Should I Worry? Or Let Nature Run Its Course?

Napoleon and Cassie have actually been getting along fabulously...well, as fabulously as it can get between those two LOL.

They have had "ranking" issues but it seems to be the case that Cassie is the alpha and she likes to *swat* Napoleon on the butt into submission

However, there are sometimes when Napoleon wants to play and Cassie wants nothing to do with it. Pretty understandable, but he doesn't *get it* sometimes. He will launch over to her and knock her over and she will *scream* (not just hiss or meow or growl but SHRIEK) and he doesn't get off her immediately! Of course, I think this stresses me out more than it stresses her out. She may be upset for a few minutes, but she seems to get over his "attack" (for lack of a better term).

Now I have feliway diffusers, I use feliway spray on common toys and immediately spray an area if I see a particularly bad fight or fights breaking out in a common area. I have set play times with the kits and they LOVE play time with mommy! They have kissed noses and often sleep in the bed with me and BF at night (though they are usually separated by a human set of legs LOL). But then it seems like one step forward, then two steps back.

BTW this incident occurred last night after a day where it was possibly the longest time we've left them alone together...about 16 hours. They also didn't have regular play times and this occurred right after play time.

BTW this morning was also fine...they were playing together normally and eating...although he was quite interested in her food this morning (though they had the same exact thing and his bowl was WAY across in the other room)...she just kind of looked at him, and he ran away LOL.

Sorry this was rambling but it really upsets me...even when she beats him up LOL, it's never bad. He kind of takes it. Thoughts?

Are they fighting, or just playing? Is there any danger of one cat hurting the other? Cats play rough, and you can just let them at it. If one is getting hurt, that's the time to stop them.

Watch for: one cat being held down and not being able to get away, or either cat with ears flattened way back on their head, and eyes really dilated.

It sounds to me like they are playing.

And mine do that stuff with the food dishes. I was trying to keep Sam away from Bailey's food dish. She always eats a little, the leaves to use the litter box, then comes back to finish. As soon as she walks away, Sam moves over to her dish. After weeks of trying to stop him from doing that, I realized that when Bailey comes back for her second helping, she just goes to Sam's dish and finishes his food.

Originally Posted by Sammie5

Are they fighting, or just playing? Is there any danger of one cat hurting the other? Cats play rough, and you can just let them at it. If one is getting hurt, that's the time to stop them.

Watch for: one cat being held down and not being able to get away, or either cat with ears flattened way back on their head, and eyes really dilated.

It sounds to me like they are playing.

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Sammie5, I too thought they were playing...and mostly they do. It's kind of like a cartoon sometimes, one chases the other out of the room, then I hear pitter-patter of paws and the cat that was the chaser is now the chasee in the room (s)he just ran out of.

It does concern me, cause though 90% of the time, they do play, and Napoleon I think it really try to push the envelope with her. However, what you called to watch out for: the one cat being pinned down, one cat pupils dilated and ear flattened...that was Cassie last night. About 3-4 weeks ago, I started them on these holistic remedies to get them to calm down, and it actually amplified their issues, but calmed down a LOT (and I probably attribute them being cool with each other now to when I started regular play times, more feliway and the essence combination).

When she shrieks, it scares me to death. But I think that she is communicating her boundaries and being sort of *slow*, he's not quick to let up.

It sounds like their just playing to me?!.

Heres Sophie biting Rosie's leg all because she was in the box!, and they both can let out a screech if one of them bites the other too hard, but they also pin each other down trying to give each other little bites, but if it becomes a really long screech then i just say " hey, hey , hey!" and they part.

I think they are just playing! I wouldn't worry too much unless there is blood!

RosieMac - that picture is TOO MUCH!!! There is never any biting between Cassie and Napoleon, a LOT of chasing the other around. It's truly funny, but I think the issue is my boyfriend doesn't like to hear Cassie stressing out too much, it stresses HIM out, b/c she is his baby . It stresses me out too but I know that are fine 90% of the time. Sometimes, I think Napoleon annoys her. But I guess what little brother DOESN'T annoy his big sister!

Exactly!! She'll soon put him in his place if he goes too far, or i can always send Sophie round?!

I used to worry too, when Sam would make Bailey run. Then I realized that they were running one way with Sam chasing. Then they'd thunder back the other way with Bailey chasing Sam.

I think they're doing fine, just let them go. I interefered once, and made Sam stop kicking Bailey. He sulked for an entire day.

Originally Posted by blue_monday_88

He will launch over to her and knock her over and she will *scream* (not just hiss or meow or growl but SHRIEK) and he doesn't get off her immediately! Of course, I think this stresses me out more than it stresses her out. She may be upset for a few minutes, but she seems to get over his "attack" (for lack of a better term).

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I had to laugh when I read this. When my friends ask me how to identify the alpha cat, I always tell them it's usually the one on the bottom of the pile screaming at the top of their lungs. My previous alpha did this and my current one does it also.

If the wrestle is short lived, no fur flies, they are on good terms the other times, just let nature take over. I was also very concerned when I first heard the alpha scream, but now I just glance to make sure it is play and let em be.

They sound like wonderful cats!

Catsy's much bigger than Wukong in terms of size, so when mum and son playfight, I try to keep a lookout. Wukong sometimes gets pinned too hard or too long and he'll let out a "Eeargh" sound. If anyone of us hear it we'll just put our hands on Catsy's head or body and she'll let him go. Sometimes I think she just needs to be reminded gently that Wukong's just a baby

I know some will discourage from touching a cat in the middle of a playfight cos tension is running high. But I know my cats and Catsy is very gentle towards humans. We can sit right next to them when they're roughhousing and at most she'll use my thigh to "kickoff" when trying to launch yet another attack on her son. All claws are always sheathed. I'm lucky she's imparted her good manners to her sonny boy.

Oh I realised I haven't answered your question. What I wanted to say before I got carried away yakking about my babies is that Definitely keep an eye on them when the playtime has been going on for a long while.

If either one of them start panting (sign of stress) pl separate them in different rooms. With time, they will learn to interact better with each other. No real cause for worry though, unless you see someone biting WAY too hard.

Originally Posted by Momofmany

I had to laugh when I read this. When my friends ask me how to identify the alpha cat, I always tell them it's usually the one on the bottom of the pile screaming at the top of their lungs. My previous alpha did this and my current one does it also.

If the wrestle is short lived, no fur flies, they are on good terms the other times, just let nature take over. I was also very concerned when I first heard the alpha scream, but now I just glance to make sure it is play and let em be.

They sound like wonderful cats!

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Oh my goodness! Cassie really *is* the alpha cat LOL!!!

The wrestle was short-lived, and she rebounded very quickly. They even kissed noses last night when feeding time came around

There you go!, see they do like each other

Originally Posted by rosiemac

There you go!, see they do like each other

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See Susan, I don't know about ~*that*~ LOL

But I'll take what I can get...