Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Cat fight

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 9/25/2009


Question
hello
I need help...last year May 2008 I got a stray cat. Now she is an in and outdoor cat. She got spayed last year December 2008.  this year I got another stray cat. I got him around May 2009.  My female cat  does not like the male cat. The male cat does not like the female cat.  Just like 4 days ago I had to take my female cat the the emergency hospital because she was bleeding besides the eye. The male cat scratch her. i thought she was bleeding because she got scratch in he eyeball but no, the doctor saw she got scratch by the side of the eye.  This October my male cat is getting neuter.  What can I do so my cats won't harm themselves.  I do not want to abandon either of them because i love them...Help

Answer
Alma,

Neutering the male will definitely help his behavior, but it may not instantly make them like each other. Cats are like people, some have a personality clash and cannot get along. Usually with cats it is a territorial issue.

I would get after them with a rolled up newspaper saying loudly "no fighting!!" to let them know that you won't allow that kind of behavior. Then wait a few minutes and love on them because you want them afraid of the newspaper and to fight, but NOT afraid of YOU!

Here are some suggestions:

When she is outside love on him and give him quality time. When she is inside lock him in a room for awhile to let her relax and give her some quality time with you.

Get a pet laser light (Petco, PetSmart, etc.). The cats love to chase to chase to little red 'bug' on the floors, walls, and ceiling. They tend to forget about each other when they focus on the 'bug' and it can help them be together without fighting.

Get some special cat treat like Tuna (people kind), tinned sardines in oil, etc. and feed them together. That is so they will associate each other with something pleasant and not negative.

You can try rubbing catnip in the carpet which can help mellow cats out. Though I have 2 cats that catnip will make them aggressive. You just have to try it and see how they react to it.

Also keep the cat's claws trimmed to help avoid injuries. Here is a great link with photos that show how to trim the cat's claws with photos:  http://www.cat-world.com.au/catclaws.htm

Tabbi  

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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