Reintroducing Littermates

cat nap said:

 
@seasaltysiren...Your kittens are just beautiful.

The advice given above is all spot on, with having cats/kittens being separated for awhile, and then slowly introduced, so that they don't go into 'fight or flight' mode, and begin cat fights.

But I'm really wondering, if what you are seeing is not just 'normal kitten behaviour'?

As in, are the kittens postering and 'play-fighting'? Is it playing...kitten style...or is it really aggression?

Even with stalking, hissing, growling...when it comes to kittens...it is not the same as with older cats.

...

Oh, and remember...that this time is going to be very fun, and a little chaotic, too,...because both Gypsy and Mysti are kittens.

 

Take a lot of photos, and relax between 'crazy, zooming-kitten time', and remember to laugh. (Sure 'house rules' will have to happen, too,...but that will take time, as well.)

And what 'talkingpeanut' said is so true..."they will get back to this"...sleeping together and bonding. (they're probably playing..."who wants to be top kitten"...for now.)

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Thank you!  

I have them separated for now.  I don't think they're actually fighting when together though... I think they might be establishing boundaries.  I've read tons of articles, but thank you for listing some I'll check them out and see if I've already read them lol. 

I know Gypsy stalks her toys... so that's her idea of playing... I noticed while playing with Mysti today that it sounds like she hisses at her toys while she swats at them... She hisses VERY quietly (Even when it was directed at Gypsy) So I've been wondering myself if it's not just kind of rough play... I've never had more than one cat at a time (even as a child growing up) so this is all very new to me. 

I recently tried the rubbing them down with a sock and swapping socks... Mysti didn't want anything to do with Gypsy's sock, just sniffed it and walked off... Gypsy, however, started pouncing on the sock and biting it playing with it...

My friend who works with animals (vet tech) said she would keep them totally apart for 1-2 days then try to reintroduce them since they're so young... that it shouldn't be as long as if they were grown cats, and that it's good for them to establish boundaries (the hissing and swatting and whatnot)

I feel like I've been asking everyone I know for advice, and online, and it's all conflicting lol... I'm afraid I've over informed myself and confused myself!!!! 

I forgot to mention, Gypsy is in the bedroom, Mysti has free roam of the house... but Mysti keeps trying to get into the bedroom, and Gypsy keeps trying to get out of the bedroom.  It's been a bit difficult squeezing through the door and keeping each kitten on their respected side lol. 

seasaltysiren said:

 
Thank you!  

I have them separated for now.  I don't think they're actually fighting when together though... I think they might be establishing boundaries.  I've read tons of articles, but thank you for listing some I'll check them out and see if I've already read them lol. 

I know Gypsy stalks her toys... so that's her idea of playing... I noticed while playing with Mysti today that it sounds like she hisses at her toys while she swats at them... She hisses VERY quietly (Even when it was directed at Gypsy) So I've been wondering myself if it's not just kind of rough play... I've never had more than one cat at a time (even as a child growing up) so this is all very new to me. 

I recently tried the rubbing them down with a sock and swapping socks... Mysti didn't want anything to do with Gypsy's sock, just sniffed it and walked off... Gypsy, however, started pouncing on the sock and biting it playing with it...

My friend who works with animals (vet tech) said she would keep them totally apart for 1-2 days then try to reintroduce them since they're so young... that it shouldn't be as long as if they were grown cats, and that it's good for them to establish boundaries (the hissing and swatting and whatnot)

I feel like I've been asking everyone I know for advice, and online, and it's all conflicting lol... I'm afraid I've over informed myself and confused myself!!!! 

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Remember, I am not laughing at you...I am laughing with you...because if kitten behaviour did not confuse us, then we'd all end up crying.

I have no idea why little kittens 'hiss at inanimate objects' ...except that maybe they think it's alive, or it's instinct.

Two of my little ones, would hiss and jump if I left black socks on the floor, and the one kitten would then proceed to pounce, stalk, swat and throw the sock across the room.

I didn't know if I should leave the sock, or pick it up. (I basically pick them up now...but just because I don't like to be awoken in the middle of the night, with cats pouncing, and jumping all over the place.)

I would also go with your friend's advice, since it sounds like what the others said, but if it's too hard to keep them apart...then use the 'sock method' that talkingpeanut mentioned...except in this case

use 'each cat's blanket' that they were sleeping on, in your photos, and 'swap them out'...

See how Mysti reacts, and then see how Gypsy reacts to each other's blanket.

