Having cats that just can’t seem to get along can be incredibly stressful for everyone involved. But don’t worry! Whether you just brought a new cat home or have cats that have recently started fighting, there are plenty of tried and true methods you can try to encourage cats to better tolerate each other in the short-term and set a foundation for their friendship to grow. Check out our guide on how to get cats to get along for some of the best tips used by feline experts.
Make Sure Your Cats Are Actually Acting Out Aggression
Sometimes cats play rough and love it! This can look like fighting to humans who don’t often show love by wrestling with and biting their friends (no judgment if you and your friends happen to do this!). Before researching how to make cats get along better, it’s important to make sure they’re truly acting aggressively towards each other. Some behaviors that often signal aggression or overwhelm include:
Body Language
A cat’s body language can tell you a lot about how they’re feeling. If your feline friend has a bushy or stiff tail, flattened ears, arched back, or dilated pupils they’re likely not enjoying themselves. Baring their teeth or unsheathing their claws can also be signs of aggression.
Staring
Making eye contact without blinking is a sign that a cat doesn’t feel safe and may become agitated enough to attack.
Biting
Cats can absolutely give love nips when playing, but a strong chomp can be a sign that they want to be left alone. If they’re biting other cats or you to the point of pain they’re likely feeling overwhelmed.
Hissing
Hissing is a way of telling other cats to back off before a fight ensues. This is virtually always a sign that it’s time to separate your cats and let them cool off.
Growling
Another vocalization that can signal your cat feels overwhelmed is growling, which can be low and quiet or high-pitched and loud.
Swatting
If your cat starts batting at another cat or you with their paw, they’re trying to make sure you keep a safe distance from them. This is a defensive measure to avoid fighting, but often leads to retaliation from the cat being swatted at.
Why Don’t My Cats Get Along?
Figuring out the reasons your cats dislike each other can help you determine the best plan of attack to get them to stop attacking each other. There are many potential causes of feline rivalries and your cats may even be dealing with multiple. Some of the most reason cats don’t get along are:
Play Aggression
Some cats like to play rough and that’s completely normal. However, other cats really dislike roughhousing and will get annoyed or see it as a sign of danger. This can be especially true when introducing an energetic younger cat to a mellow older cat. Watch your cats when they play to see if it starts out as fun and ends in aggressive behavior.
Maternal Instinct
If your cat has just given birth, she may become highly protective of her precious babies. This can cause her to lash out at another cat she’s never been aggressive with. After her kittens are weaned she’ll usually start behaving normally again.
Fear
Feeling scared can activate a cat’s fight-or-flight instinct, causing them to attack other cats in the home. Some signs your cat is scared are frequent hiding, crouching, trembling, rapid heart rate, and raised fur.
Territorial Disputes
Cats are highly territorial animals and when another feline enters their domain without permission they can become very upset. If your cat starts urinating to mark their territory, gets aggressive in specific areas of your home, and just seems stressed out overall, they may be experiencing territorial aggression.
Resource Competition
If there’s a perceived lack of resources such as food, water, and litter boxes in your home, cats may fight to ensure they can get their needs met. This may be the case if you notice a cat guarding or hoarding resources.
Our Advice On How to Make Cats Get Along
Helping your cats to get along takes patience, but with the right approach, even the feistiest feline foes can learn to coexist. Below, we’ll walk through expert-backed strategies on how to make cats like each other more, from scent swaps to positive reinforcement, so you can turn your home back into a peaceable kingdom – no mediation degree required.
Neuter or Spay Your Cats
If one or all of your cats are still intact, it may be time to consider getting them fixed. Males can be especially aggressive before neutering due to hormonal influences and territorial instincts, which has the potential to cause long-term relationship damage between housemates. This will likely make the biggest difference in your cat’s behavior.
Don’t Rush the Process When Introducing Cats
When figuring out how to get cats to get along with each other, it’s extremely important to let the most fearful cat set the pace at which your cats become acquainted. We recommend keeping your cats in separate rooms for a few days to several weeks depending on their comfort level. These should be designated “safe spaces” free from stressors. You can also try separating them with baby gates or micro-chip operated cat doors.
Let them switch rooms occasionally to help them get used to each other’s scents without sharing space. When they’re feeling comfortable and not exhibiting signs of fear or agitation, try letting them see each other through a cracked door or have supervised visitations. Be sure to separate them ASAP if they become aggressive in any way. It may be helpful to feed them or play with them during these sessions so they can begin to associate each other with pleasure, not fear.
After both cats demonstrate signs of being comfortable around each other, they can be left alone unsupervised for short periods of time. However, if at any time you notice an uptick in aggressive behavior, you’ll likely need to begin the separation and reintroduction process again.
Increase Their Access to Resources
Cats can become highly aggressive if they feel that they need to compete for resources. It’s important to provide multiples of all necessities, and you may even need to purchase additional toys and perches if they’re territorial of these. Consider keeping food and water bowls, beds, and litter boxes in different areas of your home if possible, so each cat can feel that they have their own territory free from competition.
Deter Aggression Without Punishment
If a cat is exhibiting aggression it means they’re really stressed. While spraying them with a water bottle may seem like a good way to deter negative behaviors, it can actually increase stress and cause them to act out even more.
The best way to stop aggression is to immediately separate your cats and leave them be. As much as you want to comfort them, it’s important to just let them cool off on their own until they’re feeling more relaxed.
Always Reward Good Behavior
When your cats are at the point that they can interact with each other without aggression, be sure to give them lots of treats, pets, and playtime. This reinforces their behavior so they’ll be more likely to get along in the future.
Try Harness Training
Harnesses let you have greater control over your cats, which can be a game-changer when helping your cats get along. When harnessed, cats can watch each other without getting close. This allows them to get used to the other’s presence and learn to feel safe together. If cats do get aggressive, harnesses make the separation process much easier and quicker.
Get a Pheromone Diffuser
Pheromone diffusers can make a huge difference in the introduction process. These easy-to-use plugins emit a natural scent that helps easily agitated cats relax, but that humans can’t detect. There are several great brands you can try, and we recommend talking to your vet about the best option for your fur babies.
Don’t Hesitate to Bring in the Experts
If getting your cats to stop fighting proves too big of a job for just you, it’s ok to ask for some extra help. Schedule an appointment with your vet to discuss your concerns and they’ll be happy to come up with a plan. Medication may be a great option for anxious kitties who need to de-stress before becoming comfortable with a companion.
Reaching out to a veterinary behaviorist (Dip ACVB) and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB or ACAAB) may also be a good option for you. These professionals are incredibly knowledgeable on how to make cats like each other.
You’ve Got This!
Helping your cats get along isn’t an overnight fix. It’s a journey filled with patience, observation, and plenty of treats. But with consistent effort and the right techniques, even the most stubborn feline rivals can learn to live together peacefully (or at least tolerate each other without hissing wars). Remember when getting cats to get along, every small step, whether it’s a successful shared mealtime or a calm nap in the same room, is progress. Stay patient, stay positive, and soon enough, your home will be a happier, more harmonious place for both you and your purring companions.
