How to Tell If Cats Are Playing or Fighting
📝 Summary
Many cat owners get a second cat for company, but since cats are lively, it's hard to tell playing from fighting.
1 Overview
Watch the cats’ movements closely
Cats often chase and tussle when playing, but you can tell playing from fighting by reading body language.
Body-language signals of fighting:
1. Hissing
2. Puffed-up fur
3. Airplane ears (flattened back)
4. Extended claws
5. Loud vocalizations
Observe their usual relationship
Their usual relationship helps tell: if two cats normally avoid each other or don’t interact on contact, sudden intense interaction is likely fighting.
Separating fighting cats
When cats fight intensely, separating them quickly is very important!
Cat fights can cause serious injury, and pulling them apart by hand usually gets you scratched or bitten. Instead, distract them or place something soft like a pillow or blanket between them to stop it.
How to prevent cat fights
1. Give each cat its own space, including a separate resting area, food bowl, and litter box.
2. Help them get along and interact friendly.
3. Give the owner’s enough attention and play to burn off excess energy.
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