Ack-is this aggressive?

My new kitten likes to get close to my big cat. Snuggle, nuzzle whatever-I keep a close eye on them because I've seen him kick the crap out of adult cats, even though is supposed to "get along" with them being from a crazy cat lady house (40 cats)

( I should also add he rarely plays. Sometimes in the middle of the night I'll hear him bat around a toy, but he stops if he thinks he's being watched. No string fighting, nothing.)

We were all just on the bed, mellowing when the little one walked up and my big guy began licking him , that's fine, and dandy. THEN he started to "bite" him!! I mean stuff parts of the little guy's body inside his mouth! He didn't hurt him, and the teeny kitten just pushed him away and jumped off the bed. (it is freaky to watch my cat bite things, he never scratches never bites anything in my presence, ever.)

Will this behaviour escalate to him hurting the kitten?? I know my cat, and I'd LIKE to think on the bright side but I don't want a slaughter on my hands....

My cats do this all the time. I think they are trying to get the other cat to play. One goes up to the other and grooms and the suddenly bites down and wraps its legs around the other. Sometimes the other cat will play/fight back and sometimes just walks away. Sometimes they hiss and swat too but I think they are just saying "hey leave me alone and get out of my space"

I wouldn't worry unless they are drawing blood or leaving wounds. An occational scratch may happen, but nothing major.

Originally Posted by Jen

My cats do this all the time. I think they are trying to get the other cat to play. One goes up to the other and grooms and the suddenly bites down and wraps its legs around the other. Sometimes the other cat will play/fight back and sometimes just walks away. Sometimes they hiss and swat too but I think they are just saying "hey leave me alone and get out of my space"

I wouldn't worry unless they are drawing blood or leaving wounds. An occational scratch may happen, but nothing major.

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My two are always nipping at each other when they play, so like the others have said unless it gets really heated or blood drawn their fine.

Sounds pretty normal to me- the cats will work it out in time. You just need to de-stress and let them figure it out.

Originally Posted by hissy

Sounds pretty normal to me- the cats will work it out in time. You just need to de-stress and let them figure it out.

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I suppose I just wanted to know if it meant "Hey squirt I like you" bite or "Hey squirt if you piss me off I'll kill you" bite.

Well if you haven't had to rush your cats to the vet for major cat bites, it just means, "I'm not sure how to socialize with you, here if I bite you will you at least pay attention to me?"

I don't think it's an attention issue? Apparently, cats do not need to establish dominance like dogs do (why not supposed to let them "fight it out" as it won't get better) since they are not pack animals. I am curious if anyone actually KNOWS what cat play/threat behaviour looks like. I've seen him fight full sized adults, and just wanted to know if that was a "warning" to a kitten. Lick, then pin and mouth kitten.

I did read again. I think I know now. It is a dominance-thing from your big male: "I have the right to nag at you because Im the master!"

I do see this in our two cats, father and son and best friends. Nice guys both of them. The son lays down, father comes and licks. The son let him lick trustworthy at the throat. Father licks. But begin to "bite" at the throath. And the son lets him!
There are never any wounds, or any yells of pain, so it is always only to demonstrate who is the boss here - and who is the younger companion.

Heres a couple of pictures of my two play fighting when Sophie was a kitten.

If one of them bites that little bit too hard then the other will let out a slight cry but as soon as they do they break free from each other.

If you hear a lengthy yell from your kitten with fur flying, blood showing with the kitten still in the adult cats mouth then thats when you need to seperate them.

I go with the rest here. We recently introduced a two and a half year old male to a 1 year female. The male had not lived with other kitties before. I started a thread very similar to yours because I was worried about the biting issue. Tolstoy would run in, bowl Lily over and bite at her. Never any blood or scratches and the bites didn't appear hard.

The still do that when they're playing now, but in between that, they roam the house side by side; play chase; sleep all curled up in one kitty mass at night; and groom each other senseless. They are adorable together.

Just keep an eye on them to make sure it doesn't get out of hand, but if all appears to be ok, let them get on with it.

Good luck. PM me if you get worried about what they're doing. I have to say Susan (Rosiemac) was a great comfort to me when introducing my two as she had "been there done that" with her two girls.