I know there have been threads about introducing new cats into a household that already has a cat but our cats have suddenly fell out.

They are both year old females and have both been neutered sometime ago. Although they are from different litters they have been together since being a few weeks old. Until fairly recently they would play together, sit together and preen each other but now they barely tolerate one another. They both get the same amount of attention although one is more inclined to actually sit on your lap (but this has always been the case) so there’s no favouritism.

Any ideas how we can get things back on an even keel?

Cheers.

Just squirt them with a water spray everytime they kick off....works wonders! lol

I think that some cats just do this, my cats were mothered by the first cat Poppy (she is not their real mum) and they all loved her, slept and played with her, but each time as they became mature this stopped and they became separate.

The cats still get along and live together happily but just seem to want a little bit more of a space between them, occasionally they still walk up to Poppy and she grooms them, they groom her back but it is as if they suddenly realise this is no longer what happens and usually develops into a mini wrestle :hihi: nothing serious at all.

I wouldn't worry so long as they are not seriously fighting and hurting each other, perhaps they too just need a bit of space now.

Can you define 'fell out'? Most people mistake pecking order disputes or rough play as fighting in cats. Hissing and jumping on each other are perfectly normal in cat play, as is chasing each other.

If they really are fighting then it's very likely that it's to do with them both suddenly becoming adults and working out who's the boss, so developmentally they need to go through this and it's an artificially human concept to try to stop them. The sooner they get their pecking order sorted out the sooner they go back to living happily, secure in the knowledge of their little social structure.

I'd hold off with the water pistol until you're sure that this is proper fighting and even then only squirt them if there is serious growling, spitting or serious attacks (don't forget that even play fighting comes with claws in cats- fur is a marvelous armour against claws so they don't pull their blows from each other).

Hopefully this is a phase that will sort itself out shortly- it's very rare that cats don't sort out their own disputes, but they don't do it in the same way as humans (they lack the thumbs to hold the duelling pistols properly).

Thanks for the replies. We are hoping it's just a phase and they are sorting out the pecking order. Although neither seems to be dominant at the moment and both play their part in starting the fighting.

Will consider the water pistol if things don't start to calm down. I guess a mega super soaker is a bit OTT though? :hihi:

Depends on how much you want to terrify both of them as well as drenching your furnishings ;)

Sounds like they're reaching adulthood and beginning to establish a pecking order, as Medusa suggests. They should start to settle down again once they've decided who's top cat. Give them their space, separate feeding areas if they don't want to be too close to one another at mealtimes. If they've grown up together, I can't see them being absolutely hateful to one another forever.

Sounds like they're reaching adulthood and beginning to establish a pecking order, as Medusa suggests. They should start to settle down again once they've decided who's top cat. Give them their space, separate feeding areas if they don't want to be too close to one another at mealtimes. If they've grown up together, I can't see them being absolutely hateful to one another forever.Tbh they're fine at mealtimes. :huh: Certainly looks like its a pecking order issue.

As a kinder alternative to the water method - Have you tried spraying catnip around the house? I have 6 cats and other than my initial 2 siamese (the other 4 are moggies - but loved just as much) as I introduced each one into our house I sprayed catnip ( you can buy it from pets shops) on beds, scratch posts etc and it seemed to diffuse any scuffles amongst them. They still have their moments occasionally but are all fine together. ;)