When cats suddenly stop getting along

A sudden fight can follow a frightening event, pain or another change. Do not assume it is simply a disagreement or force the cats together to resolve it.

Separate safely

Avoid putting your hands between fighting cats. Give each cat a separate, quiet area with food, water, a litter box and a resting place. Let them settle and contact your veterinarian to discuss the change.

Reintroduce at their pace

A gradual plan may begin with scent and space exchanges before calm, supervised visual contact. Keep enough distance that both cats can relax. If tension returns, step back rather than pushing closer.

There is no fixed number of days that works for every pair. A veterinarian or qualified behavior professional can help with repeated or severe aggression.

Further reading: VCA: aggression between household cats.