In practically any city and town we find several colonies of stray cats. Animals that, for one reason or another, have ended up living on the street or that, directly, have been raised in it. But they are not alone: They live surrounded by humans, many, and not all respect felines, much less want to take responsibility for them in the way that would be correct.
For this reason, from time to time there are fights of stray cats whose meows are so loud that they wake up even the person who sleeps peacefully in the bed on their floor. And since these animals are active at night, their struggles become a problem for the neighborhood. But, let's not forget: also for them. Then, How to avoid fights?
Why is the cat fighting?
The cat fights for two main reasons: because he wants to defend his territory and because it is a mating season. Although he is living on the street which is a neutral place, each feline individual has his own domains that can cover two or three gardens of an area, or even three or four blocks.
When another cat enters its territory, what it will do is throw it out, first with snorts and grunts, and then if these do not work by fighting with it. And the situation will be more complicated if there is a female in heat in the area, which can cause very serious injuries.
How to avoid stray cat fights?
I have been caring for stray cats since 2009, and based on my experience there are several things that can be done to avoid stray cat fighting:
- Spay all cats: by removing the sexual glands of both males and females, the heat is removed, in addition, they are prevented from having offspring.
- Ensure that each cat has access to food and water: if each of them can feed themselves daily the problems will be reduced.
- Do not abandon cats: a cat can live an average of 20 years. If we are not willing to take care of it during that time, it is best not to have it.
The overpopulation of cats is a problem that we have created and that we must solve, not by sacrificing them, but by sterilizing them.
My cat is three years old and is sterilized, even so she fights with the neighbor's who also seems to be neutered, Kitty hates her and I don't know how to avoid those encounters.
Hi Soraya.
Well, first thing: cats don't hate 🙂. They only act on instinct.
If your cat considers that the other cat is invading her territory, she will let her know that she is in her domain. She may just buckle her, but if that doesn't work, she may choose to fight her.
How to avoid it? The most effective way is to try to get both of them tolerated. It is not a matter of becoming friends if they do not want to, but at least accepting the presence of the other.
How do you do that? With a lot of patience, pampering and treats for cats. And with the collaboration of the owners of the other cat.
Both humans - both you and the human of the neighboring cat - have to get close to your animals and give them many prizes in the presence of the other cat. With this, they will associate the presence of the other cat with something positive: the prizes.
It takes time, and you have to do it every day, but in the end it will be achieved.
Another option is to put a calming collar on your cat, such as Calming's or Felisept's.
A greeting.
Hello
my cat is home but lately he has been getting into street fights with several cats and has brought wounds, not deep, rather scratches and superficial wounds but I don't know what to do to stop fighting, my cat is neutered I don't know what to do so that he doesn't have more fights and that he arrives injured
Hi Nicolas.
Are you neutered?
In mating season, male cats fight over females. They are not usually very serious fights, but the occasional scratch they do take. Therefore, if he is not neutered, I recommend you take him to the vet to do it; this way they will have less chance of being fought with.
And if he is already neutered, then the most effective solution is to prevent him from leaving the house at night, which is when cats are most active.
Greetings.
Good morning Monica. I am a volunteer in a Protectora, I am in charge of the Cat Flats. We have 70 cats, many of them found, others abandoned in the garbage and others abandoned by their owners. Some of us have them in cages because they are in treatment and the rest are loose in a large field, where they cannot escape. A month ago we picked up a 2-year-old feline, he came with multiple fighting wounds, we had him in a cage placed in a dark environment, because he came with tremendous stress. About 20 days ago we have already been able to free him from the cage and he has become with the rest of the herd. Well, he has been fighting for a week with everyone around him, be it males, females, little ones ..... he beats everyone who gets in front of him and if the other one escapes .... this animal follows him. It is sterilized. I know it's a dominant cat but I really don't know how to do it, yes, I know how to act in a fight, but what worries me is figuring out the solution, because putting it back in a cage …… it makes me very sad !. I fear that those responsible will choose to put it to sleep. Can you help me?. Thank you very much Monica. A hug.
Hi Marcia.
Thanks for writing us 🙂
I'll tell you: cats are very territorial. There are some who are quick to accept the presence and company of others, but there are some who prefer to be alone (without other felines around), which is what I think this cat wants.
I think it is better that you have it in a place where it can be calm.
It is normal for you to feel sorry for the very idea of returning him to the cage, but I think that to prevent him from continuing to feel bad is going to be the most appropriate. Of course, I do not mean that you leave him alone all day, but that you spend time with him so that tomorrow (or today 🙂) he has a chance to find a family.
A abrazo.
My cat is home but another stray comes and enters my yard and he defends his territory, but I have realized that the stray cat bit him on several occasions and almost killed me. What to do? help uuuuudaaaaaa
Hello Jhoanka.
In these cases, what is recommended to do is put physical barriers so that they cannot enter, or choose to try to make friends by giving them food and making the same case.
A greeting.
Hello Monica. We adopted a stray cat of more or less a year and a half, very meek and affectionate, which had a friend or brother, we don't know; surly and distrustful. She taught him a little the guidelines to follow to be able to enter the house, eat, sleep, etc. They got along really well. She was sterilized and vaccinated without problem, it was impossible for him, since he became really aggressive, and at that moment he got two stray cats pregnant, which he began to bring home and demand territory and food for his cats and babies, Lasagna aside. She began to suffer from stress and isolate herself, due to the loss of her friend, who began to ignore her previous friendship. Now she changed she has become very aggressive towards stray cats, we think she killed a baby. He fights every day, with the females, the male and the 6-month-old babies. We don't know what to do and we don't know who is right in this situation. Thank you very much, greetings.
Hello Eva.
In these situations, we must try to castrate all cats, even kittens (they are already at the age of having their first heat at six months), even with a cage-trap. It is likely that any association that is dedicated to taking care of stray cats will lend you one.
It is very important to castrate them, I insist, otherwise it would be difficult for things to improve. Cats are very scent-driven, and a cat in heat can be very irritating to a neutered one.
It would also be necessary to do a trustworthy job, first with your cat and her brother / friend, and later with the cat and the rest of the cats. The idea is that they eat together - separately, but in the same room or area. But you have to have a lot of patience, and above all look to be calm to transmit calm to cats.
A greeting.