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Territorial behavior
I have two female cats, a brown tabby (3.5 years old) and a black/white (3 years old). I've had them since they were kittens. Both have been spayed. I've noticed some interesting territorial behavior recently, and while I think it's normal, I want to be sure.
The black/white has always been high-strung -- the vet took one look at her and said "This one will become the dominant female". So I figured it was inevitable. But I've never really seen any territory struggles -- they get along great. The only times they don't get along is when the black/white has too much energy and starts chasing the other one -- it stops when the tabby starts hissing. Then they're back to being friends a minute later.
A month and a half or so ago, I started to notice my two going at it more than usual. This time, the younger black/white was wailing at my other cat and hissing. Hard to describe the wail -- starts kinda high, then goes really low, almost like a growl but not quite. Tails fluffed out, aggressive posturing. I step in and separate them, but they just walk around me to keep an eye on the other, hissing and posturing. Finally I get them separated and force one of them upstairs so they can cool off. A few minutes later, they're all normal again, but initial contact is very timid, almost like "I won't do anything if you won't."
This happened repeated times, and I never could understand a source for it. Usually I would wake up after having fallen asleep on the couch while watching TV and the issue is in progress.
The last two times this has happened, I found that an orange/white cat is involved. I'm not sure if it's a male or female, but I've noticed it out on the deck. Both times when I noticed this cat, I noticed that my black/white is not involved in any interaction with the other cat, other than maybe looking at it curiously. It's my tabby that is hissing at it, or posturing, and tonight she jumped at the window at least three times while hissing, trying to attack.
I figure that's normal for a territorial dispute -- my tabby is letting the other know in no uncertain terms that this is her domain. However, when the orange/white finally left, and my tabby was walking back to the interior of the house, she ran into my black/white, and they started posturing. Well, mostly it seemed the tabby was posturing, but I'm certain there was hissing from both.
Naturally, a few minutes later, all was back to normal.
I think an explanation for this behavior could be that if this were in the wild, normally there would have been a fight between the tabby and the orange cat, and after winning the fight, the tabby might expect to be challenged by another cat, and so it stays ready for action to thwart any rebellion.
I guess my main question is -- it seems like the tabby is definitely still the dominant one, since it appears that she is busy protecting her territory, so I'm just wondering if normally cats will continue to act aggressive even with other cats they know, even after the first threat is gone. Basically, is this normal, or anything to be concerned about?
The black/white has always been high-strung -- the vet took one look at her and said "This one will become the dominant female". So I figured it was inevitable. But I've never really seen any territory struggles -- they get along great. The only times they don't get along is when the black/white has too much energy and starts chasing the other one -- it stops when the tabby starts hissing. Then they're back to being friends a minute later.
A month and a half or so ago, I started to notice my two going at it more than usual. This time, the younger black/white was wailing at my other cat and hissing. Hard to describe the wail -- starts kinda high, then goes really low, almost like a growl but not quite. Tails fluffed out, aggressive posturing. I step in and separate them, but they just walk around me to keep an eye on the other, hissing and posturing. Finally I get them separated and force one of them upstairs so they can cool off. A few minutes later, they're all normal again, but initial contact is very timid, almost like "I won't do anything if you won't."
This happened repeated times, and I never could understand a source for it. Usually I would wake up after having fallen asleep on the couch while watching TV and the issue is in progress.
The last two times this has happened, I found that an orange/white cat is involved. I'm not sure if it's a male or female, but I've noticed it out on the deck. Both times when I noticed this cat, I noticed that my black/white is not involved in any interaction with the other cat, other than maybe looking at it curiously. It's my tabby that is hissing at it, or posturing, and tonight she jumped at the window at least three times while hissing, trying to attack.
I figure that's normal for a territorial dispute -- my tabby is letting the other know in no uncertain terms that this is her domain. However, when the orange/white finally left, and my tabby was walking back to the interior of the house, she ran into my black/white, and they started posturing. Well, mostly it seemed the tabby was posturing, but I'm certain there was hissing from both.
