Are your cats play fighting or fighting fur real?
It turns out that certain behaviors in domestic cats could be telltale signs that an interaction is friendly, aggressive or something in between, researchers report January 26 in Scientific Reports.
“It is a question we hear a lot from cat owners,” says cat behavior expert Mikel Delgado of Feline Minds, a cat behavior consulting company in Sacramento, Calif., who was not involved in the study. “So I was excited to see that researchers are taking on this topic.”
Scientists have studied cats’ social relationships — both with other cats and humans — but it can be tricky to tell whether two cats are playing or fighting, says veterinarian and cat behavior researcher Noema Gajdoš-Kmecová of the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Slovakia (SN: 9/23/19).
Sometimes cat owners miss the signs of a tense relationship because they think their pets are just playing, which can lead to stress and illness in the animals, she says. Other times, owners rehome their cats after incorrectly assuming their pets are fighting.
2023-02-02 07:00:00
Original from www.sciencenews.org
As cats are social creatures, it is no surprise they often find themselves engaged in a bit of a scuffle. But it can also be difficult to tell if they are truly fighting or simply having fun. To help cat parents decipher between the two, here are some ways to tell if your cats are fighting or having fun.
First, play fighting usually involves lots of light bites and will usually involve mock wounds and “real” wounds. While this can look aggressive and can be uncomfortable for our cats, play fighting usually does not break the skin. If your cat does break the skin during play fighting, it is a good sign that the cats are not playing, but rather, fighting for real and you should intervene.
Second, cats that are fighting may exhibit more intense posturing, such as growling, hissing and arching their backs. Whereas cats that are playing may be more vocal, with wrestling and pouncing noises, as well as meowing.
Third, cats that are playing tend to take breaks and start up again in a few minutes. If your cats are engaged in a fight for longer than a few minutes, it’s time to intervene and make sure both cats are safe.
Finally, cats that are playing often “make up” afterward and show each other signs of affection. If your cats are still not ready to forgive each other after the potential fight, it is a good sign they were not just playing.
By utilizing these tips, you can help accurately determine if your cats are simply playing, or if they are truly fighting. With these guidelines, cat parents can ensure their furry companions stay safe and continue to have fun together.