In a multiple cat household, there's bound to be a disagreement or two between kitty siblings. But when you've got a bully cat on your hands, you'll want to take steps to stop the one cat bullying another.

First, it's important to identify how and why your cat is being a bully. Then, you can work to curb this unwanted behavior.

What Is a Bully Cat?

Cat are inclined to be territorial, even if they've lived with other pets their entire lives. When one cat kicks it up a notch and makes life difficult for another, however, it's more than just playing around.

Pay close attention to your cat's body language. Some common signs of cat bullying include:

• Staring
• Hissing
• Biting
• Stalking
• Clawing
• Aggressive body posture, arched back, puffed-out tail, angled or flattened ears, dilated pupils

In some cases, the reason for cat aggression is obvious: the introduction of a new cat or other pet, or even a human baby. The more evident types of aggression — e.g., biting, attacking, etc. — often result in physical harm. But bullying is usually about asserting dominance, not an intent to terrorize.

As the American Association of Feline Practitioners points out, "Aggressors can control access to food, litter boxes, resting and perching spots, and attention, and the victim usually becomes withdrawn." Unless you're paying close attention, you may not even notice the intimidation.

Why Do Cats Bully?

Bullying behavior stems more from the top-dog, so to speak, cat asserting their dominance, explains Sharon L. Crowell-Davis, DVM, in an article for VetFolio. It can be more discreet than clear-cut aggression. In fact, because they're so good at throwing subtle shade, you may not even realize that one of your cats is behaving badly.

"Some high-ranking cats are bullies; that is, they regularly exhibit intense dominance displays and aggression to lower-ranking cats, even when the low-ranking cat is clearly signaling submission and is attempting to avoid interaction," writes Dr. Crowell-Davis. This type of bullying usually occurs in households that are socially stable with no outward stressors except that one cat wants to assert dominance over important things such as food, water, the litter box, toys and bedding.

In other words, some cats just want to be the boss. This desire can increase with age, says the ASPCA. So speak with your veterinarian if you notice increased aggression or other behavioral changes in your aging cat.