Cats can become socially mature anytime between 2 and 5 years of age, and start to take some control of the social groups and their activities. Owners may be puzzled by conflict that starts when one of their cats becomes socially mature, or when a socially mature cat perceives that one of its housemates is becoming socially mature. Conflict occurring when a new cat is introduced is easy to understand, and good directions are available for introducing the new cat to the current residents. Open conflict is most likely to occur when a new cat is introduced into the house, and when cats that have known each other since kittenhood reach social maturity. The change may only be the cat's perceptions of how much control it wants over the environment or its housemates' behaviors. There may be no apparent threat to access to these resources for conflict to develop. Cats may engage in open or silent conflict over space, food, water, litter boxes, perches, sunny areas, safe places where the cat can watch its environment, or attention from people. The most common cause of conflict between indoor-housed cats is competition for resources. Although cats engaged in any type of conflict may spray or eliminate outside the litter box, we find that threatened cats are most likely to develop cystitis. In re-directed conflict, the threatened cat may not defend itself from the more confident cat, but become threatening to a less threatening cat. In defensive conflict situations, a cat tries to increase the distance between itself and something it perceives as a threat. In offensive conflict, the more confident cat moves closer to the other cats, and to control the interaction. The signs of conflict can result from three types of conflict offensive, defensive, and re-directed. Threatened cats often spend increasingly large amounts of time away from the family, in areas of the house that others do not use, or spend time with the owners only when the more confident cat elsewhere. If the threatened cat tries to use the resource later, the more confident cat's presence alone may be enough to make it flee. The cat creating the conflict eventually may only have to approach or stare at another cat for it to leave a resource such as food or a litter box. The hair along its back, on its tail and tail base may stand on end, although not to the extent of cats engaged in open conflict, and it may emit a low growl. The cat creating the conflict can be identified as the one that never backs away from other cats, denies other cats access to resources, stares at other cats, and lowers its head and neck while elevating its hindquarters as it approaches less confident cats. The signs of silent conflict can be so subtle they are easily missed. If neither backs down, the displays may increase to swatting, wrestling, and biting. Signs of open conflict are easy to recognize the cats may stalk each other, hiss, and turn sideways with legs straight and hair standing on end up to make themselves look larger. Signs of conflict between cats can be open or silent. May develop cystitis or other disease problem. The hair along its back, on its tail and tail base may stand on end Lowers its head and neck while elevating its hindquarters and stalks the other cat. Rub cheeks, head, chin, and tail on people, doorways, and furniture at cat height. Spends large amounts of time hiding or away from the family Our goal is to reduce unhealthy conflict to a more manageable level for the cats involved. Of course, some conflict between housemates is normal, regardless of species. Once this has been done, you are well on your way to reducing the conflict. If it is, you usually can identify the causes. With a little practice, you can recognize the signs of conflict and find out if it is a problem for your cats. Conflict among cats can develop because of threats to their status or rank in the home, from other animals in the home, or from outside cats. In our experience, conflict is the most common reason that some health problems occur in multiple indoor-cat households. Some become aggressive, some become withdrawn, and some become sick. Cats react quickly when their feelings of safety are threatened.
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