Found a stray kitten, need some help.

After hurricane Katrina (living in Miami right now) I found a super tiny kitten outside by a fallen tree all alone. My roommate named Sinclair. Naturally, I brought this little thing into my home feeling pity:



I already have a kitten (Alfie) about 6 months old, and naturally when I brought Sinclair in, Alfie was very jealous. I kept them apart the hour I was there, and then I took him to the vet to see what was wrong with him and to see if I can find him a home. Well, he has (had) two different kinds of parasites and some kind of skin fungus that has since been cleared up. The vet told me I should keep the little one confined in a little room with a couple of toys, a litter box, water, and nice comfortable towels for about a week and let the other cat get used to his scent. I did just that. Here comes the problem:

It's been two weeks, and Alfie STILL jumps on Sinclair and attacks. At first I thought it was playing, since Alfie never hisses at him (nor does Sinclair,) but on occassion you'll hear Sinclair let out what seems to be a cry for help. I look over, and I see Alfie with Sinclair's entire neck pretty much in his mouth. The odd thing is, when I seperate them, Sinclair doesn't seem to run away or back off Alfie. He just kind of goes up to him like "is that all you've got, punk?" Are they playing? That seems a bit aggressive, especially when I hear the little one cry out.

I don't like keeping the little one closed up in the bathroom anymore considering he stands by the door meowing most of the time, and when I let him out he loves just running around the house. But at the same time I'm afraid to leave them alone together when I'm not in the house. Today, however, Alfie managed to jump up and pull down the handle to the bathroom door while simultaneously pushing on it and opened it, so when I got him the two of them were roaming around the house (and the little one's tail looked like it had been chewed on.)

Is it safe to leave them alone together, or should I still keep the little one confined for a bit longer?

I look over, and I see Alfie with Sinclair's entire neck pretty much in his mouth. The odd thing is, when I seperate them, Sinclair doesn't seem to run away or back off Alfie. He just kind of goes up to him like "is that all you've got, punk?" Are they playing? That seems a bit aggressive, especially when I hear the little one cry out.

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Honestly...that sounds like playing to me. I have had my 2 cats since they were 8 weeks of age and they are now 7 years old and my male cat still has to occationally "fight" with his sister. That entails biting her on the neck, having her kick him off and him chasing her around...they hiss and growl and sometimes it looks like a big ball of cat...but they never draw blood and it usually ends with them sitting next to each other. I swear I cannot figure the cat mind out. Truly it sounds like they are sussing each other up. If Sinclair is UTD on his shots and was given the ok by the vet...I think you can have a test day to see how it goes. I would first go around and look for anything that Sinclair could get into (kittens are notorious for finding the places we don't want them to go) that could cause him harm...like wiring and plants. Good Luck.

Katie

Aww, he is so cute! I am sorry I have no advice, but I think it is great of you for taking him in!!

Thanks for the replies.

I left them alone together when I went to class then work, and my roommate hasn't been home all day either. When I got home, they were actually cuddled up asleep, which was pretty cool, but within 3 minutes they were back to... "playing." Cats sure do show tough love.

Sounds like normal kitten playing to me, too. When we first introduced Merlin and Loki, they literally spent THE ENTIRE NIGHT wrestling. I'm talking 7pm to midnight here, virtually nonstop. One of them cried out once in awhile, but I took him aside and checked, and there wasn't a scratch on him. So I don't worry about them anymore - they know where the line is.

My Sutra has a belly full of kittens at the moment and she is still wrestling with Kharma!
V. cute picture!

Sounds like play to me too. I think your Alfie is wanting little Sinclair as a buddy, but also wants it to be known that he is the alpha cat.....I`m not sure if this is because he`s bigger, been there longer ,or if it is a personality-thing. This same thing happened when we got our second kitten last spring after having our first one4-5 months. I worried about the neck-holds too......and Toby will still occassionally grab Tedy by the neck and sometimes even plant his stiffened forelegs in the middle of him. Tedy just acts like "No big deal" (although there were some crys in the beginning that would bring this Mom running to check out what was going on)
As long as you see them playing together, and after inspecting Sinclair to make sure he`s OK after a "cry for help" and finding him OK...then I would`nt worry about it that much. They usually work out their relationships by themselves.

He is so very cute!! How lucky he was you found him! It does sound like normal kitten play. They can seem pretty rough. Sophie does it to Brynna, my dog, who has the patience of a saint. I know it has to hurt when those little kitty teeth sink into her!