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Cat Play Fighting vs True Aggression

Rebecca Schmidt • Jul 17, 2014
Not sure if your cats are play wrestling or if they are about to break out into a full-blown fight? The key to answering this question is to watch and listen for the signs that differentiate one type of argument from another. 

Play Fighting

Cats that are play fighting tend to do so quietly and will tumble around with Cats Fightinglittle to no sound. Usually when cats are goofing off, they will move slower and will rarely meow or growl. Like humans, cats are always in need of physical activity. When they play with their brothers and sisters, this is a good thing! Cats playing together will stalk each other like kittens and pounce on one another as they would have when they were babies. This action however, is not restricted to just kittens. All ages of cats will play with each other and it is not necessary to intercede unless it looks like someone might get hurt.

You are probably wondering why your cats would choose to pounce and swat at each other as a game. Cats engage in play fights for many different reasons. Like every human being, cats need to have fun. This activity is a silly and exciting way to test their problem solving skills and agility. It is also a form of socializing with each other. Cats will play bite, swat, and pounce at each other with strictly good intentions.

The Different Types of Play

There are two main categories of play that cats display. The first type is called solitary play. Solitary play is directed at objects such as toys, paper bags, boxes, and pretty much everything else in your house.

The second type of play is called social play. This is directed towards people and other animals, in particular, cats. Problems can arise when cats play rough with their owners. This is why having a partner to play with is a smart idea.

True Fighting

When cats are truly fighting, they move quickly and make many loud, angry noises. They typically take turns biting, roughly swatting, and pouncing on each other. They will often pause in between movements, planning their next move. Sometimes, tufts of hair will fly around because of the intensity of the fight. There are many reasons why cats can get aggressive with one another. One of the most common reasons is when cats become territorial and defensive of their personal space.
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