Maine Coon Brothers Choose 'Violence' As Owners Try To Take Them for Walk
A pair of silver tabby Maine coons, famous on social media for their travel adventures, were caught on camera fighting during a hike, and internet users can't stop laughing at the viral clip.
The video shared on Instagram in September by their owner, under the username @jimmy_and_beaks, shows the two felines getting carried around while on a countryside hike with their owners, each of them in a different backpack.
However, being separated didn't stop them from engaging in a fight, hitting each other with their paws while meowing back and forth.
"BROTHERS: BOYS WILL BE BOYS. One minute they're [licking], the next biting each other on the bottom. Brothers!! All paws and no trousers. They actually adore each other.. just a bit of travel violence every now and then!!" says the caption. Newsweek reached out to @jimmy_and_beaks for comment via Instagram comments. We could not verify the details of the case.
If you own multiple cats, you probably aren't new to feline fights. But what is the reason behind these?
A Catster article medically reviewed by Dr. Paola Cuevas says that cats may fight for a number of reasons, but more often than not, it is related to reproduction, adding that spaying/neutering your pet can prevent 90 percent of inter-cat aggression.
Fights may also be due to defensive aggression if the cat feels threatened; territory disputes if they feel they space has been invaded; agonistic relationships; and environmental changes, among other reasons.
Emergency veterinarian platform Vets Now says that cats often get injured during fights, but you may not notice it because they are very good at hiding it with fur.
However, they will show other signs, including lameness; crying or growling; reluctance to move or to be handled; a pocket of pus on the skin forming an abscess; loss of appetite; and lethargy, among others.
You can stop your cats from fighting by making sure they both have their own space, separate bowl, litter-trays and toys. You can also try reintroducing them gradually and in a positive way. And if it doesn't work, consider consulting a pet behaviorist.
The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 28.6 million views and almost 1.3 million likes on the platform.
One user, Foody_by_vivine, commented: "It reminds my daughters when they start fighting because one of them looked through the window of the other."
Noviandreyani_ posted: "The cat on the left said 'why do you still dare to look at me?'"
K_oz_3 added: "The way they go at it and then look right back at the camera … it's like they're asking …'did you get it?'"
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.