My Cat Is Attacking the Other Cat
Fear, Territory, and the Illusion of Toughness
Note the puffy tail, ears and whiskers flat: the orange and white cat is afraid.
Cats don’t care about being in charge. They care about not dying. When one cat goes after another, it’s almost never because they’re feeling bold. Nine times out of ten, it’s fear in a leather jacket, trying to look tough.
You see a cat acting out and think, “Why is he being such a jerk?” Meanwhile, he’s thinking, “Why is everyone out to get me?”
That tough guy routine? Pure theater. Scared cats don’t pick fights to rule the roost. They do it because their brains are screaming, “Run or fight!” and sometimes the ‘run’ button is broken.
Fear-Based vs. Redirected Aggression
Redirected aggression is what happens when your cat spots something terrifying—like the neighbor’s tabby strutting past the window—and then launches a sneak attack on the nearest moving thing. Spoiler: it’s usually your ankle.
Fear-based aggression is a whole different beast. That’s your cat’s nervous system slamming the panic button when life feels unstable—socially, emotionally, or just because you moved the couch.
Here’s how you can tell the difference:
Redirected Aggression
Usually triggered by external stressors (stray cats, loud noises, vet visits)
Manifests in a sudden, explosive attack
Your cat returns to normal quickly
Your cat looks annoyed or angry, but isn’t sure why
Fear-Based Aggression
Triggered by internal anxiety (social insecurity or trauma)
Your cat exhibits chronic tension, displaying low growls
Your cat stays hypervigilant and defensive
Your cat feels terrified, not dominant
The “I’m Terrified, So I’m a Badass” Problem
Cats are Olympic-level fight-or-flighters. The trouble is, some of them get stuck on ‘fight’ and forget what calm even looks like. Crisis mode becomes their default setting.
Bring home a new cat, or let your old cat act weird for a day, and your anxious cat’s internal alarm bells start clanging. Instability equals danger, and danger means it’s time to throw paws.
This is why cat introductions crash and burn so often. People skip the slow, boring scent-swapping part and just hope two stubborn animals will magically become best friends. Spoiler: they won’t.
“Dear Humans,
Stop assuming the cat who hisses first is the problem. They’re not plotting. They’re panicking.
Your “bully” cat might be terrified of losing their food, their space, or you.
You can’t punish fear out of a cat. You can only build trust back into them.
Also, stop yelling “NO!” at your cat. To them, it just sounds like, “See? Even my human hates me now.””
The Behaviorist’s Truth
When one cat bullies another, it’s tempting to call them a jerk. But most of that so-called ‘alpha’ stuff? It’s just fear in a superhero cape. Scared cats hit first because they think it’s the only way to stay safe.
And yes, you can actually teach a cat to be brave. That’s the whole job. Building confidence isn’t a bonus—it’s the main event.
For the cat who lashes out, this work turns panic into predictability. For the one who hides, freezes, or flinches, confidence is the only way out.
Both cats need to get their sense of control back. Feeling safe isn’t a given—it’s a skill they have to relearn.
The Defensive Cat’s Playbook
A defensive cat lives in a world of overreaction. You’ll see it in three classic moves:
Freeze: Body low, pupils like dinner plates, tail flicking like a metronome on caffeine.
Fake Confidence: Fur puffed up, no slow blinks—just a hard, unblinking stare that says, “Try me.”
Preemptive Strike: attacks before the other cat even knows what hit them.
Your job isn’t to play alpha or yell. It’s to prove to your cat that the world isn’t out to get them anymore.
“Dear Humans, Again,
Separate them. Don’t wait “to see if it settles.”
If one cat’s hiding under the bed and the other is pacing like a security guard, this isn’t dominance. It’s trauma, plain and simple.
If you can’t do it alone, call a professional! We’re fear translators.”
The Healing Phase
Reintroduction isn’t about getting cats to ‘tolerate’ each other. It’s about rewiring their nervous systems so they can actually relax again.
Fear-based cats need gentle exposure, short positive sessions, and constant proof that nothing bad happens anymore.
The cat who’s been cornered, chased, or ambushed needs help too. Confidence work gives them their power back.
Both cats need to feel safe, and that requires time, careful planning, and patience. There are no shortcuts.
If your cats are stuck in a cycle of fear, it’s not your fault. The good news is, you can fix it. You don’t need dominance theory; you need a clear behavior plan.
Start by booking a consult with a real cat behaviorist. Let’s rebuild peace, one paw at a time.
Fear is loud, but safety is what changes everything.
If your cats are locked in a fear loop, it’s not your fault — but it is fixable. You don’t need dominance theory. You need a behavior map.
