Expert: Ali - 9/2/2008

Question
I adopted two four-year-old lynx point females (retired queens) that were rescued from a cattery.  I gather their conditions weren't great and I suspect that while they've been socialized well with other cats, their human attention may have been lacking.  We've had them 3 months and they are like two peas in a pod and are almost always together.  They still don't want to be picked up for more than a second or two, so I pick them up and kiss them every time I see them and then put them down before they struggle, to get them used to it.

The problem is that, while they seek out my attention and affection (usually when I'm laying in bed reading or, oddly, while I'm sitting on the throne), once they get my attention (and I make sure I pet both of them at the same time) they fight.  It is a toss-up as to who is the dominant cat, but inevitably after a very nice cuddle session, one of the two will turn her back on the other, ears back, tail flicking (insulting, antagonistic behaviour) and begin the fight.  Is this something I'm going to just have to put up with or will it lessen with time or is there something I can do to prevent it?

Answer
Carolyn,

My concern after reading your question is that your cats actually view you as property, something to have control over. I am not sure why this dynamic has happened as I haven't got much background on these cats. I do think that it would be worth your while to consult your family vet about the possibility of a referral to an animal behaviorist since this has been ongoing for some time. A behaviorist specializes in animal behavior and ways to modify unpleasant or dangerous behaviors. Since there is a possibility that the cats could hurt each other (or you if you use your hands or other body parts to break up the fights) I do think that seeking the advice of a behaviorist and following it would be the best option for your cats.

Some general advice on how to deal with cats who are fighting with one another is all that I can offer with such general information. First and foremost you need to remember that no matter how bad the fight between these gals looks you must NEVER stick your hands or any other body parts between them in an attempt to break the fight up because fighting cats can actually end up hurting their humans in the heat of the moment with out ever intending to. If you can catch the cats before they begin fighting use the lowest tone that you can to tell them NO! as loudly as possible. Avoid high pitched tones in this case as the cats will not take them seriously, lower pitched loud tones will have a tendency to be viewed as more like a growl. You can certainly blast the cats with a squirt bottle filled with water or a glass of water poured over them, this will usually inspire a truce even if it's temporary.

If the fights are fairly minor, avoid getting involved, allow the girls to settle their own issues related to hierarchy so long as nobody gets hurt. If you feel that the fights are serious and have resulted in injuries that required medical attention in the past you can try to change the situation by providing each girl with their own separate quarters behind a closed door for about 1-2 weeks and see if a reintroduction makes a difference in their behavior. Given the history of spats between the two girls you may find that providing separate litter boxes and feeding them in separate rooms will help cool things off.

It's not a bad idea to consult a holistic vet if you are able to find one in your area. A holistic vet is trained in conventional medicine as well as alternative therapies like homeopathy, massage or acupuncture. My family vet is a holistic vet and she is absolutely incredible with my feline companions and I prefer the approach that she uses of treating the whole animal rather than just treating symptoms.