When you have more than one cat in your household, you can be sure there will be cat fights. Most often your cats may get along, but still fight some of the time. Although most people might not totally understand why their cats have conflicts, still they have their differences just the same as people do. Cats show their displeasure towards another cat by starting fights. This article will explain the 3 main reasons why cats fight and what you can do to prevent it.

Cats are territorial. A majority of cats fight as a result of territory. An example of this is when a cat feels threatened by another cat occupying their territory. It can even be a cat that they have resided together with for some time. A cats gender has hardly anything to do with it. In contrast to what most people think female cats can be territorial like male cats. Usually one cat will growl and hiss, take swats at the other anytime he feels his territory is being intruded upon. This certainly can occur when an additional cat is added to the household. They are only protecting their territory. 

Social ranking: Male cats often threaten and fight each other with regard to social ranking and neutered male cats will actually do this. Usually with more than one male cat around, normally one male cat is regarded as the “alpha male’ and will be known as the higher up on the cat hierarchy. A couple of cats may position their bodies, followed by screaming at each other. In case one of the cats back off then the catfight will have been prevented. Even when no one desires to back off from each other, the one cat will assault the other cat by leaping forward in an attempt to bite the neck Both cats will go through this process more than once before they stop the fight. Generally there are no wounds involved with these type of fights. 

Aggression: In addition cats fight by reason of redirected aggression which is reasonably common, particularly with indoor cats. If your cat sees another cat in the yard while looking out the window, he may become territorial as well as hostile towards this cat but this cat is unable to be approached and he may perhaps assault the other household cats.Another thing when you are offer treats to your cats. The cat who gets the treat first and starts eating it, will usually turn aggressive and start to swipe and growl at the other cat, who would like a bite. 

When you see your cats sometimes battling it out with each other, just consider this being normal behavior for cats. Almost all the time you are going to be able to know the difference between a fight, whether it’s a hostile or playful on. Only when a cat fight becomes nasty then it’s time to break it up, other than that let the cats work out their differences. If there’s a chance you need to break up a catfight, then prodceed with caution No matter how affectionate a cat is, still there’s always the risk your cat could bite or scratch you when feeling aggressive. To end a cat fight, it is best to produce some type of loud noise, like a handclap. Cats are usually surprised by sudden noises and both of them will cease to fight to find out where the noise is coming from. You can even spray them with water to put a stop to their aggressive behavior.   

If you find your cats in a middle of a fight, never disipline them for fighting. Cats can’t comprehend punishment and it is only part of their natural instincts to fight. The only time to intervene is when it starts to get out of hand. If you happen to observe your cats fighting more than normal, then you need to figure out why. Are the conflicts they have over a food bowl, a litter box or perhaps a prime spot in the window. See to it that every kitty has their own things along with an area to seek refuge whenever they become stressed out with other pets in the home. This will likely help avoid real catfights, which will be more pleasant for everyone.

Cats are naturally nightime creatures. In the wild they do most of their hunting at night and sleep during the day. But your cat is in indoor cat and doesn’t need to hunt for his food. Still he keeps you up at night due to his nocturnal instincts. The good news is you help him meet his needs and you can still get good nights rest.

Here’s what you can do. Play vigorously with him for 30 minutes before you go to bed. When you play with him use toys he can, stalk, chase and capture. After playing, give him food high in protein. This will satisfy his hunting needs. Afterward take the time to groom him to further relax him. He will then be sleepy.

Also you can provide your cat with many different toys, scratching posts, cat trees and cat activity centers to help him use up excess energy during the day, which in turn will make him less active at night.

Just don’t play with him at night before bed but schedule a time to play during the day as well. Cats enjoy human companionship and it’s a great way for you to bond with your kitty. Which means he won’t be waking you up for attention.

If your cat wakes you up at night, don’t get up to play and feed him this will only encourage him to wake you up at night, thus becoming a habit. Better yet, keep your cat in another room with food, water, toys, litter box, scratching post and a comfortable bed to keep him from disturbing you at night.

Don’t use physical punishment on a cat when trying to solve any problem behavior. It will only make the cat afraid of you and it won’t solve anything. Instead get the cat to associate the bad behavior with negative consquences.