(okay, if they pee on each other's blanket, it still may not be so bad...they might just be trying to mark it, and claim it as their own.)

seasaltysiren said:

 
I forgot to mention, Gypsy is in the bedroom, Mysti has free roam of the house... but Mysti keeps trying to get into the bedroom, and Gypsy keeps trying to get out of the bedroom.  It's been a bit difficult squeezing through the door and keeping each kitten on their respected side lol. 

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      I bet. Squeezing through any small opening is not going to be easy.    

Remember to give each of them their own litterbox, so no one gets ambushed in one, and if you have the space...add a third one, too. 

(As far as the articles, they just might trigger some more ideas....don't go 'over-reading' them all.

My head would explode if I read them all.    )

Oy... while trying to get myself and my 4 year old in the bedroom Mysti ran in... they hissed and swatted again... i gave them both a treat and waited until one walked out of the room (about 2 minutes) Now Mysti is in the bedroom and Gypsy is in the rest of the house. Is this okay that they swapped?
Right now i have one box in my bathroom (attached to my bedroom) and one box in the living room, but now they have the wrong boxes and food bowls since they swapped rooms... Mysti did help herself to Gypsys kibble... (we do wet throughout the day and dry down at all times since they're so young)

ohh, that is a tough question.

If it were me, I would just let them swap rooms...but then if you wake tomorrow, and find all the litterboxes not used, and or litter all over the place...you're going to be mad at me.  

I would not worry about the food bowls, but mine grew up using each other's litterboxes...so now I am 'blanking on this question'.

All jokes aside...is there any way that you can watch, and observe Mysti in her sibling's litterbox?

Basically, you're looking for any signs that Mysti is okay in Gypsy's box.

(trust me, you will become an expert at observing kitten behaviour. We just observe them, and let them set the pace.)

Of, course, it would help...if you could also see if Gypsy is okay in Mysti's box. Since you don't want either kitten to start to avoid the litterboxes.

Am I'm not sure, if they just automatically are reacting to seeing each other, or they don't like each other's smell.

I know Mysti will use Gypsy's litter box... im unsure if Gypsy will use Mysti's... maybe i should swap the boxes... itd be a lot easier than swapping kittens lol.

Mysti has sniffed around where Gypsy was laying in my bed.... Gypsy sniffed Mysti's blanket in the living room... then sulked around sniffing things and jumped up in her cat tree and is asleep now.

seasaltysiren said:

I know Mysti will use Gypsy's litter box... im unsure if Gypsy will use Mysti's... maybe i should swap the boxes... itd be a lot easier than swapping kittens lol.

Mysti has sniffed around where Gypsy was laying in my bed.... Gypsy sniffed Mysti's blanket in the living room... then sulked around sniffing things and jumped up in her cat tree and is asleep now.

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Lol...yeah...swapping boxes sounds easier than swapping kittens. Especially if one is already asleep.

So I guess, Mysti is going to sleep with you guys, tonight.

Have a great night, and get plenty of rest.  Don't dream of kittens hissing or anything like that...only good dreams, allowed. 

Each day will get better, or at least more like normal. 

Also, like another member already said...having two is much better. It will take the pressure off of you, having to play with them all the time. That's the goal.

Might not seem like it at this very moment, but it will happen.    

I sure hope so! Now Mysti is asleep in bed and Gypsy is crying at the bedroom door... this couldnt be more difficult of a situation lol.

seasaltysiren said:

I sure hope so! Now Mysti is asleep in bed and Gypsy is crying at the bedroom door... this couldnt be more difficult of a situation lol.

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I got confused now.

Which kitten gets more hissy and growly? Gypsy or Mysti?

Well, if you are not going to sleep, then, I guess some playtime, throwing some scrunched up paper, balls, etc...might help.

I mean outside the room.

Getting them really tired before bedtime, and then feeding them right before would help.

I have a hard time with kittens crying, but sometimes you just have to 'shush' them, so you can sleep, too.
But when they are as small as yours..gosh, that is hard.

I've switched the kittens and now Gypsy is in bed purring and Mysti is crying... oooof. Lol.
Theyre both huffy little brats [emoji]128514[/emoji] Gypsy is the more curious one that will chase Mysti... Mysti growls and hisses when she sees Gypsy but is fine with her playing on the opposite side of the room. But when she hisses and swats and growls, Gypsy does it back...

