 Among domestic cats , males are more likely to fight than females . Among feral cats , the most common reason for cat fighting is competition between two males to mate with a female . In such cases , most fights are won by the heavier male . Another common reason for fighting in domestic cats is the difficulty of establishing territories within a small home . Female cats also fight over territory or to defend their kittens . Neutering will decrease or eliminate this behavior in many cases , suggesting that the behavior is linked to sex hormones . 