Naturally, a few minutes later, all was back to normal.
I think an explanation for this behavior could be that if this were in the wild, normally there would have been a fight between the tabby and the orange cat, and after winning the fight, the tabby might expect to be challenged by another cat, and so it stays ready for action to thwart any rebellion.
I guess my main question is -- it seems like the tabby is definitely still the dominant one, since it appears that she is busy protecting her territory, so I'm just wondering if normally cats will continue to act aggressive even with other cats they know, even after the first threat is gone. Basically, is this normal, or anything to be concerned about?
I hate to say it, but the ferals likely set off this behavior pattern, even if they aren't really seeing them anymore.
The best thing you can do is try to get the ferals away from there. Tabby is probably smelling them marking outside and is getting anxious and defense as a result. Since your other kitty is the only other cat around, she's taking it out on him.
It may not seem to make sense, but in a way it's logical behavior. She senses a threat to her territory via scent, only sees one other cat about, so assumes that one is the problem. Not the most logical of reactions, but you can see where she's coming from.
Once the ferals are out of the area, probably their scent will fade and she'll hopefully revert back to a more saner kitty. :)
Ah, the other cats behvior is probably because the tabby has declared the litter box "her zone". This is VERY frustrating, and almost impossible to dissuade kitty from doing, as it isn't something you can clearly see your tabby enforcing.
About the only thing I can suggest that works is to lock your black and white alone upstairs in a room with her own litter box. Hopefully the tabby will not lay claim to this one as well. (Claiming a litter box as sole property is common cat behavior in territorial scent wars).
The best thing you can do is try to get the ferals away from there. Tabby is probably smelling them marking outside and is getting anxious and defense as a result. Since your other kitty is the only other cat around, she's taking it out on him.
It may not seem to make sense, but in a way it's logical behavior. She senses a threat to her territory via scent, only sees one other cat about, so assumes that one is the problem. Not the most logical of reactions, but you can see where she's coming from.
Once the ferals are out of the area, probably their scent will fade and she'll hopefully revert back to a more saner kitty. :)
Ah, the other cats behvior is probably because the tabby has declared the litter box "her zone". This is VERY frustrating, and almost impossible to dissuade kitty from doing, as it isn't something you can clearly see your tabby enforcing.
About the only thing I can suggest that works is to lock your black and white alone upstairs in a room with her own litter box. Hopefully the tabby will not lay claim to this one as well. (Claiming a litter box as sole property is common cat behavior in territorial scent wars).
I'm having another territorial problem, this time completely between my two cats. It does not seem to involve any outside cats. Both cats are female, and both are spayed. The tabby is just over 4 yrs old, the black&white is about 3.5 yrs old.
For the past few months, at random times, I will notice my b&w cat hissing at my tabby. The tabby will be kinda slinking around, or just sitting there and staring at the other, but can be across the room, and suddenly there is the hissing. Generally if I'm nearby her, I can put my hand down towards her and she will rub her face against my hand, etc... but still keeps her distance from the other.
Sometimes this posturing and hissing will turn into a fight, but I've never been able to tell who is instigating anything. It seems that the b&w suddenly becomes defensive and gets aggressive. When all of a sudden they go tearing through the house, hissing and screaming at each other, I cannot tell who is pursuing who, though it seems that the tabby is chasing the b&w. I just can't tell if that's because the b&w swiped at her / jumped on her, or if it was just the tabby all along.
It always ends the same. The tabby is the clear winner, the b&w is hiding under my bed, hissing like crazy. But not at me -- only when she determines the other is nearby. I'll tell the tabby "NO" and force her to go downstairs. She of course comes right back up, and as soon as the B&W detects she's around, she'll start hissing.
Friday and again today, I came home to find feces under my bed. In the same spots as the b&w hides when they are fighting. It seems that either the tabby litterally scared the **** out of her, or she was still hiding when she needed to go. I don't know which.
