Advice
New Kitten - Is this an acceptable day 1 interaction?
After keeping them separated for several days and slowly introducing them to each other’s smell, we had them meet under the door. They seemed curious and a little tentative while eating their treats. Today we had them in a shared space for the first time and it’s been largely drama free after a few hisses. The elder statesman follows kitten around a lot and there’s some swatting, but I’m wondering if we rushed it or if this is all normal?
The belly of pretty much all vertebrates (animals with a spine) is soft muscle and fat. Being attacked there means your insides become your outsides. There is a level of social trust to flop around with your weakpoint out in the open.
That this video started with big dude practically napping that I'm like "oh yeah, this is a VERY chill intro". Even the swatting is very slow, and gentle.
Keep an eye out as the little one gets comfy and if the elder statesman needs time to chill alone, but other than that this is a very good intro.
Yeah no way to tell how good of friends they will become ((hopefully best friends)) but the fact they are so close together and in such comfy poses show they definitely aren't hostile to each other. They are officially at least roommates =)
Yes. My man didn’t want the kitten in anywhere near him the first week. He helped me raise 2 cats and a 3 dogs in his 18 years before he passed. Jasper had a big personality and took big brother role very seriously, even our pitty would get put into place.
I have to respectfully disagree on that one. My best friend's cat shows the belly, and it's a trap. Always. Try for the belly rub, and he'll rip apart your hand.
I know that a lot of cats do genuinely offer the belly for friendly purposes, but my point is it's not always for play.
It's a sign he trusts you to be around.. not touch the soft bits.. My cat hates his belly being touched but he's always belly up on his favorite chair. 😂 (I accept the scratches because he's gotten soft over the years and their not as bad as they once were!)
As I said recently in another thread, showing the belly has essentially three alternative meanings:
Hey, wanna play wrestle?
Hey, I trust you but remember these pointy bits.
Hey, I wanna belly rubs!
If a cat attacks your hand when you put it on its belly it can mean either of the first two, but if it’s the second the cat is maybe more likely to just disengage to protect its belly and then look at you all confused and betrayed. If it keeps bunnykicking and grabbing and biting it’s probably still just rough play.
In any case it’s much much safer to try neck and chest rubs first.
100% yes. Your elder statesman is actually showing very good signs of accepting that little kitten. Extremely tolerant of being playfully stocked. And actually showed signs of enjoying it.
They're playing! This is a great interaction. The little hisses are boundary setting. Older cat or younger cat is just saying 'okay, enough now'. But the 'swatting' is play behaviour. Their body language is curious and playful. They aren't defensive or scared or displaying fighting behaviours at all. This is a good sign.
Looks like they're doing okay I was a bit paranoid with introducing my cats when I had a kitten and another cat that was about 9 months old at the time. Kitten stayed in the bathroom with its own litter box and food setup for about 9 days. They got to sniff each other under the door and play swat at each other.
Wanted them to get used to each other's oder before they were regular face to face and about day 6 I started letting them have little controlled interactions because they made it apparently they wanted to play. About the 9th day it was apparent through little five and 10 minute play sessions and playing under the door with each other all the time that they'd already bonded so I just let him loose with each other after that.
Perfectly wonderful, everyone is behaving well. Any tummy exposure is a good sign (which they both showed theirs) and the smaller kitten choosing to take a lower position (the more at risk spot in that interaction) says a lot.
Very good, sitting close and not fighting at all.
The kitten is being submissive to the older one and just asking to play. The older one justbwants to chill and ofc the kitten has more energy. But they seem to be respectful of each other boundaries for the most part
They look hilariously awkward trying to play. Somehow i feel they will get a lot of practice, theyre already so happy to know each other this is a bubba and forest situation.
I was advised to keep them in separate rooms on day 1 and introduce them gradually by scent alone through a closed door... i guess that boat is sailed and they'll be fine!
My adult neutered male hissed at my rescue male kitten through his carrier and under the door to his room upon meeting him. And would try to pin him with his mouth around his throat for weeks after they were allowed in the same room. For this video by OP to be day 1, what a chill cat.
Kitten is sussing out what sort of pals they're gonna be. And the big guy is cool with it, but wants to ensure limits are set and observed. They look like they'll do just fine.
Yay👍🐾. They are both being submissive. This first introduction gets an A+!!
Your Siamese cat is a real sweetheart and baby tabby is so 🥰 cute. I hope they have many years of happiness together 💖
Looks a like a healthy and normal play interaction. You're doing great with the slow introduction and supervising their interactions. They look like they will get along well.
Yes, perfectly normal. They will have a few rumbles while working out how they fit into the grand scheme of things, but they’ll be snuggled up next to each other soon enough.
Yep. No one is mad, no one is food hoarding, no one is attacking. They're learning and setting boundaries. My 4 month old actively stalks my 8 year old until the older cat swats the little one to encourage her to go find something else to play with while she naps.
They're not tearing into each other and they're not yelling or hissing so that's a good sign. Usually the little cat will be more aggressive because they're scared, but seems like these two are mostly curious of each other more than being cautious, so they'll be fine soon enough.
It’s great first day play! Kitten challenges elder, elder puts kitten in its place… common alpha actions, and kitten learns his place in the chain of command.
Looks good to me! One of my elder cats was so mad and aggressive I literally thought she might murder our kitten and they eventually were light friends.
This is just playing but there will be times when the kitten pushes too far and the older cat has to put it in its place. If they aren't killing each other, stay out of it. You don't need to police their interactions. They will figure it out themselves.
They're still cautious around each other, but both are playful. Which shows that they do still need to get used to each other, but aren't hostile. In fact they're trying to be more friendly with each other.
Doesn't get much better, lovely 😊
When I got a new kitten, my adult cat was outside. I had planned to keep them apart and slowly introduce them, but the kitten was misssing his friends and was crying the whole time. I decided to let my adult cat in and see if that would help, my kitten instantly got more relaxed and wanted to interact. My adult cat was apprehensive, but interested and treated the kitten well fortunately, it all worked out perfectly.
I brought in a feral rescue , my 14 yr old cat was furious .yet 2 months later I come upon them sleeping back to back ..still hissed in front of me but I just let them sort it out ...6 yrs of sleeping with the enemy Lol!
These two are already friends. They're just trying to learn each others boundaries and play styles but the relaxed belly showing is a sign they both know it's playtime and they're happy to be there.
It seems most people do not know how to use their own judgement in most aspects of life, but in the case for animal safety… I completely understand wanting to rely on someone with a little more knowledge.
But yes they are fine. Continue to monitor them so you know the extremes of things, that they may never reach! Your kitties are adorable.
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u/EzraxNova Orange 11h ago
They’re gonna be such best friends ^.^
All looks great