In their natural habitat, cats are solitary animals. They rarely come into contact with other individuals of their species. Each cat has it's defined territory. Other cats that enter this territory are regarded as invaders or intruders. Well defined feline societies also exist. Each society is dominated by a reproductively-active male. At a given time, only one reproductively-active male can dominate a society. Fights constantly erupt between males who wish to become the new dominant figure.

Non-neutered males patrol the largest territories. If another non-neutered male is encountered, a fight may erupt. If a nearby female is in heat, the battle may even be more severe.

Cats that share the same territory do not always fight. They often approach each other, evaluate the situation, then decide their next move. They move slowly and each step is well calculated. They may run off in separate directions or move even closer. Most of the time their bodies are straight and their fur is erect, giving the appearance of being larger than they really are.

Territorial disputes also occur between cats in multicat households. The disputing cats should be separated as quickly as possible. After a brief period (several days) of confinement, both cats should gradually be reintroduced. If any aggression is noticed, the aggressive cat (or both) should be confined again.

Territorial conflicts in multicat households are often unavoidable. Certain cats never seem to get along with housemates. These cats are better off in homes where they are the only cat.