Another thing, if your cat has been quiet during the night but has started disturibing your sleep then taking him to the vet might uncover a medical problem you weren’t aware of.

Now that you know what you need to do to calm your cat down, hopefully you can sleep peacefully. Sweet dreams!

A cat’s claws are used for different reasons. The claws mean a lot to cats, since they help a cat to balance himself. If you have ever watched a cat jump and hold onto a high object, most likely you see that he used his claws for getting up. When they climb up a tree, cats typically use their claws to hold onto the limb and climb where they are going.

Cat’s claws are also used to stretch, walk, and run. A cat’s claws are the main way it has to protect itself from harm, from people and from other animals. Nearly all cats have very sharp claws, since a cat’s claws and teeth are generally the only weapons they have. The claws are necessary for taking care of bathroom duties also, since cats use claws to dig and hide their excrement with dirt.

Cats scratch with claws also, and this marks their area. Their claws have glands that secrete. When they put their mark on an object, they leave a secretion on the place where they scratched. The cats can detect this, but people can’t. Occasionally, they will scratch so that an older claw will drop off and the new claw under this will grow out.

As disappointing as it is, many pet owners value their possessions, like costly furniture or carpets, more than their cat. The cat owners are scared that the cat will destroy their furnishing or carpeting, and this is why they make a decision to have their cat de-clawed. Having a cat’s claws taken out is an operation, which consists of the end joint in a cat’s foot being cut off where the nail is connected. 

If you have been considering having your cat de-clawed, you should be aware that this could completely alter his personality. After the cat is de-clawed, he will be hurt and confused. It will be difficult, maybe even impossible, for him to jump on the couch, get through the window, or play like he used to. Some cats, following being de-clawed, become mean and use their teeth to bite. In other words, the cat will be very unhappy, which is hard for loving owners to cope with.

People who choose to have cats should be aware that a cat can scratch occasionally. People should not consider owning a cat if they cannot accept that a cat will scratch sometimes. Cats make wonderful pets, however cats have claws and they will use them sometimes. There are many other wonderful pets available if you can’t deal with a cat. If your concern is only your furniture or carpet, there are methods you can use to prevent your cat from scratching your possessions.

Purchasing a scratching post, showing it to your cat, and demonstrating how to use it is one of the first steps you should take to keep him from scratching on other things. You can also buy a rush mat, which will assist your cat with his inclination for scratching. You might have to show your cat how to use the mat or post, but they’ll learn quickly. Your cat will stop scratching on your furniture and carpet once you have demonstrated the way he should use the scratching post or mat.

Many people don’t realize that there are alternatives to getting their cat de-clawed that will still protect their possessions. Having a cat’s claw taken out hurts very much and it is perplexing to the cat, and it might completely alter the way he looks at things. For the sake of your cat, you should consider other available options before pursuing the inhumane treatment of de-clawing your cat.

If you observe your cat backing up against something like a door and raising his tail to pass urine, this is a sign of trouble. This issue is called spraying, and it is quite typical for indoor cats. It can be really annoying, but you can fix it. 

Despite common beliefs, spraying has nothing to do with litter box issues, but is rather about marking territory. Cat pee that is sprayed has pheromones in it, which is a chemical that cats and various animals use to communicate. Pheromones are similar to fingerprints, in that they help with identification of cats and different creatures. 

As a cat sprays, he is only marking his area with his pee. Spraying is merely how a cat marks out the boundaries of his domain for other animals. While it might cause you to become angry, this does not do anything to resolve the problem. Shouting at or scolding your cat often just causes it to spray again. 

When cats are in heat, they find the smell of urine very appealing. When cats are in heat, they spray to attract a partner. Frequently a cat that sprays when it is in heat will deliver kittens within a matter of months. Remember that it is not always because they are in heat that cats spray; some will also spray if they come up against another cat, or during other times of stress. 

While cats use spraying in order to communicate, the odor is quite foul to humans. Luckily the most common place for cats to spray is outside rather than indoors. Those who own cats that are always kept inside may have a real issue with spraying. In the event that you observe spraying in your home, it is necessary to act on this at once. 

