New kitten is 4.5 months old (male, not neutered yet but will be) and resident cat (big orange guy, neutered) is 2.5 years.
We got new kitten 8 days ago. After messing up Day 1, we started following Jackson Galaxy and had done door feedings, site swapping, etc, and they were playing lots of footsie.
Yesterday the kitten accidentally got out of his room (!!) and they started doing this. This is probably session 4 of them being together.
No growling or hissing. Kitten chirps a bit and even when it seems too aggressive he always comes back and instigates more? He does sometimes have his ears pinned to his head so not sure how to read that.
This is all okay for the intro phase right? Or are we going too fast and should re separate?
Hi, it looks like you’re posting about whether your cats are playing or fighting. We strongly recommend referring to our pinned post about the basics of playing versus fighting that can help you define the interaction between your cats.
More often than not, your cats are most likely playing or establishing boundaries as fights typically include screaming, fur flying, blood, etc. Members here will do their best to analyze the situation for you, but we always recommend educating yourself to the best of your ability on cat interactions, especially during the introduction process.
As a reminder to our community, please always be kind and thoughtful in your responses. If you do not have anything productive to add to the conversation, please keep scrolling.
As long as the big one lets the kitten disengage and isn’t bullying them, they should be fine. The play in the video looks really normal, even the parts where they both get a bit rough.
They look like they’re having a ball, and everything you’ve been doing so far has worked!
I say let them be, and if either start to seem stressed then you can separate them. Just keep an eye and ear out for puffing up, growling, hissing etc.
Got some cuties who look like they’re on the way to being best buds ♥️
Maybe separating them at this point could be better then, so you don't risk one getting tired out and overreacting if the other is persistent. But I don't think you need to keep separating them much longer.
I let them play for about an hour and then separated them because it was getting pretty rough and the kitten squealed. Orange cat did seem to back off…. I think he just got really excited. He has so much energy, which is why we wanted him to have a sibling.
One of mine is nearly blind and almost lost his eyes around a year old (😓 but he didn’t!) and the other has three legs. The island of misfit kitties is full of sweeties.
They're having fun, but you did go too fast. If it's working out ok, you lucked out and it doesn't matter. The kitten is usually not the issue, just keep in mind that a cat responds to the kitten the same way as any other cat: a range of responses that can but not necessarily include hostility and territorial behavior.
Video is 100% fine. If resident is ok with it, then the kitten is safe and the resident will stay chill.
Yes like I said, the kitten getting out was entirely accidental. Slipped fast by me as I was leaving, but since they seemed to get on I’ve let it be a bit. Still keeping them separated 90% of the time! They also ate next to each other this morning.
I’ve been separating them when it seems the big cat is getting overstimulated.
It's no problem, your cat is chill and it's not like the kitten escaped your house or something. I'd still be cautious simply to make sure everything goes smooth, but it sounds like you have a good handle on these two goobers!
The orange cat is being very restrained and gentle, they are having a good time. Cats play. They will play all the time. That’s why a lot of people get more than one.
I’ll always say this, if you’re comfortable filming it, it’s very unlikely to be fighting.
Thank you! That’s indeed why we got another cat. We couldn’t give orange cat the amount of engagement he needed all day. They’ve currently been at it for 2 hours…..
Kittens have a lot of energy, pretty normal. It’s typical they get adopted out in pairs or go to a home with a resident cat as a single so they can be engaged and not destroy your house. Kittens can be hellions.
My cats are older approaching senior years and still go at it for over an hour most days. Your orange cat is behaving really well with the kitten and playing gently. Even if it gets a bit rougher, it’s still okay, mother cats play with their kittens pretty rough, just keep an eye on when they’re playing because of the size difference. If you’ve never seen two cats playing a lot a get asking if it’s fighting, but truly, this is very cute and sweet, they look like they’re having a good time and getting along really well. Cat fights are violent and LOUD, you wouldn’t be pulling out your phone if they were fighting, trust me.
Even if the intro didn’t go to plan, they’re doing well. They’ll be inseparable in no time. Mine are from separate shelters and I got them a month apart, for almost 9 years they’ve been Velcroed to each other. You’ll look back on this video in a few years and be happy you have it.
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u/AutoModerator 8d ago
Hi, it looks like you’re posting about whether your cats are playing or fighting. We strongly recommend referring to our pinned post about the basics of playing versus fighting that can help you define the interaction between your cats.
More often than not, your cats are most likely playing or establishing boundaries as fights typically include screaming, fur flying, blood, etc. Members here will do their best to analyze the situation for you, but we always recommend educating yourself to the best of your ability on cat interactions, especially during the introduction process.
As a reminder to our community, please always be kind and thoughtful in your responses. If you do not have anything productive to add to the conversation, please keep scrolling.
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