Are my cats fighting or playing? Help!

I recently adopted a 4 month old male kitten. I also have a 3 year old female cat. I did the slow introduction thing and at first they didn't seem to mind each other. Now my kitten keeps hunting and jumping on my cats back. It seems like he's playing, but she howls and screams and fights back, but nothing she does seems to "teach him a lesson". Everything I've read says play is silent. I've tried separating them or distracting him with play, but he is fixated on chasing after her. Also, they're both fixed. Are they fighting or playing? Thanks everyone!

Not all play is silent.

How long have they been 'playing' together?

Does the female cat fold down her ears/lays them flat? Does her fur raise up?

Does she seemed bothered always, and runs away? Or chases the kitten, too?

@larsoal....Check out these videos by other cat site members:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/318812/reintroducing-littermates/30     ....Post #48

and

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/330624/adult-cat-attacking-kitten-need-help     ...Post #9

Does your kitten and cat play more loudly, like in the first video,....or more like the second video?

Either way, if your older cat is bothered by the normal, but energetic behaviour of the kitten, then yes...you will have to have 'more play sessions' with your kitten to wear off some of his energy.

He is very young, and will learn, and calm down with time, but sometimes the 'style of play' is different for each cat...so you may have to watch, supervise, and intervene....only if real fighting is taking place, eg: fur flying, deep scratches, blood being drawn, low posturing, ears curled back, etc.

What are the names of your cats?

And do you have any photos?

Thanks for replying!

The kitten is Loki and the cat is Luna. They are definitely more like the first video- rougher than that, I would say. They do play but I think Loki takes it too far and Luna hisses and screams... but never runs away and will then go after him. They take turns attacking each other but he does do it more. She's never hid- she's always laying in a socially significant area like the hallway or on top of the bed, even after the "fights". I think partially I didn't socialize her enough as a kitten so now her reactions are extreme every time. I'll work on playing with him more!

cat nap said:

Not all play is silent.

How long have they been 'playing' together?
Does the female cat fold down her ears/lays them flat? Does her fur raise up?
Does she seemed bothered always, and runs away? Or chases the kitten, too?

Click to expand...

They've known each other for one month. I'd say "playing" like this the last week and a half. During it she seems bothered because she's wailing and making terrible noises, but she never runs away. Once he stops she'll occasionally pounce on him.

Well older cats tend to get annoyed with young kittens,

so i suggest that you play with your kitten because he is young and has a lot of energy.

Also does your cat attack the kitten?

larsoal said:

Thanks for replying!

The kitten is Loki and the cat is Luna. They are definitely more like the first video- rougher than that, I would say. They do play but I think Loki takes it too far and Luna hisses and screams... but never runs away and will then go after him. They take turns attacking each other but he does do it more. She's never hid- she's always laying in a socially significant area like the hallway or on top of the bed, even after the "fights". I think partially I didn't socialize her enough as a kitten so now her reactions are extreme every time. I'll work on playing with him more!

Click to expand...

Sure, no problem.

It also just might be that Luna is more vocal than your Loki.

(I have a female cat, age 1.5 yrs, and she has always been more dramatic, than her two brothers. She also gets the boys back, after some time has passed, by swatting them, just out of the blue. She is very bossy. They respect her, though. And we love how different they all are.)

Because they have only known each other for one month, I think they are still learning how to 'play' together.

So it might be a little rough, at first, but since Luna is also coming back and going after Loki...then your two will soon learn to adapt, play, and make up their own rules.

You can give very short, brief 'time-outs' for Loki, or Luna, if you think they are really getting annoyed, but the problem would be if you intervene too much, then the cats will not learn how to socialize, especially the kitten, and think they are in trouble.

See if you can distract them with a simple, "Hey, hey!"...or clapping your hands.

If they respond to your voice, and either stop, or look at you, ...then that is a good thing.

It's great that Luna is never hiding, and laying about in all those places. It means she is very comfortable, and is probably just keeping an eye out for young Loki.

I don't know,...even if you had socialized Luna more, as a kitten, ...she still could have been the more louder, calling out-type of cat. Might just be her personality.

(It also changes over time, one of my boys now meows more than the female, if he wants something.)

larsoal said:

They've known each other for one month. I'd say "playing" like this the last week and a half. During it she seems bothered because she's wailing and making terrible noises, but she never runs away. Once he stops she'll occasionally pounce on him.

Click to expand...

  Umm...pouncing on Loki...is a good thing.

If you can, make sure to have plenty of vertical spaces...for Luna to escape to.

Side-tables, cat trees, dressers, or other furniture,...where she can be up higher from Loki, and still look down on him.

That way, when she needs a break...from wild kitten zoomies...she can nap up higher, and you can keep an eye on Loki, and tell him not to disturb her.

Being 3 years old, Luna is still very young, and just needs some adjustment time, to kitten Loki.

Thanks for the input, guys!