Cat Fight or Cat Play?

In this episode, Joanna asks me to look at a video clip of her two cats Pudim & Olivia to determine if her cats are having a good time or if she’s got a big problem on her hands. I break down this video into body language, timing, and territory to give her (and you) the answers as to what’s going on and how to move forward!

Chapters
0:00 Introduction
1:04 Video analysis
2:25 What to do
4:48: Closing

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[shontehanna]

translation, for all you cool cats and kittens: Ears flattening = taking out your earrings.

[LuckyFerals]

Yes, multiple cats = multiple pieces of cat furniture = less fights.

[OwnedByACatNamedC.C.]

Always wondered what made one of my former cats Julia, who lived to the ripe old age of 21 years old, the matriarch of my cat ‘family’. She never fought with any of my other cats over the years, but she ruled the roost without doubt. All she ever had to do was make that little warning meow sound (and growl or hiss), and the others gave her a wide berth. She also never liked my ex-husband, either. I should’ve listened to her sooner!!😹

[PutingPinoy]

I rescued a kitty several weeks ago. And she had pretty intense separation anxiety. So I got another kitty for her to have a pal. I used your advice to slowly introduce them through scent exchange, schedule, etc! And they are best buds! Playing hide and seek, playfully wrestling, cuddling when sleeping, etc etc... thank you to you and Kitten Lady for all the advice.

[MrBurnlan]

I hoped you'd get more into what's a fight and what's a play-fight. My cats never really got hurt but sometimes I wonder if they play too rough

[MissRandomlols]

OMG finally! I have been dying for a Video about what are the differences in playing and fighting because I adopted a new cat back in October, both my resident cat a new cat have come along way since introductions but sometimes I can’t fully understand if there playing or sometimes Fighting it’s hard because I don’t want to intervine but it’s hard to tell when the line has been crossed and mom has to step in ugh being a cat mom is not easy lol

[rummagetherum]

My cats like to shout their battle cries when they’re fighting. Silent when playing, that’s a big key for me to tell

[gabriellawaldi]

As the fighting began my cat Minna rushed to watch. She sat on my face while enjoinig the video...

[WhattheBeck]

i love how he explains things. like the two lanes for cars analogy? Brilliant

[Emmanemanemm]

I most appreciate that even though you have thousands of recorded hours showing people cat issues and human issues you still take the time to address the questions and concerns people have. You don't belittle them or call them out and encourage us to be kind and courteous as well. Gentle encouragement to do more research instead of saying negative things or making the person feel like an idiot is just a great lesson on being a kind person. I'm sure these questions can become irritating and tiring since I'm sure you get the same questions over and over again. But thank you for setting an example on treating people right. I needed that today!

[i_am_thebatman]

“It’s over Pudim, I have the High Ground”

[InvincibleJ]

So funny this video appeared today as last night I was looking this up! 😂 My boys Onyx and Zeus are brothers (same litter) approx 1 year, 4 months, last night they were zooming around the house, tumbling with each other, biting each others necks and meowing (Bombays so maybe more vocal perhaps?). I wondered if they were fighting as they were more rough than usual but nope! Their ears were pointed forwarded, no hissing at all, the claws were not out, the biting did not hurt. I observed them for a while take turns chasing each other, like a little game of cat tag lol this video just assured me they're both ok and get along just fine. I'm glad they have each other to play with, it's so cute. I love them so much 🥰 ❤️🐾

[NightSovereign]

i was hoping there will be more information in this video about how to distinguish between fights and plays in general, but it was somewhat helpful anyway, thank you

[CrystalDragon]

"Pudim sees Olivia as a cool squeeky toy" definitely how my dino sees his sister velvet. When he starts to get to rough I know to bring out the toys (or laser pointer if I'm lazy) now to figure out how to stop the morning quarrels (I think it's over the spot on the bed but they both at some point in the night do sleep comfortable together) hard to know what's going on at 5:30am. just to put in context they get along most time I think Dino just has a bit too much energy for Velvet.

[justneedtovent]

That was actually helpful I have a hell of a time telling the difference between play and actual aggression sometimes. Thank you Jakson.

[persephonespomegranate]

I can attest to furniture turf wars being serious thing! I have two fur babies - a male and a female, litter mates, adopted. My boy Finn is very domineering and picks fights with his sister Shu all the time. They are both very large cats (I believe they’re half Maine Coon) but he’s significantly stronger than her so it gets nasty. They also play fight, groom each other and cuddle - it’s not all-out war all of the time - but it is a very serious problem that I’m trying to remedy. Thankfully, even before quarantine, I’m stay at home so I can dedicate a lot of time to them.

