The last couple of days, our two bengals have been turning on each other in their cat run! I got out there quickly today to see another cat in the garden.... The bengals were going for it with each other.... this wasn't play WWE bengal wrestling, this was proper nasty, claws out, I'm going to hurt you fighting! I'm lucky I didn't lose an arm splitting them up!!

Why would they be doing this? Are they getting confused by the scent of the other cat? Or are they fighting over the other cat maybe?

If this continues I'm worried one of them will end up getting seriously hurt.... thankfully one of us has been there to split them up so far!

EDIT: One of them has just come inside and he has a bloody scab on his nose now

Hi Gavin,

My two fight about once a day - they are litter brothers so I assumed they'd get on - but I suppose like people, you can choose your friends but not your family

There's never been any blood spilled so far, although Bert broke Ernie's collar one night - and the rest of the time they play and snooze together. Perhaps it's still kitten high jinks as they are just over 10 months old?

With yours I think you may be right that there's another influence in there - interesting to hear what other people think?

Regards

Teresa

There's play fighting, which they do all the time, but that is just a bit of wrestling and batting with paws without claws..... this was serious fighting with claws out and "toilet brush" tails

Do they do the comedy "walking on tiptoes to try and look bigger" too?!

If it only happens when they see another cat it may be redirected aggression. They can't get at the true object of their aggression so they go after what they can get at, each other.

Thanks - sounds exactly like that....

http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/aggression3.html

It's a good job they couldn't get at the other cat then, otherwise it would have got itself an express trip to the vets

This is getting out of control now - it's happening on a daily basis now, I'm not even sure there's another cat involved....

They make an incredible racket - not sure what the neighbours must think.... I have to split them up with a brush, which they attack with vigour!!

I'm worried that one day we might not be there and they'll do some damage to each other.

Is there anything we can do? It seems to originate when they are out in their run, but it sometime spills over into inside too. Seems a shame to stop them going out into their run as they love the fresh air, but it may have to come to that

I seem to remember reading that if a cat goes after a friend cat in a case of redirected aggression enough times that the agression towards the friend cat can become a habit.

Can you keep them out of the run for several weeks so they become sound friends again and in the mean time fix it so that other cats can't get into your yard?

Medora

Hi Gavin,

Just read your post. I haven't been on here for about a week, so I'm just enjoying catching up

I'd buy some feliway spray and spray it on their beds. It should help their friendship.

It would be a terrible shame to split them up. I'm sure they'll soon settle back down again.
I'd keep their claws ( weapons ) cut too so they can't do any serious damage to each other or you when you have to split them up

_________________
All the Best
Elaine Lomax
www.wildside-bengals.com