Why Does My Cat Hate Other Cats – 5 Key Reasons

Perhaps you’ve brought a new feline friend home only to discover your original cat seemingly hates other cats. At any chance she gets, your cat will pounce on, attack, and hiss at the new cat! So, you ask: why does my cat hate other cats?

Cats may hate other cats due to stress, which can be caused by changes in their environment. Introducing a new cat, or a fear-inducing incident can also cause this behavior. Cats who are not socialized to other cats at a young age may also have issues.

In this article, we will fully explore why your cat may be feeling aggressive, whether it’s normal, and how you can ease the introduction of two new cats.

Reasons Cats Hate Other Cats

Cats are hard to read sometimes, however, there are some clear signs about why they may hate other cats.

Your Cat May Experience Fear-Induced Aggression

Some cats may begin fighting one another when they go through a mutual stressful event, which could cause fear-induced aggression. When cats are afraid, their aggression spikes, often leading to a fight with the nearest available cat. This will create and reinforce an attitude of aggression for both cats. 

Cats Are Naturally Territorial

Cats are territorial socially and physically–that is, they don’t like new cats entering their group, and they don’t like any cat entering their own space.

Cats tend to be solitary or operate in tight-knit groups. Neither of those behaviors is necessarily accepting of a new member of the cat-pack. This may result in aggression and sometimes all-out attacks from the original cat on the newcomer.

Cats also may stake out their place in your house–maybe it’s that corner of the room behind the couch, or maybe it’s high up on your refrigerator. Either way, the territory owner may react with violence if a cat begins to intrude on its space.

Your Cat Wasn’t Socialized Properly

When cats aren’t introduced to other cats at a young age, they will likely find it difficult to interact with and tolerate other felines. Kittens that were separated from their littermates at a young age often experience this problem.

A Change Of Environment Stresses Your Cat Out

Change is stressful, especially for animals who will not fully grasp the reasons behind the change.

Even a shift in furniture or decor can stress out a cat! Moving from one residence to another has been shown to stress out cats, as well. With stress inevitably comes increased levels of aggression, which can cause two peaceful cats to attack each other.

Your Cat Has An Underlying Condition

If your cat’s behavior has rapidly shifted while nothing else has changed, you consider the hypothesis that some physical or mental problem has afflicted your feline.

Cats with underlying conditions will often display other unusual behavior. If you believe some health condition caused your cat’s hostility, then you should take her to the vet immediately.

How Do You Know If Cats Don’t Like Each Other

Check out your cats’ body language to see if they like each other. Raised hackles, fluffed tails, and ears pressed flat against their heads are all signs of aggression.

Your cat may also hiss at those she doesn’t like or even chase the offender down and attack her! In any case, your cat will make their dislike immediately apparent.

How Long Does It Take For Cats To Get Used To Each Other

Because cats are individuals with their personalities and likes and dislikes, the time it takes for cats to get used to each other can vary. Sometimes it’ll take a few weeks, and sometimes it’ll take months. You will have to be patient in introducing the two.

Is Hissing Normal When Introducing Cats

To a certain extent, yes, hissing is normal when introducing cats. However, hissing accompanied by other aggressive behavior or prolonged hissing (two minutes or longer) is not normal. If your cats display excessive aggression, make sure to separate the aggressors as long as it comes as no risk to yourself.

How Do I Introduce Cats To Each Other Properly

Although many pet owners will proclaim the ever-unsuccessful method of sticking the two felines in a room together and waiting until the sound of hissing dies down, the correct way of introducing cats is a gradual process involving many steps that eventually lead up to the two interacting.

Before bringing the new cat home, set up a place where your new cat can spend their time isolated from your cat at home. This can be a bathroom, an office, or a bedroom–it just has to be inaccessible to your other cat while being comfortable for the newcomer.

Once the new cat seems comfortable in its territory, you should allow your cats to sniff out each others’ spaces. Remove the newcomer from her territory and place her into a spare room, and then allow your old cat to explore the newcomer’s territory.

Close the door behind your old cat and allow your new cat to explore the house. Return them to their proper places afterward! You may also want to consider feeding your cats simultaneously–the newcomer in her territory and your old cat on the other side of the door.

After this step, you can begin to allow the cats to see each other–either through cracking the door or installing a pet gate at the entrance of the newcomer’s territory.

Once the two seem comfortable with this, it’s time to move to the final step: allowing the cats to be in the same room without a gate or door between them!

It’s imperative to have both cats occupied with something when they’re first getting used to each other in the same room, such as toys or food. Make sure to keep things low-stress, and in no time, your cats will be comfortable around each other!

How Do I Stop My Cat From Hating Other Cats

While some cats are natural loners and will never fully get along with other cats, there are steps you can take to minimize any aggression your cat may display.

Make sure your cat has a place she can retreat to when she’s feeling stressed. Your cats should also have their resources. In other words, please don’t make them share food or water bowls. If worst comes to worst, know that a professional pet behaviorist is only a phone call away!

Things To Consider

Cats are territorial, and at times, easily stressed, which may lead to aggression and the appearance of “hating” another cat. Other cats may have underlying conditions that incline them to be aggressive.

If you suspect your cat may be suffering from an undocumented health condition, then it is imperative to take them to a vet. Usually, however, increased aggression has to do with a recent change, such as moving to a new house or introducing a new feline friend. 

Many of the later aggression problems can be solved with the proper steps early in a cat’s relationship–if you introduce your new cat to the old cat properly, they won’t run into as many problems down the line.

Make sure to gradually introduce the two cats and give both plenty of resources so they don’t feel the need to fight over food or toys.

Associate their early experiences with positivity, the kind of happiness that cats experience through things they like (such as that extra-expensive wet cat food!). This will lead your cats to like one another.

If your cats are particularly aggressive to each other, make sure to separate them into different rooms. In extreme situations, it may become necessary to call a professional behaviorist who can deal with your cats’ problems fully.