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Little kitten loves to play with older cat -- older cat too rough?

post #1 of 7
9/11/11 at 10:54pm
Thread Starter 
Hi everyone,

I have a 12-week formerly feral tuxedo kitten named Boots who is a darling, and a 1-year-old tabby and white named Kramer that I adopted from my stepsister. Both are charming cats with their own personalities, and they get along well with me and each other. They do everything together -- eat, sleep, use the litterbox, and especially play.

They LOVE to wrestle. Boots is the instigator of the wrestling as much as Kramer is; my only concern is that Kramer seems to hurt Boots sometimes while they're playing. Boots will sometimes meow frantically and Kramer will just keep going until I squirt him with the water gun. Is this malice on the part of Kramer, or does he just not know his own strength? Maybe trying to show dominance over his new home? Kramer is about 9 lbs, Boots is maybe 3 at most.

Here's some pictures for you.

http://tinypic.com/r/2rqk9oo/7 (Kramer)
http://tinypic.com/r/1531lc9/7 (Boots)
http://tinypic.com/r/28tetc4/7 (the 2 of them)
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post #2 of 7
9/11/11 at 11:32pm
There's no malice in Kramer, or in any cat. Rough play is part of it and also some dominance issue. Kramer probably is telling Boots he is older and so he should be the boss knowing very well that Boots may someday be much bigger and heavier than him.
I suggest though that you do not use a water gun or water spray to stop them. You can distract the aggressor with a loud noise, or tossing his favorite toy at him. Or just don't interfere?
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post #3 of 7
9/11/11 at 11:48pm
First of all, they are absolutely adorable. Especially that little Boots guy, I see trouble in his eyes! It does sound like they are just loving each other as a toddler and teen kittens would. Boots is goinbg to be so full of energy and needs some guidance and physical boundaries training, and Kramer is ready to wear him out and has his own teen crazies himself. They are a perfect match, I would let them work it out.
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post #4 of 7
9/12/11 at 3:06am
Just let them play. My Rosie used to slam dunk Sophie and Jack when they were kittens and they still went back for more

Like someone has said though, don't squirt them. If you think Kramer is getting a bit rough with Boots just clap your hands a couple of times, but other than that their just playing

Looking at Boots picture he's got mischief written all over his face
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post #5 of 7
9/12/11 at 1:36pm
Mine do this, its very difficult not to separate them when the young one (8 1/2 weeks) is meowing. Trixie (my 7 month old) usually starts out trying to groom the younger one who gets defensive and runs causing a chase. I usually leave them to it unless I spot throat biting but that is usually stopped with a loud clap.
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post #6 of 7
9/12/11 at 1:59pm
Little ZZ was like that, too. It was explained to him repeatedly by Ella and Punkin that they didn't like being attacked, and with some force, but he never seemed to learn!
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post #7 of 7
9/12/11 at 2:08pm
He's getting taught how to be a cat. Unless there's literally fur flying or blood, it should be all right!
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