I have had two cats for a little over two years now. I live in a rural area, but the cats are NOT "barn cats". Both are all black, were strays at one point (we adopted them from a shelter) and both have been a dream. They are indoor-outdoor, always been sweet (but can hold there own with the other neighborhood cats AND dogs). Both are normal sized, but one is SLIGHTLY smaller than the other. The cats had a few weeks of "getting to know you" pains when we introduced them (we got them only a few weeks apart), but have never really had much problems with one another. In fact, they have always been very close (both females), preening each other, hunting and displaying the catch together, even eating together.
Unfortunately, in the past 3 months, the larger cat (Nephthis) has become increasingly aggressive towards the slightly smaller one (Isis). She actually has been attacking, something that never happened outside of play time before. Some of the attacks hurt Isis, and she comes away with significant patches of fur missing. Many of the attacks and subsequent battles take place during the normal night hyper-activity when we close all of the doors and make them stay inside.
I am very concerned because of the increasing violence of the fights. Both cats are significantly vicious when needed (dogs come onto our property, people they do not know come into our home, we joke that they are our "attack cats"), which is fine because we live where a cat's survival traits are indeed important. That ability to defend themselves has turned into a weapon used by the larger on the smaller. My wife and i have never had problems with them before, they have never attacked either of us, and are both extremely affectionate towards us. What could be the problem, and how do i stop them from fighting with each other short of constraining either cat?
Unfortunately, in the past 3 months, the larger cat (Nephthis) has become increasingly aggressive towards the slightly smaller one (Isis). She actually has been attacking, something that never happened outside of play time before. Some of the attacks hurt Isis, and she comes away with significant patches of fur missing. Many of the attacks and subsequent battles take place during the normal night hyper-activity when we close all of the doors and make them stay inside.
I am very concerned because of the increasing violence of the fights. Both cats are significantly vicious when needed (dogs come onto our property, people they do not know come into our home, we joke that they are our "attack cats"), which is fine because we live where a cat's survival traits are indeed important. That ability to defend themselves has turned into a weapon used by the larger on the smaller. My wife and i have never had problems with them before, they have never attacked either of us, and are both extremely affectionate towards us. What could be the problem, and how do i stop them from fighting with each other short of constraining either cat?