Is there anything you can really do to stop cats from fighting?

[dameofdilemma]

Just had bit of an earful from a neighbour....perfectly reasonable as they've had to take their cats to the vet as our cat has attacked theirs (again).

I just don't know what else we can do.

We got our cat as a 5 year old (already neutered) cat from a shelter (he's now 10). We wanted to get a rescue rather than a kitten as felt like the right thing to do. That meant we had little control over whether he was an outdoor or indoor cat - he was very much an outdoor cat already and got quite distressed if he was locked indoors. He's the sort of cat who will go out in the pouring rain.

He's fed well and we've taken advice from the vet over type of feed as he's a bit overweight. He can come and go through his cat flap (except overnight when he is locked in). He has a big garden, safe, cosy home and loving owners who give him attention.
We've even put those pet spikes across the top of our garden fences in an attempt to deter him from going out of the garden (it hasn't worked).

He's very submissive with people but just will not stop picking fights with other cats in their gardens. We've had to take him to the vet with injuries when he's come worse off but he still won't stop.

The neighbour suggesting getting his claws cut....I said we'll ask the vet about it....I didn't know this was something we were supposed to do (I've never had a cat before) - is this safe to do?

Any tips welcome as really don't want to fall out with all the cat owning neighbours. Wish they'd all get dogs!

Apart from keeping him in and putting a warning bell on his collar no not really. Are there consequences for his actions? I would get down to his level and firmly but kindly tell his his behaviour is not acceptable and any more nonsense he will be on the naughty step....

Does she mean declawed😱if so, absolutely don’t do that!

I don’t know there’s much you can do, cats do this unfortunately & there are always going to be cats that fight.

"I would get down to his level and firmly but kindly tell his his behaviour is not acceptable and any more nonsense he will be on the naughty step...."

I mean, I really have tried talking to him (dp told me to stop being ridiculous).

"Does she mean declawed😱if so, absolutely don’t do that!"

I don't know....do cats have their claws made shorter/blunter (but not removed)?

Yes I trim the very end sharp bits off mine to make them blunter but I don’t know how much that would help in a fight! You could do that to show willing I guess!

Declawing is illegal in Britain. If he's outside his claws will be blunt naturally. Maybe have a timetable with your neighbour on when he can go out? I don't know there's not a lot you can do when they display territorial behaviour.

my mother had a similar issue with her cat.
He was a rescue cat also and a bit of an ally cat type.

He is generally a bit of a fighter when out ( soppy and loving when home).
She sorted out his fighting completely by allowing him out at night. All the other local cats are taken in at night.
They are in a safe area away from roads I should add.

Animals do not understand human property boundaries. Their territory is set entirely by them, and garden fences are essentially meaningless and irrelevant, presenting as they do, an easily surmountable obstacle (and convenient watching station).

I suggest you purchase a large water pistol and give it to your neighbour, saying that they are welcome to soak your thug kitty any time he ventures into their garden. If they do it often enough, it should deter him a bit.

By the way, it isn't usually claws that do the real damage in fights anyway, it is puncture wounds from their teeth.

It's usually the teeth that do the damage so nail trimming probably pointless.
Sadly no, there's not much you can do, short of keeping him inside.

Properly cat proof your garden tell them to do the same its cheaper than the vet bill long term

Cat proof your garden so he can go out without hurting other cats.

Oh my God how dare she suggest you declaw your cat! that is disgusting it’s like cutting off a humans fingers and if your cat was to be attacked How would it defend itself? If it wants to scratch An itchy spot how would it?

Cats don’t just attack other cats for no reason they both go at it together so her cats are clearly just as much at fault as yours

I would leave the cats to it eventually they just start ignoring each other as my cats did with the neighbours
Your neighbour is being dramatic and you don’t know if your cat is attacking them Unless you have a camera on the collar The it could be the other way around

@dameofdilemma No you can’t make cats claws shorter or blunter- they very much like human nails if you cut them short they will grow again within a week
Also as others on here have said it’s the bites that do the most damage not the claws
cats Don’t usually use claws when fighting

I don't think there's anything you can do. Cats are extremely territorial and many cats see all other cats as a huge threat. We moved a year ago and our cat is always fighting with the neighbour's cat. They're both very aggressive and just can't accept each other. They've both put each other in hospital! Fortunately our neighbour is understanding and she knows that her cat is as bad as ours.
I wouldn't see your cat as solely responsible for these fights. In my experience cats just fight!
All we can do is separate them when we see them together but obviously a lot happens when we're not looking.

This helps our situation too. Our cat is allowed out at night and the neighbour's cat is cat in. Usually when the neighbour's cat is outside, mine is fast asleep, recovering from his night on the tiles!

Ugh I have so much sympathy for your neighbour, cat fight injuries have cost me £4000+ over the years.

Keep him in at night, that should help. Yes I know having a litter tray is so annoying.

You could try trimming his nails but it’s unlikely to achieve much, most cat fight injuries are bites.

Keep apologising to neighbour and tey a keep in / out schedule. Even if it isn’t forever it should give the cats a better idea of when its their territory and oerhaos make fights less violent.

I have to correct the poster who said “Cats don’t just attack other cats for no reason they both go at it together so her cats are clearly just as much at fault as yours” this is a load of nonsense.

Cats attack for no reason all the time, I have for example been sitting in the garden next to my elderly sleeping cat when psycho-cat from down the road leapt over the fence onto him and tried to tear out his neck.

Humans sometimes attack for no reason, humans sometimes murder and torture for fun. So do cats, but cats actually do it more often and don’t have to worry about police.

Thanks all. I had no idea re claws so useful to hear others views.

I've encouraged the neighbours to soak our cat (and they do). I'm not sure how to cat proof a garden effectively - eg put 10 foot high wire fencing all around? We share fences on both sides and don't think our neighbours would like it (not the same neighbours but they also have cats).

We've tended to keep the cat in overnight due to urban foxes in the area. It isn't hugely safe at night.

protectapet.com/pages/installation-service-stoke?gclid=Cj0KCQiAmaibBhCAARIsAKUlaKSDJy6gjUaNb3bjjLuztECGGCsdA9Vk3EBC1M-mfoT-La4PmEH5p3kaApB9EALw_wcB

Something like this

Absolutely do not entertain the idea of getting him declawed - it’s barbaric and disgusting. But even more so on an outdoor cat who would become hugely vulnerable and defenceless without them.