Cat and Kitten Playing or Fighting

lisajane8482

We've just got a kitten who joined us on Tuesday night. We have been allowing them to spend short amounts of time together as the kitten has been with 17 other cats whilst looking for a home plus when they are seperated, the kitten (Gizmo, 12 weeks) in a single room and our cat (Salem, 20 months old), all they do is meow for each other. The person we got Gizmo off said that whilst we're not in we should keep them seperate but when we are in should let them meet each other for a little while and that they would "fight" but unless fur starts flying and blood gets spilt there's nothing to worry about.

Thing is Salem keeps following Gizmo around trying to sniff his bum. Gozmo retaliates be swating Salem with a little growl. This carries on for a while then all of a sudden they're all entwined rolling round trying to what looks like bite and kick each other.

Salem doesn't make a noise but Gizmo makes this highish pitched growling noise. I've been seperating them when I think it's getting too rough but I'm not sure if they are just playing and I'm interfering or if they are actually havign a good old scrap.

There's been no blood, scraches or bite marks band when it starts their ears aren't pinned back and when it finishes theres no puffy tails.

Are they just playing and working out the hierarchy or is this a little more serious and should go back to keeping them constantly seperate.

TIA

scaredy_cat

i think it is them just sorting out who is top cat.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

It sounds like cat heaven to me.

Unless bits start dropping off, they're just being proper cats.



But we can't be certain unless you post photos?

scaredy_cat

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

It sounds like cat heaven to me.

Unless bits start dropping off, they're just being proper cats.



But we can't be certain unless you post photos?

or post a video of them!!

Chickabiddybex

My cats did the same thing when they first met and still do now. As long as you keep an eye on them it's fine!

lozzie123_2

A good tip I read about was rather than physically seperating sparring cats is to clap once to stop the scrapping. It works too

southcoastrgi

i'd just leave them together they will sort themselves out just make sure they have somewhere to go hide ie another room, i had the same thing with my two when i first brought the kitten home (although they do have the run of the house so plenty of places for either of them to go for a break)

lisajane8482

Thanks for all of the comments, I've tried to get a video or photo of them but everytime I get my phone out they stop and look at me. It seems I may have been worrying over nothing as they seemed a lot better when I got home last night. :j

They spent the evening following each other and playing together passing a bauble back and forth and tapping each other with their paws and when I got out of bed this morning I found them both on my daughters bed with Salem grooming Gizmo. By the time I'd gone back with my phone they were both sat waiting for me to go downstairs for breakfast. I have learnt that no matter where I go I must take my phone and have it ready for a picture.

I think I probably expected a miracle in cat terms, a scrap and then they would be best of friends. From what I have read on the internet last night it would seem that things have worked out a lot quicker than what I should have been expecting.

This was the pair when they first met



We think than Gizmo was kept in a bathroom before my friend resuced him which is why I think he went straight to the bathroom.


The pair of them last night, this is Salems cat tree and we have bought another one for Gizmo which I put up last night but they both have taken to sleeping on/in the same one.

And finally my handsome little guys



I shall when I get the chance get a vidoe or picture of them play fighting but like I said they just stop and look at me and then get up and walk off

spugzbunny

They are both super cute!

scaredy_cat

i have a Gizmo!!!

or Wizzywoo as he usually gets called!!

lisajane8482

What does your Gizmo look like? Is he the one in your avatar?

My friend who rescued Gizmo also has a Gizmo too. He's a brown tabby.

We picked Gizmo's name before we saw him, we were told he had a long tail and over sized ears so Gizmo just seemed to fit.



better picture of his ears, personally I don't think they're that big but to be fair I haven't really analysed many cats ears