How To Know If Cats Are Play Fighting

(Image credit: Getty Images)

If you've got more than one feline friend, so it's more than likely you'll brainstorm to question 'are my cats playing or fighting?' at some point.

Though cats are playful pets who dear to engage in activity that stimulates their hunting instincts, there may be times where you question whether that seemingly rough play is really genuine dislike betwixt your pets. Is it normal for cats to play with each other in the grade of fighting? How do you spot the difference between play or fighting and what should you do if friendly play turns into something less agreeable?

While it's fine for cats to play with each other, if play fighting escalates into real fighting this can cause problems, from a unharmonious household to bodily injuries inflicted on one or more of your cats.

Learning to recognize when your cats are just playing, or you need to intervene, is a valuable function of pet parenthood - so read on to find out more.

Best cat toys: Boredom-busting playthings for your feline
How to play with a cat: A vet's guide to keeping your true cat entertained
Why does my cat bring me toys and other gifts?

How practise cats play with each other?

By their very nature, cats are playful creatures, and usually when there'due south more than than one in the household, they will play together quite happily almost of the fourth dimension.

Most cats will use tactics that can look like fighting for their play, such equally stalking, chasing, kicking, biting, scratching, ambushing, and even straightforward attacking. They may also play with and fight over their favorite toys. Nonetheless, what generally marks information technology out every bit playful rather than aggressive is that it is reciprocal betwixt the cats, with each taking it in plough to be the more dominant one.

Cats who oft play together are commonly well-bonded, and you shouldn't be too worried if they spend a lot of time playing together - and then long as information technology stays on the right side of fun.

two cats approaching each other — (Prototype credit: Getty Images)

How practice you tell the difference between cats play and fight?

Your cats can be playing together quite happily, when all of a sudden things turn a picayune scrap nasty. Getting to know your cats behavior and the style they act will assistance you to become finely attuned to those pinch points that tin cause a flare up.

Paying close attention to the body language of your cats will commonly give away a few tell-tale clues. Look out for the following:

EarsWhen cats are relaxed and happy, their ears will by and large be in a standard upright position. When they are worried, tense or on the offensive, then you might notice that they seem to be pinned back.
ClawsGenerally, when cats are just playing they won't accept their claws extended. Scout out for the claws coming out - particularly equally these can cause damage to the other cat and their surroundings.
Torso position Usually when cats are just playing with each other, their bodies volition be positioned forwards, simply if y'all notice them starting to lean back on their back legs while they claw at each other, this can exist a sign of deeper assailment.
Fur Pay attending to your kitty's fur and how information technology stands up. Cats do this to make themselves appear bigger and more than ambitious - so you lot won't commonly see it when cats are just play-fighting with each other.
Bitter Biting may await worse than it is, every bit most of the time footling nips and bites are all role of the fun. Merely if one cat really sinks their teeth into the other, you'll unremarkably be able to tell something more than serious is going on.
Speed Cats who are playing with each other tend to exercise it in a steady, adequately calm manner. If the fighting ramps upwardly and is frantic, information technology could be a sign that things are getting a little out of manus.

signs of fighting cats — (Epitome credit: Getty Images)

How practice you lot tell if cats are getting along?

You want your cats to play together equally it's a sign that they're getting along and are happy to exist living together. It's also great if they eat and sleep together to form a really close bond.

Information technology's usually quite piece of cake to tell if cats are happy to be in each other'southward company - play fighting stays just as that. You'll notice that each of your cats takes it turn to play, to be the dominant force, and to be the one dishing out the bites, scratches and and then on.

Yous'll find that they chase each other, rather than one cat chasing the other one or trying to be too ascendant over the other.

If your cats practice stop up having a more than serious fight, this isn't necessarily something to be overly concerned about. Pay attention to how they bear directly after the fight - if they become dorsum to a normal, loving relationship, then it might just be a unproblematic flare up acquired by something quite easy to resolve. If information technology's happening quite frequently, you lot might demand to call back about removing stress points, or peradventure even discussing with your vet to cheque that in that location'due south non a deeper problem.

Do cats bite each other when they play?

Cats, similar many animals, use their mouths to navigate the world. That means that a bite or a nip can be a normal function of play fighting and shouldn't exist something to worry about if you see it happen. You lot should mostly find that your cats will take it in turns to bite each other besides, which will evidence that they're playing and not being too aggressive.

You'll ordinarily know if it's turned into a problematic or painful seize with teeth, as the cat on the receiving end will give out a yelp or a howl if it'south gone too far. Should that happen, take a look for whatsoever cleaved skin so you can exist on top of any potential infections. Recall to always seek advice from your vet if y'all're particularly worried.

two cats fighting — (Image credit: Getty Images)

How to help cats become along

Most of the fourth dimension, your cats will exist happy and harmonious, but it can take some time to get to that signal, especially when yous innovate a new cat for the first fourth dimension. It's important to have an arroyo which non only breaks up fights as when they happen, just also ideally stops them from happening in the start place.

Ensure they have their own space

A common reason for fights is just territorial. Make certain your cats each take their own space, including their own food bowl, their own litter tray, their own bed and even their own toys to play with. Basically, your cats are like toddlers and virtually don't like sharing.

Interruption upwards the fighting

Should a fight occur, knowing how to apace cease information technology will send the message that it won't be tolerated. Often the best way to stop a true cat fight is through distraction - such as a loud blindside (attempt banging a pot or a cupboard door). If that doesn't work, try to separate your cats every bit gently equally possible - using something like a board or a absorber to identify between them is the all-time approach - using your hand is to be avoided equally it can wind upwards with injury to yourself.

Keep your cats separated

Subsequently a fight has happened, keep your cats separated for a little while, reintroducing them to each other gently and guardedly. Some even choose to put them on either side of a baby gate and then they tin can say "hello" to each other without being able to go too physically close.

Amy Davies is a freelance writer and photographer with over 15 years experience. She has a caste in journalism from Cardiff Academy and has written about a huge diversity of topics over the years. These days she by and large specialises in applied science and pets, writing across a number of different titles including TechRadar, Stuff, Expert Reviews, T3, Digital Photographic camera Globe, and of course PetsRadar. She lives in Cardiff with her dog, Lola, a rescue miniature dachshund.