Aggression or Affection?

I have a 2 1/2 yr old male cat (Sith) and have just recently brought in two new kittens that are 6 and 8 weeks old (Smokey and The Bandit). At first Sith would growl and hiss at the new additions, but now he acts motherly towards them, attending to them when they cry, bathing them, and playing with them. My concern is that at times he will grab them by the front of the neck. As an example: Sith was bathing Smokey and she was trying to get away so Sith grabbed her by the front of her neck in what I thought was discipline, however he did it again in the middle of the cleaning for no apparent reason. Is this aggression? I don't understand how he can be both affectionate and aggressive to the kittens at the same time. I think that maybe he's confused because we got him at a VERY early age (3 weeks) and maybe he doesn't know the proper way to carry the kittens. Please help! Does anyone has any idea what may be going on or maybe a website that can help.

I love the name of your cat. Are you by chance a Star Wars fan? We had a cat named Anakin but he ran away

And it doesn't sound like agression just taking care of them.

My cat Leo often bathes my other cat, Rosebud in a manner similar to what you have explained. He will nip at the back of her neck if she apppears to be trying to get away, but when she does manage to break free, he just lets her go. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.

KimmyKat- Sith is my husband's all black 30 pound cat and my husband is a HUGE Star Wars fan

Thank you both for your opinions. I agree that there isn't much to worry about. When I feed the kittens I give Sith a little plate of wet food (he usually eats dry food so he knows it's a treat to get wet food) and last night Bandit decided he would try some. Sith growled at him but then walked away. I figured if there was any real aggression towards the kittens that would have been the time he would have showed it. Besides the throat grabbing he pounces on them (poor things). I think he is just trying to be motherly and play with them but doesn't realize that he is 6 times there size

Now- what do you do about a 3 year old that just won't listen to you about being mean to the cats? We got Bandit for her because as soon as she grabbed him he went limp in her arms. But now the poor kitten has come to realize that she is the the devil in disguise She has to carry him 24/7. She puts a leash on him (from a stuffed animal puppy) and drags him around (poor Bandit just plops to the side and lets her drag him). Whenever he gets the chance he runs away but she goes and gets him and continues to torture him. She even grabs him by the paws and spins around with him. I have yelled and screamed, grounded and spanked but nothing seems to get through to her.

Originally Posted by marianesmom

Now- what do you do about a 3 year old that just won't listen to you about being mean to the cats? We got Bandit for her because as soon as she grabbed him he went limp in her arms. But now the poor kitten has come to realize that she is the the devil in disguise

She has to carry him 24/7. She puts a leash on him (from a stuffed animal puppy) and drags him around (poor Bandit just plops to the side and lets her drag him). Whenever he gets the chance he runs away but she goes and gets him and continues to torture him. She even grabs him by the paws and spins around with him. I have yelled and screamed, grounded and spanked but nothing seems to get through to her.

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My sister was/is the same way with cats, well, most animals for that matter. I don't know what to tell you, beings I don't know your child and don't have one of my own. The only thing I can suggest is to send her to her room EVERY time she breaks the rule or to offer her a gift if she will ease up on the cats.

As the mom of three, I think you might need to do something immediate every time she is being mean to your kitten. That's pretty scary, dragging the cat around by the neck. What if she killed him? Every time she is being gentle with the kitten, praise her and give her something. Maybe keep a special cookie jar or get a basket of toys that are just "nice to the kitty toys" and only let her play with them when she is being nice. And when she is doing something horrible, an immediate time out in her room or where ever seems right.

Did you explain that it really hurts the kitty just like it hurts her when she falls or gets poked or something? Maybe she really doesn't get it, or 3 might be too young to truly understand. But she will be able to understand treats and time-outs. I understand your frustration. I rescued a cat once because of how it was being treated by a 3 year old so Good luck!