Cats don’t always get along. Over time, a personality conflict may develop between two cats that can lead to hissing, flying fur and clawing. Have you ever nervously watched your cats and wondered, “How can I prevent my cat from bullying my other cat?” If one of your cats is always fighting the other, it may be time to step in. Try giving her personal space, help her feel more confident, or start over and “reintroduce.” You may need to test some of these methods before you find the right one for you.

Signs of bullying in cats

It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between cats that are playing and cats that fight. Play can include jumping on each other, stalking, and even a bit of hissing and light hitting.

Cats don’t usually fluff their fur, growl, or hurt each other while playing. ¹   If they fight with their ears raised and their postures are relaxed, they are probably having fun. They only play if they cuddle or take care of each other afterwards.

If hiss hisses or growls when the other cat is nearby, things are getting even more intense. If a cat is acting frightened or hiding, or one cat has started to urinate or defecate in inappropriate places, these could all be signs that your cat is being bullied.

When your cats play, they should not turn overly aggressive. If things escalate, you will need to step in and make some changes. The longer you fight unchecked, the more difficult it will be for your cats to compensate.

Create a more calm and peaceful family

Cats are more likely to fight if they have a lot of pent up energy, especially if they are house cats. Help create a more relaxing home by playing with your cats more often. Get a reward and have your cats chase you up and down the hall. Play with a feather stick or set up interactive games. Try percussion training. If you engage your cats’ minds and drain them a bit, they may feel the need to fight.

Set up a soothing comfort zone diffuser in different rooms to help create a calmer atmosphere. This drug-free solution mimics your cat’s pheromones, giving natural cues that tell him your home is safe.

Your young children may also get nervous if they see feral cats outside, and they may end up taking that stress off each other. Close your blinds at night or place motion-activated sprinklers outside to discourage wild animals from scaring your cats.

Cats that have not been neutered or spayed are also more likely to fight. Uncontrolled hormones can lead to aggression.

If your cats get into a fight, don’t get involved physically. Instead, try to redirect their attention. ²   Use a toy such as a feather stick to attract the attention of the aggressor and take his mind off the other cat. This tactic can also teach your cats that they don’t always have to escalate their tensions into a real fight.

Give them their own land

Cats may fight if they are intimidated or if the other cat sees prey. One of your goals should be to help your cat feel more confident.

Set up lots of cat trees, condos, and window elements around the house. You want your cats to have the option of escaping to higher ground, so they are not always forced to walk directly behind each other. Find places where one cat usually curls up with the other and try placing a cat tree there. This can also give your cats more space to contact their cats.

Consider buying more litter boxes because cats can be a focus of particular interest in where they urinate. Try one litter box per cat, plus an extra one. ³   You may also want to use litter boxes without tops so that one of the other cats is not trapped.

Separate food and water bowls as well. Cats have an instinctive need to protect their food, so forcing them to eat food from the same bowl may cause unnecessary stress.

Reintroduce your cats

If things get really tense between your two cats, you may have to introduce them again. ⁴   This process may take a few weeks, but it will be worthwhile in the long run. Start by keeping them in separate rooms and swapping blankets so they get used to the smell of others in a non-threatening environment. Feed them on opposite sides of the closed door. When they can eat quietly, try feeding them on opposite sides of the gate or barrier door.

Once they are calm in this position, you can supervise visits in the same room. Give them their favorite gifts and see if you can use toys to distract them from each other. The goal is to teach both cats to associate the other with positive experiences, and eventually learn that they are not a threat.

Just as people can get into fights, so can cats. A wrong meow or a communal litter box can be enough to cause stress and bullying. And just as people may need a little intervention to get along again, your cats may also need a little help. With patience and time, your fighting cats will make “claws” changes and become friends again.