Periodic fights

I'm new to the group and have a question about my two cats. One is a 9 year old NM and the other is a 5 year old spayed female. They've lived together for 4+ years. The male is somewhat high strung and when the female wants to play, he can sometimes interpret it as aggression and lashes back and the fight is on. No blood her been drawn, but they scream and screech - it's horrible! I've had to separate and reintroduce them a few times because the male will growl and hiss at her. After the reintroduction, all's well for a long time, like nothing ever happened. I have feliway diffusers on all the time.
Is this the way it's going to be between them forever? I'm worried I may not be home the next fight happens.
Help!
Thanks, Lorraine

If one cat gets too rough with the other, the one who has had enough will withdraw. Cats can take care of themselves. Let them sort it out between themselves.

I have two males that are very close, Mo a 10 1/2 year old male and Toby a 2 year old male. They love to wrestle but some times Toby can be a bit too rough for Mo and Mo can really let out a screech that sounds like Toby is killing him and growls and hisses. They separate and the next thing you know they are sleeping with there heads together. They work it out themselves.

Originally Posted by aswient

I have two males that are very close, Mo a 10 1/2 year old male and Toby a 2 year old male. They love to wrestle but some times Toby can be a bit too rough for Mo and Mo can really let out a screech that sounds like Toby is killing him and growls and hisses. They separate and the next thing you know they are sleeping with there heads together. They work it out themselves.

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Thanks so much for the advice. I'm so anxious and worried they're going to seriously hurt each other, especially when I can't be there to watch them.

I thought cats would not forget getting in a fight!

thanks to both of you!

Originally Posted by aswient

I have two males that are very close, Mo a 10 1/2 year old male and Toby a 2 year old male. They love to wrestle but some times Toby can be a bit too rough for Mo and Mo can really let out a screech that sounds like Toby is killing him and growls and hisses. They separate and the next thing you know they are sleeping with there heads together. They work it out themselves.

Click to expand...

The noise can be disconcerting to humans, but it is just the cat's way of saying 'uncle'.

I also have a NM and spayed female, who adore each other. But every once in awhile they get into a tussle with batting and what not. Usually not the full blown hissing and screeching though. In fact, a mutual grooming session a little bit ago erupted into a batting match and ended with the two of them sleeping next to each other. One time I saw Cindy, 7 lbs, stare down Swanie, 16 lbs. The end of that scenario was swanie laying down on his side with the basic "I'm sorry, I'll be a good boy" look. If Swanie gets too rambunctions, he will sometimes turn up with a scratch on his nose. I used to worry about all that, but they work it out. The only time I try to break it up is when they have a "rumble" on the bed when I'm trying to sleep. Feels like a bed quake.