Play or fight? my 2 cats.

my younger cat and my older cat are FINALLY getting along well. the older one doesnt hiss and roar anymore, I found them sleeping together one day anyway, I see them fighting or fighting sometimes, not sure what the heck they are doing, and it worries me. it seems very rough. What they like to do is like..the younger one hides under the couch, while the older one looks around for him, the younger one pops out, slashes at him, and runs back in. then they just like keep hitting eachother's hands. Sometimes the older one chases the younger one out, and then traps him, then the older one jumps on him, and pins him by the neck with his mouth, and then like grips onto the younger one. The younger one fights back and scratches like normal, but he lets out a little "MEOW!" yell. then they chase eachother the younger one basically taunts the older one, until the older one pins him by the neck or ear with his mouth and the younger one starts screaming, thank god I was there to pull the older one off! (they are both males)

In my experience if the cats were never friendly with each other the chances are that what may start as play will probably end with fighting.
The warning sign = continuous hissing and screaming. Time for mommy to step in.

At the moment they seem to be just a little aggressively playing - you will be able to tell when it gets serious because things will change - the claws and teeth will come out and hissing and squealing and growling will ensue. Just make sure you don't stick your hand in there to separate them - you could end up with a very nasty injury. A water bottle sprayed on them will do wonders if they start getting really serious.

Sashka and Sunday wrestle all the time - kitties like a bit of rough-housing - and they don't use claws or teeth. Once Sashka really let out a yelp and Sunday jumped about ten feet in the air and then licked her half to death....so cute....

Gosh my two play fight constantly!! They run around the entire space in the flat chasing each other then wrestle on the floor, bed, sofa, anywhere! There is an occassional squeak when one of them bites too hard, but I've never heard a hiss or a growl from either of them. It can be incredibly funny to watch when they pounce at each other on the bed and a big bundle of two kittens ends up on the floor!

Originally Posted by Purity

Gosh my two play fight constantly!! They run around the entire space in the flat chasing each other then wrestle on the floor, bed, sofa, anywhere! There is an occassional squeak when one of them bites too hard, but I've never heard a hiss or a growl from either of them. It can be incredibly funny to watch when they pounce at each other on the bed and a big bundle of two kittens ends up on the floor!

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You also forgot the "herd of elephants" sound they make when chasing each other LOL!

I know my kits are play-fighting when I don't hear any yowls or hisses or anything but when I hear them running around after each other

Since Bobber was spayed her and Bakker are doing this constantly!!! We think Bakker is trying to take over the top cat position in the household.

I would say hissing and growling is the key. If you don't hear any of this it's play, if you do, it's escalated beyond play into an altercation!

my older cat USED to hiss and roar like crazy at the younger one, but not touch him..just roar in his face. Now they play fight, and they dont hiss, just the younger one starts to "MEOW!" when the older one jumps and pins him by the neck into the ground. It scares me because isnt that how lion kill theyre prey It kinda worries me