Multi-cat households are commonplace, and cat population density in urban areas can be very high. This can lead to an increased risk of inter-cat aggression both in homes and between cats in a neighbourhood. In order to understand and accurately diagnose cases of aggression between cats, it is therefore important to appreciate the natural social behaviour of the cat and the potentially unnatural demands that life in a domestic environment puts on our feline companions.
The motivation for aggression in any particular case should be determined through a combination of observation and history taking. The list of possible differentials is similar to that relating to aggression towards people and includes fear-related aggression and misdirected predatory behaviour. In addition, cats are more likely to show territorially motivated aggression towards other cats, and in these cases consideration of natural feline social systems is crucial to understanding the behaviour and offering a realistic means of controlling it.
Other common types of aggression between cats sharing a household include despotic behaviour, inter-male aggression, and maternal aggression.
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