How to tell if a cat is playing or fighting.

There’s a fine line.

#shorts #cats #cat #catlovers

[buttercup]

“Never get between two cats.”

Me (A skilled cat mom): *grabs one up in the middle of it and dumps them in a separate room for time out* 😂😂😂

[ShiroOokamitoko]

This information is not entirely accurate. Ears going back is a sign of aggression and/or fear, but it can also happen during play. And laying belly up is _not_ a submissive position for cats - it means they have all four four paws to attack with. But again, it does happen with play behavior. In my experience, the best way to tell whether cats are fighting or playing is the noise level. If there's growling, yowling, etc, then it's a real fight. If it happens in near total silence, it's just play. If one of them meows or hisses and the other immediately backs off, it means the 2nd one crossed a line and the 1st one just told him off. It was most likely just an accident, and they'll usually go right back to playing, unless the line crossed was "I'm tired of this game".

[Jewels]

Be sure you greet them properly and make sure they are in a good mood when you pick them up.

[PrincelyWan]

As if a bear needs to make it's self appear bigger

[ClanDomino]

“Never get between to fighting cats” naw when my 2 cats fight I have to literally jump in there like a referee 😂

[MarieLaveau]

If clumps of fur are coming out, they're fighting.

[kr]

Thanks for explaining, short and simple!

[drayott-jr]

airplane ears doesn't mean aggression but yowls do

[Idkwhats_goingontbh]

I only get between my two cats bc one of them is gigantic and agressive and the other is much smaller, younger and more scaredy

[bloodydeq]

I’m the ten thousandth like! It was satisfying seeing that number go up☕️

[kookminnie]

I'm an experienced cat mom I can tell what my cat is up-to by just looking at their actions..!!
I can even tell that by looking at other cats as well..

[farahfofo]

I have an adult male cat then i got a male kitten. The adult doesn't like sharing the attention so he usually fights the kitten. It seems like an unfair fight because of the size difference and the kitten always comes out of the fight terrified and jumpy. Each cat claimed their own parts of the house but sometimes they chill together which is weird..
Whenever they get out of their claimed areas they greet each other with a headbutts and walking in the same rhythm with their tails entangled. They have this weird love/hate relationship so i never know when they're fighting or being playful

[cmarq]

Took my cat out of two fights with stray cats….

He thinks he’s a big macho cat in his mind…

In reality, he’s san elderly, fat, spoiled cat without any fight experience 🙃

I was totally shredded in my arms and chest. No regrets though

[tkong]

Just to clarify if you absolutely have to break up 2 cats fighting cause let’s be real clapping isn’t gonna stop crap. Just lightly divide them as fast as you can usually cats fighting not responding to clapping will cease fighting simply by touching both of them.

[oaligotho]

This is one of the only times I use the scary spray bottle lol

[donna]

I always look at the tails - puffed means the fight is on. And don't get between two cats ready to rumble. My mum made that mistake once and she spent several hours in emergency waiting to get some stitches.

[wanderingdog]

When they de fur each other. Its FUN time.

[ahmedfariheen]

my cat will yell 1st before going into fighting mode

[lisaahmari]

There is a bit more nuance than this but these are good basic rules.

Keep in mind that kittens will floof their tails at anything. It definitely does not always mean they are going to be aggressive. In fact, it almost never means that, when they are very young. And many adult cats will floof the tail, even in play.
Yowls ALWAYS mean they are serious, about to lose their minds and about to go into damage mode.
PS....water spray bottles are indispensable. In an intense fight, clapping may not work.

[mstrpiece]

My younger cat always attacks the older because she wants to play, but then the older smacks back and they get on their nerves and start biting and hissing and I have to yell at them to stop, clap, or stomp on the ground so they run away in separate directions