2 Cats Have a ‘Thumb War' Before Every Fight and It's Hysterical
If you have two animals of basically any species and they live together, there's a 99.99% chance they're going to fight at least once. Would you have two kids and expect them not to fight? No, so don't be surprised at all if your pets fight!
These two cats take fighting to the next level, though. Whenever they're about to fight, they have a thumb war first! The purpose is unclear, but if it's just for fun, they've definitely hit their mark:
@haleyeklund Just cat things #cats#cattok#fyp
Chopin Nocturne No. 2 Piano Mono - moshimo sound design
Haley Eklund's cats are so weird, and she loves them for it. Obviously, this is not the first time they've done this, not even close. They also apparently alternate who the "dominant" cat in their house is: right now, it looks like the Tabby cat is the one winning. Coincidentally, he seems to have won the thumb war!
This is pretty impressive for two cats who don't even have thumbs! They're not even polydactyl, so they really don't have thumbs. It's just their little ritual, and as long as they're alive, they're going to keep doing it.
Related: Maine Coon Cat's Pretty Polka Dot Eyebrows Are Too Handsome
According to their mom, they're legitimate brothers, too: they were rescued together from a backyard in the Bronx. They were just babies then, and they've grown into fine young cats... And even finer fighters. They did it again, not too long after this:
@haleyeklund More cat shenanigans Before I get any comments… they are brothers and were rescued from a backyard in the Bronx at just a few weeks old. They are play fighting and they alternate who is the "dominate one" #cats#cattok#fyp
original sound - Torrell Tafa
Is this even fighting? Honestly, it just looks like the Tabby is giving his brother an aggressive bath, which he probably really needed. The Tabby cat is just doing what's best for his brother!
Why Do Cats Fight?
The cats in these videos are play-fighting: after their silly thumb war, they take a couple of pounces, maybe a little biting, and then they move on. Most sibling catfights will be that way.
Cats fighting is normal as long as they're short, harmless little bursts. Cats will typically get into little fights with their siblings over:
- Cozy spots.
- Your attention.
- Their favorite toys.
- Being a little bored.
Cat fights are nothing to be worried about unless they start turning real: always separate them if you start to notice real biting, clawing, or one cat trying to get away.
SIGN UP to get "pawsitivity" delivered right to your inbox with inspiring & entertaining stories about our furry & feathered friends
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 9:00 AM.