Inter-cat aggression is a major welfare problem in multi-cat households. Understanding causes and solutions helps owners address the underlying issues rather than managing visible symptoms.
Inter-cat aggression causes chronic welfare compromise for victim cats who may live in a state of ongoing vigilance and fear in their own home. The aggressor cat also experiences arousal and frustration. Because cats do not naturally resolve conflicts by submission and appeasement the way dogs do, unresolved inter-cat aggression tends to escalate rather than stabilize. Owner intervention that addresses the root causes - resource competition, space insufficiency, fear, or medical issues - rather than attempting to punish aggressive behavior is the welfare-appropriate response. Sometimes, providing genuinely separate living spaces is the only welfare solution for incompatible cats.