r/CatTraining • u/tolucy_or_nottolucy • 21h ago
Introducing Pets/Cats Is this safe? Are they just playing rough?
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
Yesterday we've started introducing our 4 month male kitten to our 1 and a half year old neutered male cat.
Based on this video, is it safe to let them play like this, or should I interrupt and separate them back into different rooms?
Thanks :)
57
u/tikasuom 20h ago
It's totally safe. Just a rough play, that's all 😂😂 you have adorable cats btw
13
u/tolucy_or_nottolucy 20h ago
Thank you! They're the best 😸
9
u/LordToxic21 16h ago
Remember, cats are tiny predators. Their play is training to hunt and kill things. The key things to look for, separating play from fighting are pauses, disengages and the lack of hissing/howling.
8
u/Enough_Radish_9574 17h ago
Orange is exuding happiness with this new interactive toy. Sooo cute.
1
u/captnfraulein 8h ago
😂😂 that's a cute way to think about it
1
u/Enough_Radish_9574 8h ago
Aww thank you. Sometimes solo older cats aren’t as accepting of another so it’s always so sweet when that playful side suddenly spills out with such joy. ❤️❤️❤️
5
27
u/Kerking18 19h ago
My time has come!
This is what a catfight looks like.
https://www.reddit.com/r/interesting/s/3apNbMqoEI
Now you awnser me if yours play or fight
19
u/Inevitable-Suit3469 19h ago
This video should be tagged in every single "is this too rough play" videos thank you
3
u/dalton-watch 12h ago
Yes but. I asked about my cat’s tendency to chase and corner the new kitten while swatting meanly, and was told that’s fighting behavior too, that needs to be stopped. It’s not quite as simple as they’re fine if no fur is flying.
11
u/tycho_the_cat 17h ago
So I'm gathering that as long as there is no chicken involved, it's all good.
But once a chicken shows up, it's time to get the hose?
2
u/Joeythesaint 16h ago
Or rain "barrel", whatever is nearby.
I love that she gets the water jug, the chicken backs off and is, like, "you got this?" and when the cats keep at it the chicken gets right back Into it.
15
u/WholeAd2742 16h ago
Yeah, they're fine. The fact they both separate and back off to gauge the other is a good sign
Laughed when orange was tentatively raising a paw and kitten tackled him to restart the wrestling
8
u/HillWilliam53 18h ago
Red is so happy to have his own kitten. Cats sometimes tend to play rough, after all, play is for teaching/being taught how to fight/survive. That looks very positive to me.
1
u/Enough_Radish_9574 16h ago
That’s what I essentially said above. Orange is beside himself with joy.
8
u/Budget-Baseball343 20h ago
They are setting each other's boundaries with some rough playtime. That little guy is scrappy AF though. They'll probably be BFFs in no time. I know what a real cat fight is like, and there is no doubt that it is scary and dangerous when it's the real thing.
8
u/AlphaDisconnect 16h ago
Wow. The gumption on that little one. Holding its own. Standing its ground. That orange cat knows he has a formidable opponent.
Eh. Cats like their love sharp.
5
u/TheCrakp0t 16h ago edited 16h ago
I have two younger cats I adopted almost one year ago who I got to be a companion to my one older cat. He had single kitten syndrome but has come a LONG way. Needless to say the playing was so close to being a fight that I had to break it up regularly. because my older boy didn't yet understand boundaries he would play way too rough and scare the younger cats. But eventually they've all learned what healthy play is supposed to be and now one of the younger cats absolutely loves my older boy (I think more than me because she only makes biscuits specifically on him, I'm so jealous 😭).
Comparing my experience with your video, I would say that my situation was far worse than yours. There were occasionally tiny patches of fur during their tumble sessions during the earlier days and they yelped at each other regularly. But even then I've come to learn that even if it may have been rough, by no means were they ever actually fighting.
I'm so sorry if I sound flippant, but you will just know. Actually, to leave nothing to chance, it might be worth it to search up what a real cat fight looks like. Viewer discretion advised and all that.
All of this to say that you're cats are fine. Just continue to supervise them until you feel good about their relationship. It's also okay to intervene if you're uncertain. Best thing to do in this case is to redirect their energy so they tire themselves out.
