What Are the Main Causes of Cat Bullying (And How to Prevent or Stop It)

Any paw parent with a multi-cat household wants each kitty to be happy and healthy. So, it can be frustrating and upsetting when one cat bullies another, or when two kitties who previously got along start engaging in bullying behaviour. As a responsible pet owner, it’s important to recognize signs of bullying and know how to prevent or stop it. And Cat in a Flat is here to help! Read on to learn more about cat bullying and what to do when it’s happening in your home.  ©lil artsy via Canva.com

What Is Cat Bullying?

What is cat bullying? It can be difficult to know at times if your felines are playing with one another or if something more sinister is going on. Generally pouncing, wrestling, light swatting and even the occasion hiss are signs your fur friends are getting along. It’s important to take note of your kitties’ body language to determine if there’s any bullying taking place.

Signs of play

• Relaxed body posture
• Ears pointed forward
• Fur is not puffed but lying flat
• Tail held high
• Facing each other and not running away

Signs of bullying

• Intense staring
• Excessive hissing
• Biting and clawing
• Stalking 
• Arched back and flattened ears
• Puffed tail and fur

Why Do Cats Bully Each Other?

Why do cats bully each other? There can be many reasons why one of your cats is bullying the other. Aggressive behaviour may be the result of lack of resources, incorrectly introducing a new kitty into the family, or because of health-related issues. These are some of the most common causes of bullying in cats: 

Territorial Stress

Felines are territorial and don’t always react well to change. Moving house, introducing a new cat or other pet, or even bringing a new baby into the home can all trigger territorial stress. Mr Whiskers may resort to bullying as a way to establish dominance when they’re feeling insecure. 

Redirection of Aggression

In some cases, Mr Whiskers may redirect their aggression or frustration about something else onto their fellow fur friend. For example, if your kitty isn’t getting enough daily stimulation, they may bully your other cat because they’re bored. 

Health and Scent Change

Cats have sensitive noses and can pick up on subtle odours humans can’t. If you take one kitty to the vet, your other feline will notice they smell differently and may react in a bullying manner because they’re afraid. Likewise, your kitty will be the first to notice a change in their health. Dental issues, joint pain, and other discomfort can upset your cat and cause them to take it out on their furry friend. 

Hormonal / Age Changes

Like humans, cats can experience hormonal changes as they age. Hyperthyroidism, feline diabetes, and other changes in health can both physically and emotionally affect your fur friend as they get older. 

Personality Clashes

Hierarchy is important in the feline world. Hence, personality clashes can occur when you have a cat who hasn’t been properly socialised and doesn’t know how to behave around other felines. Bullying can also happen when your furry friends are struggling to establish the proper hierarchy.  

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Three simple steps to prevent cat bullying

It’s always best to be preventative rather than wait until things have escalated between your kitties. In most cases, you can prevent cat bullying with these three simple steps. 

1. Make sure your cats have enough resources. One of the most important steps in creating a peaceful, safe home for all your kitties is to make sure there are enough resources to go around! This includes food and water bowls, litter trays, scratching posts and hiding spots each feline can retreat to when they’re stressed. The general rule is to have more of each resource than the number of cats. 
2. Don’t give one kitty preferential treatment. It can be hard when you’ve brought a new kitty into your home to not give them a little more attention than your other fur friends. However, cats do get jealous and can resort to bullying when they feel neglected. Aim to provide equal amounts of attention to each feline and reward them with treats when they get along. 
3. Create a stimulating environment for your cats. Every kitty is unique, and some may require more stimulation to be happy than others. Start by creating a cat-friendly home that has vertical spaces, scratching posts, climbing trees, and safe toys for solo play. Make sure you spend time every day playing with your fur friends—both individually and together. Use interactive toys such as feather wands to encourage your cats to play together and bond. And remember to reward them at the end of each play session so your whiskery pals have a pawsitive association with playtime! 

Bonus tip: Consider hiring a cat sitter to provide company for your kitties—especially if you’re traveling or spend a lot of time outside the home each day. A trustworthy sitter can pop in to play with your fur friends and make sure they get enough stimulation while you’re away.

Other tips to stop conflict between cats

• Feed your cats separately. This will prevent disputes over food or one kitty overeating while another goes hungry.
• Litter box disputes are one of the key causes for territorial issues between cats. You should aim to have one more litter tray than number of felines. So, if you have three kitties you need to provide four litter boxes in different spots around the home. 
• Properly introduce new cats. It can take time and patience to properly introduce a new furry member into your family. But don’t rush the process! 
• Spay and neuter your cats. Felines become aggressive when they go into heat or are looking for a mate. Hence, getting Mr Whiskers neutered is not just healthier for them, but it can help curb bullying behaviour too. 
• Don’t punish bad behaviour. Felines don’t react well to punishment and it may even intensify one cat bullying another out of fear or anxiety. Instead of punishing your kitty, focus on what may be causing the behaviour.
• Reinforce good behaviour. When your cats are spending time peacefully together make sure to reward them! This will help them see spending time together as a positive experience. 
• If you’ve taken all these steps and your feline is still bullying their fur friend, it may be time for a trip to the vet. Cats can sometimes become aggressive if they feel unwell or there’s something off with their health. Your vet will be able to help you pinpoint the cause of Mr Whiskers’ behaviour and come up with a plan to help stop it. 

Looking to learn more about feline behaviour? Check out our blog posts on things your cats hate and how you can avoid them and what to do when you have a kitty that sprays.