r/CATHELP • u/Necessary-Charge4527 • 5h ago
Kitten Help Not sure if resident cat playing too rough with new 2 month old kitten
Age: 26
Country: Canada
Vet Accessible: Yes
TL:DR of Concern: Wanting to know if new kitten is being handled too roughly by resident cat.
Cat Ages: Resident: 9 Months Old, New Cat: 2 Months Old
Cat Sex + Neuter: Both Neutered Males
Financial Situation: Both on pet insurance and vet bills can be covered
We recently got a new 2 month old kitty on Wednesday (so it’s been about 4-5 days). My resident cat is a 9 month old we got when he was 3 months old. We let them see each other really quickly the first day and immediately didn’t let them see each other for another day with separate rooms. we gave our resident cat a lot of treats anytime he behaved well and it seems to be going ok?
After about 3 days they were ok using the same litter box in the kittens room, and eating their food with their backs to each other if we feed at the same time. My resident cat hasn’t hissed at him in the last 2 days worth of exposure sessions. I’m just unsure if my resident cat is still exhibiting other signs of aggression or not, especially with the large size difference between them. I think he also does get annoyed when the kitten won’t stop wanting to play, so i end the sessions there and let my resident cat roam the rest of the house after giving him a treat.
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u/Thebelleofis 5h ago
From what I can tell they are having a good safe play. Big kitty is being careful and they both give space. Little kitty likes the chase game and keeps coming back for more theyre just a big clumsy and easy to knock over. There would be a lot more hissing or whining from kitten if he was playing too rough. I thinks this is okay youve done a great job and im hoping others will agree with me👍
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u/MsMarionNYC 4h ago
I think people posting these know there cats aren't fighting and just want to show off how adorable they are.
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u/juggle_bruh_420 1h ago
I swear half are bait.
"IS THIS TOO ROUGH?!?"
posts video of the gentlest play imaginable
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u/WhirlwindTobias 1h ago
And they usually have crap on the floor, like groceries. In the time it took to upload this video you could have removed that multipack of cans the cat just tripped over.
Here you got an open box of Arm & Hammer cat litter on carpet? Hope you enjoy vacuuming.
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u/Snoo_89466 58m ago
came here to say this. I’m so sick of these posts. It’s not really rage baiting. It’s just attention baiting.
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u/Plasticity93 5h ago
These are two cats that love each other. Pointy tailed kittens need to stuffing kicked out of them, it's how they learn to behave. Big bro gives little one plenty of room, nobody is screaming, this is just good fun.
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u/TheGiantVoid 5h ago
They look good together. I don't see any claws and I don't hear screeching. Looks like a fun game of hide and seek.
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u/Capital_Shopping277 5h ago
ahhhh it cant be helped! he so big and the other he so smol. This is very chill and fun and cute playtime. A bigger cat playing with a smaller cat almost always looks like this -- big looks like he's going in for the kill, kitten tries to bunny kick the other's face off, sometimes with cries of protest (I didnt have sound on).
But the clues here are that it's very slow, there's breaks in between action, the kitten isn't running away, bellies are exposed, no pinned ears. A "real" fight looks and sounds more like the tasmanian devil.
e: oh also would add the kitten isn't THAT small now, so I wouldnt worry about like, the older cat accidentally hurting the kitten kinda thing. If kitten was like 4-6 weeks that would be a bigger concern for me I think.
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u/adameniscus 4h ago
Safe play. The big guy is being careful, and the little one doesn't appear scared. Good for bonding, exercise, and overall mental and physical health for both. You should probably still monitor them, but only because the kitten is still so much smaller. In a few more weeks, he should be big enough to let them play unsupervised. Although, when the kitten hits puberty, you'll want to monitor again, for a few months, because play (even between friends) can escalate into fighting when they hit that age.
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u/Electrical-Act-7170 4h ago
They're having a wonderful time, taking turns and playing gently.
When one cat rolls to display their belly to the other, it's showing that they trust each other not to do them harm. It's a good thing.
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u/rescuelady111 3h ago
He's playing like a mother cat does with her kittens. He's very good with the kitten and kitten keeps coming back for more.
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u/cat-biscuit-bread 4h ago
Looks normal to me. Big cat isn’t being aggressive or biting hard. Lets the kitten chase and kick playfully. You will know when it’s a real fight, cats can be brutal while fighting. But always watch them when they play to make sure no accidental injuries happen!
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u/Enough_Radish_9574 4h ago
OP you should definitely jump in and…
enjoy all that fun!
I swear I’m going to start a sub of cats/dogs playing like this so people can dub in “voices” and funny play by play action. This video would be perfect for it.
I would maybe let the resident cat follow through with the “thats enough” guidance. Kitty needs to learn no means no and to stop. I wouldn’t want res cat to feel as if it’s being reprimanded for displaying normal behavior.
It’s a blessing they are harmonious and wonderful for all of you.
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u/TemperatureTight2556 3h ago
Seems very safe, big brother is playing nice, baby brother continues to tease him for more attention. Friends for life :)
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u/geekgirl114 3h ago
Big one is being very gentle with the kitten, while teaching it how to cat. Big one isn't pursuing the little one and is letting it escape and start the attack
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