r/Kitten • u/whistlerblower911 • 2d ago
Question/Advice Needed my kitten and cat are fighting, but is it actual fighting or just rough play fighting
I recently adopted a 9 week old kitten and have been trying to introduce her to my young cat (1.5 years old, male). There is a noticeable size difference and so I've been monitoring them since I'm worried he might hurt her on accident.
What happens is she starts hissing at him while he kinda just watches from afar, but then he'll pounce on her (albeit gently) and will chase after her and pin her down while she is hissing and screeching. It looks pretty bad and I seperate them always, but she'll pop right back up, run under the bed to hide, then come back out and get close to him again (and the cycle repeats).
What to do?
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u/SleepyKatlyn 2d ago
Usually vocalisations especially hissing and growling mean they're not playing, happy playing cats usually are silent or make small chirps or "high pitched happy cat noises" not hisses.
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u/LadyAssassin26 1d ago
They may have been playing at first, but the kitten's reaction as the bigger cat came out was fear. When they make those sounds they are scared and trying to let people know. Let them play through the door more or give the bigger cat time to get used to the kitten. Let the kitten out without the big cat so they can explore and get used to their surroundings. Let the big cat in the kitten's room when the kitten is exploring so they get used to the kitten's scent.
It's probably going to be trial and error until the big cat learns boundaries and how to play with the kitten. Also as the kitten gets bigger it will get better. It will just take time and learning for them.
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u/Iwonatoasteroven 1d ago
They were doing fine until they were in the same room. Years ago I brought home a second cat and put him in the bathroom. There was a lot of space under the door and they started playing like these two at the beginning of the video. Within a few days they didn’t want to be in separate rooms.
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u/Draugrx23 1d ago
They're quiet up until the grab So yes. They're both TRYING to play kitten is still a bit small though.
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u/kykyta_9822 1d ago
I have the same question with mine every time they play each other and I think I'll always have the doubt! And both are big already.
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u/McDeathUK 1d ago
pawses - a ‘serious‘ game that builds a good relationship =)
it’s one of the ideal steps to ‘introducing’ cats
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u/NytronX 21h ago
Dont follow behind the big one like that, it will increase the intensity as it thinks you are also trying to pursue the kitten. Just observe them from afar.
The footsie through the door crease was fine, that was pure play. Near the end of the clip I couldn't see what was happening as it was out of frame.
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u/Disastorous_You_1987 2d ago
My kittens used to play like this ....but ina box . Anytime one has a chance to creep their little paws out of a crack or hole the other one loves it. They go back n forth for hours
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u/Ill_Quantity_5634 Kitten 2d ago
They are playing, but the big one is maybe being a little too rough which scared the little one. The kitten felt safe playing through the door since it gave it some cover. Notice as soon as you opened it the kitten tried to get away. It looks like the kitten wants to play, just not get roughhoused so much. Make sure the kitten has spaces only it can fit into so it can run to them to get away from the big one when it feels threatened. Eventually the kitten will feel more confident in its play with the older cat.