This is how serious the situation is: Finn actually broke her hip when they were 18 months old when he jumped on her back in one of these episodes. Her leg is now free floating after surgery (not attached to the hip bone; she’s doing amazing though, doesn’t even have a limp and no signs of any pain or aggravation since recovery). I 💯 would’ve separated them after this incident if I felt it was a problem that had no solution no matter how bonded I am with them. I love Finn so much but I’d put Shu’s safety and protection over my heart if it ever came down to that. But there was so much love there too that I knew we could improve things and my vet agreed.

Two small changes that have had big payoffs is doubling up on the same piece of cat furniture in the same areas and setting different schedules for cuddle time with me (Finn is a morning cuddler while Shu is still sleeping and Shu gets me all to herself at night once he goes to the basement to sleep - he doesn’t come up to my bed until the early morning hours).

As Jackson said, I noticed a lot of their fights had a pattern - same area and time of day, when I was in the bathroom getting ready in the mornings and Shumai was laying down in her box just outside the bathroom door (it’s a plastic storage bin that she just claimed one day so I let her keep it). It finally occurred to me that Finn was jealous that she had a special place close to me at a time of day when they’re both vying for my attention. I removed that box, moved two of those corrugated cardboard loungers in its place - not too close together but both in view of me - and it’s really helped.

[VividPagan]

Thanks for the tips, Jackson. You're a real Sherlock Holmes when it comes to cats!!

[lisalipkin]

I was also hoping on some more general information between play and real fightas when I saw the title of this video. I have a cat that almost always take a position similar to Olivia (ears flat back, body low down to the grund with paws up and ready) however he does this when he is the instigator too. And he can be the instigator, take that kind of position and when the other cat leaves he will go right back and prod her! The next moment they are sleeping in the same bed. I don't know what to make of their interactions most of the time! :p

[kimfleury]

Jackson Galaxy videos like this have been a big help as I've taken in two wandering cats. The first, Ombre, was estimated to be 3 years old. He was severely starved and an old bite wound on his tail had led to a systemic infection that made every movement excruciating. The night I brought him in, I texted my son, and he brought supplies. Ombre jumped onto the new crate, before it was put together, and part of it came up and banged his chin. Poor Ombre froze and couldn't move for what seemed like an eternity. You know that's a cat in pain. Out in the neighborhood he couldn't get enough to eat before the other cats elbowed him away from the food. He couldn't fight for it. I took care of him until he was healthy, and he was comfortably owning everything in my home. It was a perfect set up. But then I had to trap a different street cat that was spraying into my windows and doors. That poor guy couldn't help it, he was a compulsive sprayer. I saw him spraying as he walked along the edges of this apartment complex. I had planned to release him after neutering, but the vet advised against it because he's FIV+. They don't want him in the situation of getting into fights with other street cats and spreading the virus. But what about Ombre??? I struggled with this. They had been companions in the community, and after Ombre came to live here, his old buddy hung out on the windowsill just sharing company. They got along pretty well, other than the old buddy spraying on Ombre if the window was open. It actually started when Ombre was neutered. That spray began to take over Ombre's territory, which is the main reason I wanted to get Ginger neutered. Ginger is estimated to be 2 years old, and he is assertive. He was always getting into fights in the neighborhood, battling for queens and usually coming out as the winner. He was a very proud tomcat, head and tail high no matter what the weather. Bringing him in where Ombre had finally gotten _his_ own territory was really sad. Ombre decided to try to chase him out. He went Napoleonic, and understandably so. After all, it was probably the first time in his life that he had his own space where everything was his or his and his human's. And then along comes a pushy encroacher taking over what used to be Ombre's spaces. Ombre insisted on leaving his own scent all over anything that was intended for Ginger. I even have two cat towers set up for them, but Ombre wants them both. The only thing left for me to do was to play with them to get their energy levels down. Usually they go at it at 1AM, even if I've played with them late at night before bed. But I dealt with it, adjusting my schedule to take a nap so I could be up with them at 1AM, at least until they would be comfortable knowing they each have territory. And it's paying off. It's hard work, but it pays off in the long run.

[candcweber]

Thank you Jackson! Your videos and shows have been a big help caring for our kitties.