Are my cats playing or fighting? These are the keys to distinguish it

cats they are somewhat chaotic animals. That’s why we like them so much. Sometimes they can engage each other in a kind of off-step dance that the line between play and fight. It’s definitely hard to tell if they’re playing or fighting, and it can be dangerous. Logically, if they’re just playing, then there’s no problem and we can let them have fun. Instead, if this cat fightwe must try to separate them before they hurt each other. Since these behaviors are difficult to distinguish from each other, the team scientists from Slovakia and the UK conducted a study aimed at finding those unique factors of each of them.

To do this, they shot 165 videos in which they saw the interaction 228 different cats. Some videos have been downloaded from YouTubewhile others were donated by animal owners. The goal was to classify them as cat fights, playful animals, or something in between. I mean, maybe they started playing, but suddenly one of them got sick of it. Or simply that from the very beginning one cat wanted to play and the other did not. This creates an intermediate situation in which one thinks he is playing and the other is fighting.

The classification was carried out in two ways. On the one hand, they hired four cat behavior expertswho had to evaluate what they saw on the video. On the other hand, we analyzed six different traits: fight vs idle, vocalization, chase, lack of interaction, intermittent interactivity and long interactivity. Thus, by comparing the results of experts with different scores in this classification, they received a model capable of predicting whether the video showed a cat fight or in fact it was two furry friends who had a good time together.

Keys to distinguish play from catfight

The first step in the study was to remove videos that clearly showed cat fights. These are, for example, those in which one or both animals are bleed or with claws nailed to each other in a violent way.

The key was to differentiate these videos with more subtle differences. But even being invisible, they managed to find them. To start, vocalizations they were the most prominent feature of cat fights. In fact, they usually initiate ritual vocal duels. This was also very significant. pursue in battle and repetitive in-game interactions. This is because when they fight, one usually tries to run away while the other chases him. They may chase each other during the game, but this is a different chase that usually lasts less.

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In terms of repetitive interactions, this study concluded that in catfights they are less concerned. It’s more normal for them to chase each other or have periods when someone shows obedient, for example, bending over or taking a semi-sitting position. On the other hand, when they play, they maintain physical contact with each other much longer. Finally, it is important that in wrestling there are usually more offensive/defensive behaviorsuch as bristly hair or ear and tail movement.

The authors of the study emphasize that it is important to know how to make these distinctions, as in catfights they can become serious injury. So these traits can be a good starting point. If not, there is always the option to ask a veterinarian or hire a behavioral expert to evaluate them. Even if we think that no one knows our furry friends better than we do, sometimes it may be necessary to ask for help.