The best and most easy method to put a stop to spraying is to have your cat sterilized or spayed, depending on if it a male or a female. Male cats which are neutered no longer spray, stopping as soon as the procedure is performed. 

If this situation occurs with your cat, discuss it with your veterinarian. It is possible that this is a health issue, and your veterinarian will be able to determine this. Additionally if your cat is spraying because he is going through a stressful situation, you have to find out why he is this way; then you can deal with it and mostly likely he will quit spraying completely. You must always react the moment that spraying begins – just because cat pee has a bad smell and it can leave spots anywhere in your home.

Understanding cat behavior is the key to having a well behaved cat as well as bonding with him.

Most people really believe cats are anti-social and selfish, only showing affection to their owners when they want food.

The truth is most cats really do crave human affection. Usually they are there to greet their owners when they first arrive home, brushing up against them and meowing happily. Eager to sit in their owners lap and be stroked.

Even cats who aren’t lap cats will miss you if you go away for even a few days. For example, my cat Oscar will let me pet him, but does not like to be held. Whenever I go away for more than a day, he’ll let me know he missed me by curling up next to me in bed the first few days I’m back. Once he knows I’m here to stay, he’ll go back to sleeping at the foot of the bed or his mat. Every cat has his own unique way of showing his appreciation for you.

In fact cats are really sensitive creatures and are devastated if they are abandoned by their owners.

Cats have no problem letting you know when they are content, angry, or frightened.

If a cat is content, usually his ears are standing straight up on his head with his tail up in the air while purring.

You can tell a cat is angry when his ears are folded back while giving you a fixed stare, accompanied by a thumping tail. Usually he will growl or hiss or both. He is warning you to back off.

When his ears are flattened against his head with his pupils being dialated that means the cat is really scrared.

Have you ever noticed how a cat rubs his face against people and furniture? They have scent glands around their mouth to mark their territory.

Another way cats mark their territory is by scratching. Cats need to scratch in order to clean their nails and to stretch. Scratching is natural to cats. You can’t stop a cat from scratching, but you can train a cat to use only the scratching post or pad as well as train them not to shred the furniture and drapes.

Cats leave their pheromones by spraying to mark their territory, to relieve stress, communicate with another cat. This can be really annoying when they do it indoors. One of the most effective ways to stop cat spraying is by having your cat neutered or spayed. Also figuring out what could be making your cat stressed and relieving his stress is another way to nip the problem in the bud.

Never yell or use physical punishment to try to correct your cat”s spraying problem. It will make the cat afraid of you and it won’t solve the problem.

Yes cats do have qiurky behaviors which drive you crazy sometimes, but they have their own personalities that make them so lovable.

Cats can be a joy to have as a pet. Unfortunately , they can be a terror when they use your furniture as a scratching post. They don’t do it out of hostility. Scratching is normal for cats and they need to do it. Scratching cleans out their nail sheaths, outer layer of dead cells from the claw and it helps keeps the nails healthy. Plus they scratch for communication or for marking territory.

So what can you do to keep your cat from destroying your furniture? First of all you must understand it’s only natural for cats to scratch and they are going to do it anyway.

Fortunately, you can train them to not scratch your furniture and prefer using a scratching post.First of all when choosing a scratching post you need to consider the type of material your cat will like. Some cats like hard surfaces, while other cats prefer soft materials. You can experiment with different materials using scratching pads to get an idea of what appeals more to your cat. Keep in mind, the post needs to be sturdy enough to support your cat’s weight and long enough for him to stretch.

To make using the post more pleasant for your cat to use, try putting catnip and his favorite toys around it.

Make sure your cat gets plenty of mental stimulation and exercise, otherwise he will destroy your furniture with his claws due to boredom and frustration. Spend at least fifteen minutes a day playing with him.

Here are some things you can do to keep your cat from scratching the furniture.

Keep the furniture covered with something the cat hates to touch; double sided tape, some plastic or aluminium foil. Cats usually don’t like the feeling of foil and the noise it makes, plus they dislike things that cling to their fur.

Another thing you can do is use sprays like bitter apple or actual orange peels around the furniture. Cats hate the way those smell and will repel it everytime.

