I didn't think I had any good suggestions until I got down to the part where
you said you have 2 litter boxes, a shared dry food dish, etc.  That could
be a big part of the problem. The rule of thumb is 1 litter box for each cat
in a household. I have 3 cats so I have 3 litter boxes. You really should
have 4 boxes since you have 4 cats. Sounds like a lot of work? Well, cats
are usually solitary animals that are social by choice. They don't run in
packs like dogs so sharing is not a cat's natural state of mind. They can
and will share but by choice not because they feel inclined to do so. It is
possible that being forced to share has brought on some tension.

I suggest adding 2 more litter boxes. They shouldn't all be next to each
other either. Cat's prefer privacy when doing their business. Hooded boxes
work if you have to put a box in a higher traffic area. It gives cats a
sense of privacy even though their box may be in a hallway. Make sure
whenever you place a litter box that a cat using the box has more than one
way of jumping out in case another cat comes up and crowds him/her.

Also, your cats would prefer to have more than one dry food bowl. I have 3
cats, but I have two dry food bowls. That is ONLY because my 2nd cat is not
a big eater so she doesn't need her own bowl. However, my two foodies, the
boys, often sit near each other and eat. They have the same size bowls and
the same amount of food. And I keep a water dish in between so they have
some space when they're eating. (I also keep space between them when I give
them separate dishes of wet food) Since you have two cats that are fighting,
I suggest you get at least 1 more dry food dish and keep it about 5 feet
away from the other dish. Both dishes should contain the same amount of food
and be the same size.

Do you play with your cats together? I mean, do you get out a wand toy and
involve all of them in at least half an hour of playtime each day? That
would help raise their spirits and make it fun for everyone to be together.
Family time is together time, right? Who wants to fight when they're having
fun? Bringing about a sense of fun and comradarie will help them mend their
relationship. Just be sure to break up any fight that begins, immediately.

The way to identify a fight is the posturing that usually occurs just before
they go at each other's throats. When both cats are facing each other,
looking off to the side of the other's face, ears back, making a moaning
growling sound. That is the perfect time to break it up.

If they get into a fight, don't get too upset and panic. You can break up a
cat fight a number of ways, keep an empty soda can with a few pennies in it
(tape the mouth opening) and throw it on the ground near them. It will
startle them into stopping, then you can separate them. Use a broom, don't
hit them but try to get the bristle end in between them. Spray them with
water using a water bottle. That is what I use when my boys get into a
fight.

Fighting is natural, they will get irritated now and then, but you still
need to break it up so no one gets hurt. The sooner you break up a fight,
the sooner they can calm down. And, the longer they go on feeling calm
around each other, the sooner they will make up and get along. However,
don't EXPECT them to go back to being lovey dovey towards each other. Not
all cats will get along. They may never act the same towards one another
they once did. But wouldn't a little peace be nice? Good luck! : )

<richardjoseph@gmail.com> wrote in message
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