I understand that cats, like many animals, may fight if they feel threatened, over territory, male aggression, etc.
But once they throw down, what does instinct tell them to do? They happen so quickly and frantically, seemingly without strategy, it’s hard to make sense of what’s going on.
Try to scratch the other’s eyes out, maim or kill, or just keep swinging until the other backs down?
In: Biology
Cats in nature, aka “barn cats”, don’t really fight that much, because they prefer to just keep their distance.
Tomcats, aka uneutered male cats will fight for territory, because they want to mate with the female cats there. Those fights can drag on, but they’re usually just posturing for ages and wailing.
When cats fight it is usually because of lack of personal space. Either because there are too many cats, such as street cats, and they’re fighting over food or they are stuck in an apartment and the like.
When cats fight life or death they aim at the eyes with their front claws. When they fight for dominance or space, they’re more likely to try to deliver some hurtful kicks with their hind legs.
As kittens they are practising hunting…it’s in their dna? Our old cat has bolted, cried & hid from fights for many years.
Slap fights are about asserting dominance. For more serious fights or hunting, the two main strategies are: 1. Grab the opponent in such a way that their bellies are exposed and then bunny kicking them in the hopes of causing a disembowelment. 2. Biting the opponent’s neck and then jerking it sharply to break it.
Cats usually kill by ambush. Biting the back of the neck and puncturing something vital. That thing where they flop over and scratch with their hind legs? Disembowelment. The yowling hissing scratch fights? That’s panic and trying to scare the other cat away. Not really a strategy to it. Just hurt the other cat with the only weapons they have.
they are trying to defend their territory which include food supply and potential mating/making babies. They mark their territory with urine, if they prove their strength then others back off when smelling their urine
Different kinds of fight happen in different contexts. Sometimes you just want to establish dominance, sometimes you just want to scare someone away and sometimes you’re just playing. When cats get down to life and death, though, there’s one strategy above all. First you establish control of the opponent’s head to avoid being bitten and then you use your powerful hind legs to shred the opponent’s belly. The throat is a viable target but it’s also easy to defend; go for it if the opponent gives it up but don’t expect that to happen. Soft spots like the eyes and ears are targets of convenience; damaging them improves your odds of defeating or dissuading the opponent but will not, themselves, kill or disable the opponent. Ripping the internal organs out guarantees the kill.
When cats fight, their primary objective is usually to establish dominance or defend territory. These fights look chaotic because their actions are driven by instinct. Cats typically aim to look as intimidating as possible first – think puffed-up fur and arched backs. When a physical fight ensues, cats target vulnerable areas such as the face, belly, and neck of their opponent. They rely heavily on their claws and teeth to cause enough discomfort to make the other cat retreat. Generally, the idea is not necessarily to kill but to assert dominance and make the other cat back down.
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