Cat fights are not uncommon in homes with 2 or more cats. Usually it is a matter of cats sorting out a pecking order, or asserting control over a specific territory. These fights may go on and off for weeks until an agreement is reached between the animals, usually without serious damage to either. But sometimes they are vicious or annoying enough that you will want to step in to control the situation.


If you want to stop a fight in progress, don’t reach in or hit them with a stick, since your intervention may just make them more vicious with each other or they may both turn on you. Instead, pour or spray cold water on them (focus on the aggressor, if you can figure out which one started it), or just make a sudden, loud noise. Either of these techniques will usually end a fight.

If your cats have been fighting regularly for weeks, focus your efforts on territory and smell. You can give your cats separate territory by buying a multi-level cat tree (they each may be satisfied by having their own platform), by re-arranging furniture to divide the space they are fighting over, or by just keeping them in separate rooms. A timeout in a confined space can sometimes convince the aggressor cat to tone down his act.

Sometimes it helps to make the two cats smell the same. You can do this by rubbing them daily with the same towel to combine their scents, or by ‘perfuming’ them with talcum powder, or a dab of vanilla extract on each of their necks.

If the aggressor is a neighbor’s cat you may have to either keep your cat indoors or try gentle persuasion on your neighbor to get them to confine their cat. If neither of these steps work, and you’re willing to risk your neighborly relations, you can always call your local animal control officer for help, but it would be a shame to resort to this.

Please see a vet for any wound that comes out of a cat fight, since even small wounds can become infected, possibly with serious consequences.

We hope there is feline peace in your home.



We’ve tried to find the best sources we can for the information above, but don’t rely on web sites when it comes to your pet’s health. Always consult a veterinarian, professional trainer or other expert.