Marlow and Sasha rough housing

RE: Sasha, a feral brought in as a kitten three years ago, and Marlow, a feral one and a half year old brought in three months ago.

A lot of you already know these two. And you know about Sasha's recent health issues. Anyway, Sasha is doing very well since his surgery (five weeks ago today). He and Marlow seem to get on pretty well. It's thier play fighting I wonder about. Marlow left Sasha alone while he was feeling bad. Since he has gotten better, Sasha and Marlow spar more and more. It looks like it's all in good fun but they do bite and scratch alot.

They take turns initiating the play. Marlow likes to come up behind Sasha and step on his tail. Sasha likes to try to swat at and bite Marlows hind legs to get things going.

Will they test the bounderies of what is too rough and back off? The skirmishes are not much more intense than they ever were. But they are more frequent.

They ALMOST always stop when we tell them to or even just give them a disapproving look.

Originally Posted by diggerled

And you know about Sasha's recent health issues. Anyway, Sasha is doing very well since his surgery (five weeks ago today).

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Gott sei dank! (=God, do have thanks)


All sounds very nice!

If you aren't hearing loud meowls and hissing, and you aren't seeing fur flying, I'd say they are having a good time with each other!

You should see some of the tangles mine get into when they are having fun!

Originally Posted by Momofmany

If you aren't hearing loud meowls and hissing, and you aren't seeing fur flying, I'd say they are having a good time with each other!

You should see some of the tangles mine get into when they are having fun!

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I'm pretty sure they'd set the boundaries - and you'd definitely hear or see it and KNOW it - and not be wondering.

You can't know what a cat is thinking. The facial expressions and body language are an enigma.

I base my wonderment on their mannerisms as if they were human. Sasha gets a "dammit! that's rougher than I want to play" look. And Marlow does the "C'mon give it a rest, can't we just go to sleep now".

I am pleased that they get the extra exercise. After they spar they usually run a lap or two around the house.

I guess if they just laid around grooming each other, they would end up putting on too much weight.

I've noticed that younger (5 and under) male cats can really get worked up and play rough. Probably because they are male.

As long as they behave when you tell them to, all is well. Keep all their claws trimmed to reduce the chance of them catching an eye or ear (or nose - that's a weird situation for a cat) and check them after a particularly rough play session.

Hmmmmm. Sounds like "boy stuff" to me. And I have six that live communally... and sometimes I think they are trying to kill each other. Then I find them on the couch in a mutual grooming session.

They will push each other's buttons.. and find each other's limits.

Originally Posted by AddieBee

Then I find them on the couch in a mutual grooming session.

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Go figure. I worry about aggression, post about it, then I catch Marlow licking the top of Sasha's head today.

Wasn't it you in an earlier post that said they reminded you of you and your brothers? That's it exatly. I am assuming you still like your brother, even though I bet he still gets on your nerves sometimes (and vice versa)

It does sound like they're normal young male cats. Unless the fur is flying and there is blood flowing, they're fine.

It does add another dimension to have two, though, doesn't it.