The little fuckers have to die!

[TXlib]

Our cats have been fighting increasingly often.

We are awakened nightly by a screaming, raging, urinating hairball.

We've come home several times to find they've shit on the floor in a fight (the area is surrounded by fur, as well).

Last year, they shit and pissed on our bed.

Today, they shit (and possibly pissed) on our new couch.

I have had it!

I have FUCKING had it!!

I am so pissed at them, I am finding even this sick shit almost funny!

OK, I'm not going to kill them, not really. Although I am thinking of demoting them from pet to punching bag.

How do we keep the little assholes from fighting? This stops, or we get rid of them!

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Are they both fixed?

Cats are a bit territorial.

Cat Behavior Problems - The occasional cat fight is expected in multiple cat households, because cats are territorial. However, when aggressive behavior becomes the norm, you can take steps to stop it. These are some cat training tips I use, and a few more from Friskies cat food: Identify the aggressor and victim, then separate the cats when they can´t be supervised. Give the aggressor corrective measures, and the victim rewards. Corrective measures can include: confinement in a less attractive space; place a collar and bell on the aggressor; squirt the aggressor with a water sprayer during agressive acts. For the victim give rewards such as free roam of the house, plus edible and affection rewards. Gradually increase the supervised interaction, rewarding good behavior and using corrective measures against cat agression.

[KCDem]

3. Yes, they're both fixed.

I'm not nearly as reactionary as TXLib, but I still find it gross... and worrisome. The cats used to be each other's buddies, and now they fight all the fricken' time! I like my sleep and get really mad when it is interrupted by cat shrieking.

Also, we can't really tell who the aggressor is. We used to assume it was Behemoth, 'cuz he's bigger and we don't like him as much, but now we're starting to think that Mephisto is encouraging it.

Sigh. Any Houston DUers want an orange cat? :P

[TXlib]

4. They weren't always aggressive

They used to get along just fine, cuddling together and grooming each other.

Rather than a squirt bottle for the aggressor, can i use a pellet gun? Can I drop kick the little furball?

[Catshrink]

2. Spray bottle for one....

give 'em a good squirt when they start fighting. That will stop the immediate problem, but you need a long term solution.

Are both cats fixed? If not, snip.

Are they bored? Ricky loves to pick on Ryno and if I don't pay the little brat enough attention, he's relentless in attacking her. So.... I pop in the Catnip Video DVD for him. Gives him entertainment for hours and he leaves my angel baby alone.

Is there a disturbance in the neighborhood? We have two strays prowling around that I haven't been able to trap. They get my boys all agitated, snip snip or not.

Something new in the house? You know cats hate change.

I'd separate them when leaving the house, also. They'll hate it, but that's not the point.

Talk to your vet too.... maybe there's something wrong with one of them.

Good luck! This totally sucks.

[amerikat]

5. This sounds pretty serious.....give us more details

ages?
who was there first?
how are they with you?
do they go outside?

I had a problem that was similar and it took me a while to figure it out.

I had one cat. I got him as a kitten and he grew to be a very feisty cat. Extremely playful and confident. He was gentle as a lamb with me. But he used to terrify my girl friends sister when she came over. He would put his ears back and swish his tail and get that I'm gonna rip your throat out look. The sister would run away with the cat chasing after her and stand up on the couch screaming for help. He never did that to anyone else. He could sense that she was afraid and he was just playing with her fear. He didn't do that to anyone else. He got tired of that game after a while and stopped chasing her. But like I said he was feisty and big(18 lbs)and about a year and a half old.


Well I find this little kitten(about five weeks old) on my way down the street. I ask around and no one seems to own it or know where it came from. But I could tell she was scared and hungry and alone. I took her home. I'm thinking the big bruiser will take one look at her and jump on her like she's a catnip toy. I set her down on the floor and they looked at each other for a second. The phone rang and scared the little one and she ran and hid beneath him. Just her head peaking out between his front legs. They became great friends and played all the time and I thought everything was just great.

About a year latter the little one started attacking the big guy. He didn't know what to think about this and ran away. The little one actually made him stay in the basement for about a month. Every time he tried to slink up she would attack. This went on until the big guy had had enough and he came up from the basement and stood his ground. The little one attacked and he smacked her so hard she rolled across the floor. She came right back and did it again and he smacked her again and jumped on her and pinned her down with his mouth around her neck. Just to let her know that he wasn't taking this shit anymore.

They worked this out to a great extent and coexisted and were friends. I did Discover that when there was a loud noise or any type on confusion the little one would go after the big one. She was very possessive and she thought she was protecting me from the big cat. She thought anytime there was any thing that was startling that he was hurting me and she went for him. She learned that the confusing situations were temporary and as soon as the loud noise or what ever disturbance had ended she returned to normal.

Cats are complex creatures. Be observant and see what might be causing this behavior. I hope you can work this out.

[TXlib]

13. They are both 7 years old

Mephisto was there first, but not by much. We got Behemoth within a few months of Mephisto. We got them as kittens, and they played very well together.

The first time we moved they started to become skittish, and were standoffish with each other.

We've moved several times since, and they don't get along well at all now.

They get along great with us and the kids, and sometimes with other people. I've seen Mephisto pig-piled by several small children and he just sits there and purrs.

But lately, Mephisto hisses and growls every time Behenoth approaches. I've never seen then actually start in, so I don't know who starts it, but I suspect it might be mephisto. But it seems to be behemoth who finishes it; he kicks the shit (literally) out of mephisto.

They never used to go out, but we have been sending both into the back yard lately (fully fenced in).

[amerikat]

15. you seem to suggest

that it may have something to do with moving?

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. Different rooms.

Make them think about it. It honestly worked for us, kept any potential messes to one area and saved my sanity. The bathrooms worked great for us. :)

[Lisa0825]

7. Hey, there's a famous pet psychic in the Woodlands....

she's even been on the Deborah Duncan show, and she helped solve pet problems for several staff members.

(yes, I am joking.... but wouldn't it be cool if she was for real??)

[Mikimouse]

8. How old are they?

I have two younger ones, 5 and 3, and they really tore each others' fur for a while, right after I adopted the younger one. Now, they groom each other and play all the time. The 5 year old is female and far more territorial than the younger male, and he seems to know that she can easily bulldoze him into the furniture (she outwieghs him by a considerable amount).

[gratuitous]

9. It's possible one of them is in great pain

Have you had them checked over by a vet? A painful urinary tract infection puts even the nicest cat in a bad mood.

[JackDragna]

10. Gank the fuckers.

If you don't have the wherewithal, I'll do it. Reasonable rates available.

[TXlib]

12. Gank?

Is that painful?

[amerikat]

14. I googled Gank

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=gank

[WillParkinson]

16. I sure as hell hope you're kidding...

If your definition is the ones that were posted.

[texas1928]

11. Hey I know how you feel

My wife gets mad at me when I yell at the cats for something they have done.

[WillParkinson]

17. Talk to your vet...

There may be a medical condition or, if not, he/she may know what to do next.