Hi,
I have two female 100% indoor cats (both spayed). The older is 5 and I took her in as a pregnant stray cat near the end of her pregnancy. The younger is one of her offspring and 4 years old. They have always been the only pets. We've moved twice since I had them (2nd floor VA apt to 2nd floor FL apt and then to a single level house in FL, but we have been in the house for 9 months). They have always been playful, but lately (past 2-3 weeks) it has been getting out of hand. Multiple times a day they will both lock eyes in a defensive stance and then the hissing, growling and screeching starts. If they approach each other they bat at each other but never much more than that. There is actually a lot less physical contact when they play but it is way more aggressive. It's gotten so bad that I have not been able to sleep through the night in over a week because I get shocked out of sleep by the sounds. I would like to figure out what is causing this and make the proper changes to avoid it for their well being and my sleep habits and sanity.
No new animals in the house. There is sometimes a strange cat that appears at my windows starting one cat off, but not always the cause. I have no idea what I can do about a neighbors outdoor cat anyway.
No change in anything in the house: same roommates, furniture hasn't moved, same meal schedules etc.
Cats can also coexist at times sitting on the couch with me and my roommate or hanging out in my room.
Current methods used to stop fight: alternate locking one cat in bedroom until they calm down or small spray with water gun to get them to retreat.
Please help!! I have never seen this behavior from them and it is worrying me!!
Thanks,
Jenn
I have two female 100% indoor cats (both spayed). The older is 5 and I took her in as a pregnant stray cat near the end of her pregnancy. The younger is one of her offspring and 4 years old. They have always been the only pets. We've moved twice since I had them (2nd floor VA apt to 2nd floor FL apt and then to a single level house in FL, but we have been in the house for 9 months). They have always been playful, but lately (past 2-3 weeks) it has been getting out of hand. Multiple times a day they will both lock eyes in a defensive stance and then the hissing, growling and screeching starts. If they approach each other they bat at each other but never much more than that. There is actually a lot less physical contact when they play but it is way more aggressive. It's gotten so bad that I have not been able to sleep through the night in over a week because I get shocked out of sleep by the sounds. I would like to figure out what is causing this and make the proper changes to avoid it for their well being and my sleep habits and sanity.
No new animals in the house. There is sometimes a strange cat that appears at my windows starting one cat off, but not always the cause. I have no idea what I can do about a neighbors outdoor cat anyway.
No change in anything in the house: same roommates, furniture hasn't moved, same meal schedules etc.
Cats can also coexist at times sitting on the couch with me and my roommate or hanging out in my room.
Current methods used to stop fight: alternate locking one cat in bedroom until they calm down or small spray with water gun to get them to retreat.
Please help!! I have never seen this behavior from them and it is worrying me!!
Thanks,
Jenn
