Feline Behaviorist Pam Johnson-Bennett is the author of a number of award-winning and critically acclaimed books, including Think Like a Cat and Psycho Kitty. The innovative methods described in all her books are based on Pam's unique way of training by actually understanding the way a cat thinks. She makes numerous television appearances including CNN, Fox News Channel, and National Geographic specials, as well as being a popular guest on many nationally syndicated radio programs. She is now considered to be one of the leading experts on feline behavior.

Q: I have two female cats that I have had since they were kittens; both have been fixed and front-declawed. Within the past month they have been doing some serious cat fighting. I have never seen this kind of behavior before. They are very loud and it is scary to see them fighting this way. The first few times that this happened, the next day they seemed OK with each other and went on playing, but not this last time. It has been two days and the older cat will not be around the younger one. Right now, the older cat will not come out of our bathroom unless our bedroom door is closed. We have even tried putting the younger one in another room and shutting the door, but the older has come out once and seemed scared, and she runs right back to the bathroom. Also, there is a stray male kitten that been at our house since early October. I didn't think he was the problem, since he was outside for over a month before this happened. But I am not really sure about it. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I am willing to help them in any way in order to keep them both.

A: Even though the stray kitty may have been around before you witnessed the first aggressive episode between your cats, there's a good chance he is still the cause. The problem between your cats may be due to redirected aggression. This occurs when one cat gets agitated by something and is unable to gain access to the original cause. She's in a highly reactive state, and ends up lashing out at the first person, cat, or dog who comes near. The kitty who was the target of this aggression is totally unaware of why she was attacked and goes on the defensive. Unfortunately, it can turn into an awful cycle as the cats no longer recognize each other as friends due to the aggressive postures they now assume.

When dealing with redirected aggression, separate the cats immediately so the cycle doesn't continue and then do a gradual reintroduction. In your case, because the aggression has been ongoing and you aren't 100 percent sure of the cause, have your cats checked out by the veterinarian to rule out underlying medical causes for the sudden behavioral change. Then, keep the kitties completely separated for about a week or so and then gradually reintroduce them almost as if they had never met before.

They need to have reasons to like each other, so only have them together for brief periods when you are offering treats, feeding meals, or engaging in distracting playtime. By "brief," I mean about 30 seconds to start. Always end on a positive note. Eventually, you can increase their exposure, but always keep things positive.

You can also use Feliway in the environment. Set up a couple of the electric diffusers in both cats' areas. This product contains synthetic feline facial pheromones that have a calming effect on cats. It's available at pet supply stores.

Block viewing access to windows during the reintroduction process so the outdoor cat can't be seen. You can use white poster paper on the bottoms of the windows. In addition to your cats not being able to see out, it will prevent the outdoor cat from seeing in and he might lose interest in coming around.