Sisters suddenly fighting

[Zombiefly]

Hi all,

Just looking for some advice really.

I have two female cats, just coming up to 1 year old and have been with us since 8 weeks. They're sisters and we got them from cats protection. Both spayed and mostly indoor cats but do occasionally venture out. They've always had playfights but the last few days one of them seems to be hissing at the other and generally being a bit of an arsehole. The one who is being hissed at (the hissee?) also had a scratch in her ear yesterday, which looked quite fresh. She's always been timid but worried she's becoming a bit of a victim to the other one's bullying behaviour. The hissee is a tabby and the hisser is a tortoiseshell (both moggy, British shorthair but I reckon they're part feral), daft as a brush and usually very friendly.

Any clue as to what is going on? Have they just had a bit of a handbag moment? And what can I do about it if anything? (Sorry for all the questions!)

Obligatory cat pic

My boys (brothers) were only friends until 1 yr old. Then they begin hissing, spitting & squabbling. They are still more friendly & respectful with each other than with my non-sibling cat, but not buddies any more. One of them is quite a horror sneaky stalking his brother, but has been beaten up properly for it, too.

So sounds normal to me that they don't get along forever.

Our two brothers are best friends 90% of the time, and very occasionally fall out for anything from hours to a week.

I’ve always assumed one of them must smell “wrong” (either due to illness, contact with an alien substance, change in eating habits or something similar). They make up eventually and everything is peaceful until the next spat.

Adult cats don't really like to be together as a rule. Yes some tolerate it but generally speaking they don't like it much. Cats are solitary by nature so I think this is normal.

Thanks both, so seems that this is normal and just let them work it out.

Might have to get them a get-a-long t-shirt

Batface1 - good point. I think I must be a cat trapped in a human body. Much prefer my own company

I have sisters who sometimes really fight, they seems to go through phases.

Like the PP I’ve always assumed that one of them must smell different. Tip from our vet: try taking a towel, rub the hisser with it, then rub the hissee with the same towel. Repeat a few times.

Ha me too

Just make sure they have their own bolt holes and they'll be fine I'm sure

I would love to see them in the get along T shirt 😁

Lorddenning1 I honestly think I'd die of blood loss from a thousand cuts if I tried to get them into one! When they were spayed they loathed the buster collars so much I made them both wear a slouch sock with the foot cut off which they hated marginally less. They've still not forgiven me....

Expressedways - excellent tip, thanks. I shall give it a go

Has another cat come on to their territory. My pair would sit and watch An intruder in their garden but would turn on each other. magic still has a notch in her ear where her sister got her. Took me ages to work out where the blood had come from. They weren't best buddies but they never ever fought like that before.

Cats reach social maturity between 1-2 years of age and it's normal for siblings to have some squibbles at that stage to sort out their hierarchy.

Do you have separate resources so there is no fighting over that, i.e. more than one of litter boxes, feeding areas, water bowls, favourite beds etc.?

My nearly 2 year old siblings have short arguments sometimes but mostly they snuggle up, clean each other and stick together.

They are of the age where the love dies and they become adults. Sometimes they stay loved up, sometimes it turns into toleration and sometimes you get outright loathing and bullying.

I'd see how it pans out. With my older two we clearly had a top cat and a lower cat and every now and then lower cat got v upset and had urinary probs so we were always well stocked up with Feliway in case of crisis.

However when lower cat was ill, this then went to top cat's bladder so there is no accounting for cats

Both lived long and generally happy lives together but I swear the happiest day of lower cat's life was when top cat died and she realised she had the house to herself.

Toddler - not that I've seen. They have a few they hang about with outside, but no one new.

Basically it sounds like they've hit the adolescent moody phase