This is starting to concern me. It's about every other day that they have some sort of a dispute, and at least once a week that it escalates into a scream fest. I let them have full run of the house, and I'm gone 8-10 hours a day for work, so I wouldn't be surprised if this is happening regularly (as today proves with quite a bit of feces under the bed).
I suppose I can shut the bedroom door when I leave... but taht won't prevent the fighting, just will move the hiding to some other location.
Sorry for the long post. Thoughts anyone?
For the past few months, at random times, I will notice my b&w cat hissing at my tabby. The tabby will be kinda slinking around, or just sitting there and staring at the other, but can be across the room, and suddenly there is the hissing. Generally if I'm nearby her, I can put my hand down towards her and she will rub her face against my hand, etc... but still keeps her distance from the other.
Sometimes this posturing and hissing will turn into a fight, but I've never been able to tell who is instigating anything. It seems that the b&w suddenly becomes defensive and gets aggressive. When all of a sudden they go tearing through the house, hissing and screaming at each other, I cannot tell who is pursuing who, though it seems that the tabby is chasing the b&w. I just can't tell if that's because the b&w swiped at her / jumped on her, or if it was just the tabby all along.
It always ends the same. The tabby is the clear winner, the b&w is hiding under my bed, hissing like crazy. But not at me -- only when she determines the other is nearby. I'll tell the tabby "NO" and force her to go downstairs. She of course comes right back up, and as soon as the B&W detects she's around, she'll start hissing.
Friday and again today, I came home to find feces under my bed. In the same spots as the b&w hides when they are fighting. It seems that either the tabby litterally scared the **** out of her, or she was still hiding when she needed to go. I don't know which.
This is starting to concern me. It's about every other day that they have some sort of a dispute, and at least once a week that it escalates into a scream fest. I let them have full run of the house, and I'm gone 8-10 hours a day for work, so I wouldn't be surprised if this is happening regularly (as today proves with quite a bit of feces under the bed).
I suppose I can shut the bedroom door when I leave... but taht won't prevent the fighting, just will move the hiding to some other location.
Sorry for the long post. Thoughts anyone?
It's my experience that when cats go into 'territory mode' it takes them a while to get out of it...they turn toward other members of the established household and give them a very knee-jerk reaction whether they deserve it or not.
Your best bet is to not feed the cat outside, and encourage it to go elsewhere. I'm a big fan of caring for strays, however my stipulation is that if they cause angst in the household, my own cats are more important than the ferals outside, as much as I want to care for them.
Your best bet is to not feed the cat outside, and encourage it to go elsewhere. I'm a big fan of caring for strays, however my stipulation is that if they cause angst in the household, my own cats are more important than the ferals outside, as much as I want to care for them.
I figured it was normal, and I've not seen any blood or wounds. It's more posturing than anything. I'll keep an eye on it and only step in if it starts to get serious.
Thanks!
Thanks!
As long as they aren't wounding or drawing blood, it's not a problem. Usually the introduction of a new cat will cause an upheaval in the social structure. Cats are very rigid in their social structure, and any change will set off a series of this type of behavior.
I'd actually suggest letting your two work it out. It could be the less dominant is trying to shift power, and if he's up to the challenge, it's best to let it happen. Breaking them up just prolongs the issue and causes long term tension and animosity.
HOWEVER, if your more high strung cat is acting out due to insecurity, (reaction to new cat) and initiating the fighting for that reason, then breaking it up may be a good idea. You can usually tell if the fighting is normal posturing or because one cat has lost control due to fear.
I'd actually suggest letting your two work it out. It could be the less dominant is trying to shift power, and if he's up to the challenge, it's best to let it happen. Breaking them up just prolongs the issue and causes long term tension and animosity.
HOWEVER, if your more high strung cat is acting out due to insecurity, (reaction to new cat) and initiating the fighting for that reason, then breaking it up may be a good idea. You can usually tell if the fighting is normal posturing or because one cat has lost control due to fear.
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