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Dear Rebecca Ann,

"I recently got another cat from a friend who could no longer care for her. Well, my cat absolutely hates the newcomer. The are so vicious. I am starting to actually think they will never be friends. Any suggestions?"

Jerry
San Jose, CA



Hi Jerry,

Aggression is the number two feline behavior problem reported to behaviorists, second only to inappropriate elimination.

By nature, cats are solitary hunters, not pack animals like dogs. However, when food is abundant, as it is in most of our homes, a group of cats can often live cordially, at least most of the time. But even well fed cats retain their instinct to defend a territory. Outdoor cats will mark their territory with urine, feces, and various natural odors (so-called "pheromones") from various scent glands. Scent marking indicates that the territory is occupied and curtails encounters between cats.

In close quarters, though, cats often live by certain subtle territorial rules, respecting distinct territories within a single room, like access to a particular couch or favored window perch. Moreover, some housemates learn to "share" these popular locations with one cat taking the front window in the morning and the other taking it over in the afternoon.

Unfortunately, anything that disturbs the established "rules" can lead to confrontation, and what starts as occasional insignificant spats of aggression may erupt into a full-blown fight unless precautions are taken. It is important to keep in mind that when cats are confined indoors they have little chance to avoid each other, and aggression, once it occurs, is often compounded.

Problems with territorial aggression are most common when a new cat is added to the household. If sudden introductions lead to aggression, this can set the stage for future battles. The way to circumvent this problem is to gradually introduce unfamiliar cats to each other across a closed door. A cautious introduction of a new cat to the household may take two to three weeks. This said, if initial animosities are mild, they often resolve themselves over a period of a few months, even without such precautionary measures.

Territorial aggression between cats in the same household tends to develop gradually. The more confident cat may begin to guard various resources and threaten its new feline housemate over the slightest infraction. Gradually the threats may progress to attacks and the victim may become more frightened. Depending on the victim's temperament, he may choose to retaliate or hide, only making an appearance when the territorial cat is not around. Once in a while litter box problems may arise because the fearful cat is too afraid to leave his hiding place. Additional problems of spraying and other forms of marking may occur if both cats are of close to equal status.

Sharing in your love of animals,

Rebecca Ann

If you have questions about your cat,
please feel free to contact me!

Rebecca Ann
Domestic Animal Behavioral Specialist
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