I would like to get some sleep... but its hard with constant loud meowing! Haha.

seasaltysiren said:

I've switched the kittens and now Gypsy is in bed purring and Mysti is crying... oooof. Lol.
Theyre both huffy little brats [emoji]128514[/emoji] Gypsy is the more curious one that will chase Mysti... Mysti growls and hisses when she sees Gypsy but is fine with her playing on the opposite side of the room. But when she hisses and swats and growls, Gypsy does it back...

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They might both have to be banished from the bedroom. But you did say, that there is no other room out there, you can separate them into, except for the bathroom.

Some cats are most active from 9pm till 12am, and then again at 2am till 4am or 4am till 7am...I think it all depends on the cats, and if they slept, or were awake in the daytime.

Kittens sleep a lot, but in short bursts...so they are always on some 'rotating shift', it seems.

Tomorrow, you'll know, if when they swat, growl, and hiss, by looking at their posture, ears, and how active they are..if they are just play-fighting.

More than likely, they are.

And you will eventually, have to break up a few 'heated playfights' as they get older...say around 4months to 8months...but they won't hurt each other...it will just sound like they are.

As long as no blood is being drawn, no fur flying, and no flattened ears and they both let up on the neck bites...then it will all be just 'kitten play'.

They both sound similar, and will have to be given space to play, as well.

I think that at 10 weeks, they are acting pretty normal, and just going through the stages of kittenhood.

They still like to sleep someplace warm and safe, and like company. Like they did with each other.

It's what you said before...they are just trying to check out their boundaries, and everything is fairly new to them, so they like to try out various things and see all the new reactions.

(okay...my long novel...should have put you to sleep, now.  At least I hope so.   

I have to go, but will be back to read up on updates, tomorrow.)

How is it going today?  Were you able to give them more space?

Are they behaving themselves yet?

Yesterday there was some hissing and swatting, but then they slept like 2 inches from each other on the same pillow... I separated them at night because they started fighting again after they woke up...

I just tried putting them back together today and it's all out war.  They're separated again.  I don't understand them though.  They were just sniffing each other and  everything seemed fine... then one pounced the other and bit her neck... Every time I try to get out of this room the other tries darting in and the one in here tries darting out... the one on the outside is crying to be in here! 

No blood, no fur flying... but lots of growling, a couple hisses, and biting and rolling. 

Don't worry they're separated again. They were even playing with each others paws under the door though... it seems like they're playing but when they go to bite and roll they aren't playing anymore. Scares me. I'll post an updated pic of them sleeping paw to paw. .

Seems like any progress done yesterday has gone completely in the opposite direction today. 

I've also tried, following advice from my friends and family, bathing them both so they smell the same, calming collars, and separating one in a huge dog crate so they can smell each other and see each other safely. 

Edited to add: 

I've just youtube'd cat fights and it's DEFINITELY not as bad as those... it's more like the "play fight" I youtube'd but with growling and puffed up tails... They weren't not releasing each other... one would run off, but then the other would chase. I do think they're fighting, but it's not anything like the video I just watched. 

@Columbine can you weigh in here?

seasaltysiren

This honestly sounds more like play-fighting than actual fighting to me. All three of my cats play fight with each other. They pounce on each other and wrestle, rabbit kick, bite each other (not hard, obviously) and one always gets up and runs away and the other chases them. Sometimes one will hiss at the other when the other one tries to play with them but is more of a "calm down, I'm not in the mood to play." Than an actual threat.

Also, your kittens are right at the age that they begin to learn "manners" so to speak. This is the age when they learn important things like bite-inhibition (how hard is too hard when biting/ play-fighting) and how to behave around other cats.

Basically, I wouldn't worry about their "fighting" unless it is clear that one is legitimatly trying to hurt the other (which will be very obvious, there will be YOWLING, which is the cat equivalent to screaming, and very loud growling and they will draw blood when fighting).

There's been no blood at any point of them meeting... Ever!  My Gypsy girl (Calico) is a bit rude lol.  She likes to play rough and has no manners.  Today it started, each of them was fine both near me, no hissing, then Gypsy pounced on Mysti's tail and they started fighting.  They haven't yowled but they do make some noise.  No screeching, but definitely low rumble growls.  Maybe I'll try putting them together again soon.  I just get so nervous. 

I've also noticed when they eat around each other, Gypsy will "bury" her food bowl.... like scratch at the floor all around it and walk off.  Does anyone know what this means?

Okay i'm 100% sure they aren't playing at all. 

I put the more aggressive one (today it's Gypsy) in the dog crate with a litter box and food and water... They're sniffing, swatting and hissing at each other through the cage here and there, but no yeowling or serious aggression.