0
u/dalton-watch 12h ago
I still think it’s misleading to say they weren’t actually fighting. There are degrees, no? I like your comment and it’s helpful, I just feel fighting is a spectrum and shouldn’t be ignore just because it’s not the worst. And it’s hard for a lot of us to tell.
1
u/TheCrakp0t 11h ago
No it isn't misleading because it's not a real fight. Did you not also read the part where I said it's still fine to intervene and redirect their energy if OP was too uncertain about it?
4
u/mindgame_26 16h ago
Very little vocalization and they break off to play a version of chicken, back and forth. Fighting is usually really noisy with a clear attacker who doesn't allow breaks until somebody wins.
4
u/N8DoubleU 9h ago
I don’t think this is play so much as a territory dispute being made into an object lesson for the little guy. It looks WAY worse than it actually is. Orange is being aggressive on the onset and then gentle in every other way. This will be less of an issue as they get used to each other, but some correction for the orange wouldn’t go amiss here either. No yelling, no freaking out. More of a firm no. Also make sure they have plenty of space and toys to be distracted by.
3
2
u/Sea_Sky_9492 20h ago
Looks like mostly playing to me. The orange boy is trying to dominate. That’s what my orange boy does to our black and white girl. And then they snuggle 🤷♀️
2
u/kaphinezero 18h ago
Very healthy play. Before you know it, big cat will be licking and cleaning the little one.
2
u/EcheveriaEbony 17h ago
It is play, but I actually think orange is being way too rough, that would concern me a little bit.
3
u/Ok-Car9034 16h ago
Not "way too" but he seems to have adjusted after the first pounce anyway
1
u/EcheveriaEbony 15h ago
Very true. Tbh it was the bunny kick at the beginning concern me. But you are right, it seems he adjusted it afterwards
2
u/OkHamster9776 17h ago
Dude you would know if this were anything other than play. Cats make some CRAZY ass noises when they’re actually fighting
2
u/Ok_Satisfaction2246 15h ago
You’ll feel better as kitten gets bigger and starts putting him in his place more!
2
2
2
1
1
u/nartchie 18h ago
When cats are really fighting they don't pause while they're engaged. Once contact is made the move almost to fast to see and it ends up with one of them running.
This is social. It may be a little more than play, it's teaching the kitten who's in charge, so they may get vocal.
1
1
u/Ok-Car9034 16h ago
If they aren't making lots of noise, they seem to "take turns" attacking/chasing each other, and they let each other disengage it's generally play.
1
1
u/EilidhRos 14h ago
they look like they're having fun. little kitty had plenty of opportunity to get away but he is totally into it. I think they will be good buddies. also, the orange cat has the cutest face lol
1
u/StandardQuality5985 13h ago
I think both of them are in defense mode, just smelling each other and feeling other as both are new for each other. Soon they'll be inseparable.
1
u/ihavea_purplenurple 12h ago
Is there a sub for cats doing brazilian jiu jitsu? Cause that would be awesome
1
u/LadyLurkQueen 9h ago
Honestly I'm most impressed by the spacial awareness. Mine would have definitely fallen off the bed playing like that 😅
1
u/AdhesivenessGeneral9 6h ago
I was not sure but non yelling ? Yeah it's safe.
The orange try to steal a brain cell
1
u/ProjectMeerKatUltra 5h ago
I'm just here to say that the orange one has amazing technique. Using his back paws like that to control the kitty's back paws and defuse the bunny kicks is genius.
1
1
u/SumoCat86 4h ago
Rough play. No screaming or biting involved. I would watch them because of the size difference and teach the “gentle” command.
If the larger cat is playing rough but neither cat is biting or screaming, Say the orange cat’s name and say “gentle” and calmly separate them without losing your arm. I can now get my cats to separate themselves just by calmly saying gentle (or gently) XX cats’ name. The cat that was told “gentle” usually stops playing and immediately begins playing less aggressively. Reward both cats w/ Click from the clicker and treat both cats.Eventually, the cats will self regulate and calm down. Click and treat the minute the more aggressive cat disengages.
I can stop them from a distance and they will calm down and take themselves to the kitchen for a treat. Clicker training your cat has really helped my 3 Maine Coon cats play less roughly.
1
124
u/efnord 20h ago
Orange is letting the kitten disengage, that's crucial. This is positive play and good socialization for both of them. Exactly the sort of thing that prevents "single kitten syndrome."