The worst thing you can do is use physical punishment to try stop your cat from scratching the furniture. It will only make him afraid of you and want to avoid you. Plus, it won’t solve the scratching problem.

It is unreasonable to expect cats to stop scratching, they need to scratch. At least you can condition them to not to scratch inappropiate areas and train them to use a scratching post or pad.

Some cats like to chew on everything, which can be dangerous to them as well as damaging to your personal items. The reasons behind inappropriate chewing can be from teething in kittens, curiousity, boredom, and even inadequate nutrition.

Chewing on electrical cords can result in electric shock, even death. Plants such as azaleas,caladium, lilies, dieffenbachia, ivy, mistletoe, poinsettias and philodendron

are toxic to cats. It is best not to have these plants around at all for your cat’s safety as well as your peace of mind.

Here are some measures you can take to keep your cat and your property safe.

The electrical cords can be covered with cord protectors. For cords bunched together, place rows of double-sided tape on the floor around it. Cats are reluctant to walk across sticky tape.

Spray furniture, plants or just about anything you want to keep your cat from chewing on. Bitter apple spray is safe, non-toxic, plus cats dislike the taste. There are many different kinds of organic cat repellent sprays out on the market.

Keep cat-friendly plants such as lemongrass and catnip within your cat’s reach for him to chew on. This should keep him from chewing on other plants as well as other objects.

Have a variety of toys on hand for your cat to play with, especially when you’re not around. Wall or door mounted toys for cats to bat around with, cat towers, cat tunnels are great “play alone” toys. Your cat won’t be bored.

If you catch your cat chewing on something unsuitable. You can yell “no,” rattle a can full of rocks. Cats are sensitive to loud noises. Also you can squirt your cat with water to discourage him. It will take him by surprise, but won’t hurt him.

Your cat’s diet should be nutritionally balanced to avert vitamin deficiencies which may bring on excessive chewing. You can make your cat’s food or give him cat food high in nutrition and free of impurities. You may also check with your veterinarian or a holistic vet to suggest vitamin supplements.

Your cat should have regular dental exams. Sometimes they chew to ease pain from toothache or aching gums.

In this world, there are “dog people” and “cat people” which are also known as people who like and/or own dogs and people who like and/or own cats. It’s wonderful to be one of these type of people where you own a pet you love and cherish, but what happens when that pet hurts you? What do you do about cat biting for instance?

For the most part, cats are very predictable animals who don’t do anything without reason. It may seem that cats bite only when angry, but there’s more than one reason why they may bite. Sometimes, cats will bite to protect themselves. What we humans have to remember is that biting and scratching are the only forms of protection cats have so when they learn to bite at a young age, they are learning protection the same way we humans learn to hold up our hands when being attacked. It is a natural reflex that cats learn. When they bite stuffed toys or another animal, it is always with the intent to kill and protect themselves so when humans get caught in the midst of this, we can expect that it will hurt.

Cat biting can also occur when the cat is overstimulated. Cats make that incredible purring sound when you pet them, but sometimes they may become overstimulated for one reason or another and turn into a biting creature in an instant. Watch for signs that the cat is becoming uncomfortable by looking for ears going back, eyes narrowing, and tail lashing. Soon after this, the bite will occur so stopping the action you’re doing before the cat gets overstimulated could save you from a bite.

There are a few other ways to prevent getting bitten by your cat. When your cat bites you, say “ouch” very loudly and clearly while looking at your cat. Cat biting is something they may do in play, but if you say “ouch” as you remove the part of your body the cat has in his mouth, he will learn that it is not okay to bite you. Also, you can redirect your cat’s attention to something that is okay to bite, like a toy. Throw the toy several feet and make sure it gets your cat’s attention. Your cat will soon be conditioned to bite the toy instead of you.

Stress can be a contributing factor to litter box problems. Cats don’t like change and they get stressed out easily by a recent move, redecorating the house, a new family member.

The location of the box. The box needs to be placed in an area where there is a low noise level and less activity. Places like bathrooms and kitchens are not the best places due to the high level of activity. Also the box should be in an area that is easily accessible for the cat.