgot to add - mine also happily swap bowls (next to each other) and studiously ignore all but 1 litter tray that they share. If there really was a major issue between your cats, there would likely be fights over food if it's closely located.

We have this, we have a Mum and Son. They are mostly very tolerant of each other, happily eat side by side and eat from either bowl, happily share a water bowl and have 3 litter trays which they share.

However they do have really mad fighty periods, lots of hissing and chasing and pouncing on each other. Not instigated by one in particular and it does seem to be when they're bored or have been in for a while due to the weather (almost like Children when they have wet play at school!).

We do have Feliway which seems to help, and the Cats have each got their own favoured spaces in the house they mooch off to when they're fed up with each other!

Thanks folks. I think I will try Feliway. Those are plug ins like air freshener? They have plenty of space to do their own thing separately and sleep.

Wee cat left me half a rabbit

Ours squabble, very much the case that boy is bored - def happens more when it rains for days on end.

Don't worry about the noise it sounds so much worse than it is!

Mine take it in turns to eat. It's very sweet. And will happily eat treats with their heads right next to her. I think they are just typical siblings.

Yes the noise is awful. I've leapt out of bed many a night to see who was killing my catwhat was happening.

Big cat starts off at his bowl, then when I've put food in wee cat's bowl he has to have some of that too, because it might be better you know.