[seppy55]

Again, I've got a three year old female and recently brought home a 10 month old male. He's very laid back in general, but over the last couple of days he's been actively seeking her out and raising his paw toward her. Then they start batting at each other for a few seconds. There's no hissing, although sometimes a little growling from the female. She's a pretty dominant cat who likes to sit high up on windows or couches and he's quite content to keep a low profile on the floor. Is he rying to just play with her or is he trying to battle for dominance? Neither has been hurt and I haven't noticed claws coming out, but wasn't sure if this was just playful or not.

 

[AngelZoo]

You would have to discribe what you mean by when they battle eachother, depending on what it is they do is dependant on if this is just play, or aggression, or dominance.

Some cats prefer not to be bothered, or to play as often as others, and from the females in my experience I have found this to be exceptionally true for them.

Is this new male neutered yet?

 

[seppy55]

The new male cat was neutered about a month ago. The female was spayed several years ago. What he's been doing is approaching the female, usually when she's just "watching" the room and he'll reach up and try to bat/swat at her. I think it's playful since if I approach him right after and put my hand out, he'll swat at my hand too, but it's gentle and with no claws outstretched. Sometimes he'll just do it once and then leave, but on occasion she'll go right back at him. Sometimes she growls when she does this, but that's about it and it doesn't lead to world war III. I'm guessing this is just playing on their part, but I'm not sure.

 

[AngelZoo]

Generally swatting is a sign of "leave me alone", or "back off (It's mine)"
Your cat swatting at your hand, is not a good thing, do not give him the opportunity to do that anymore.
Cats will have little stupid tiffs over anything sometimes, and some are just more jerks then others.

Most cats will make some small little noises while they are playing, they can look like they are rough housing a lot.
But once it turns to swatting and growling it's no longer fun and games, she is probably simply retaliating to the male. When this happens, is she normally backed into something? Or is this out in the middle of a room?

It's possible they are still working out dominance in their own way, or trying to see what eachothers buttons are, so to speak, testing the waters.

I will have to write more later as I must take off to work now. Feel free to add more about this situation I'm sure it could be helpful for some of us here to give you more advice.
Plus, if it ever does turn violent, seperate them for the time being, and bring the aggressor to the vet to make sure that there is nothing physically or behavoirally wrong which he or she could help you with.

 

[BMaster]

Your cat swatting at your hand, is not a good thing, do not give him the opportunity to do that anymore

My cat does this rather often, but she doesn't use claws normally. I wonder, how can you "not give him the opportunity to do that"? She does it sometimes when I reach out to pet her for example.

It's possible they are still working out dominance in their own way, or trying to see what eachothers buttons are, so to speak, testing the waters

How long does this phase take normally? Over here it's like that for, I don't know, 2-3 months maybe. The kitten still sleeps in her own room because the older cat *always* hisses and growls at the kitten, and the kitten always goes to the older cat to play. But of course the older one just wants a spot to rest...

 

[juliahadley]

It sounds to me as though they are playing, it doesn't sound as if they are being really aggressive to each other

the problem probably is the kitten wants to play and the older female doesn't want to
we have a 2 year old female and a 10 month old male, and they are exactly like your 2
they will chase each other and then try to swat each other
but quite often when the female doesn't want to play she will hiss at the kitten and he just wanders off

think it is perfectly normal, and it will settle down gradually
we have only had our female for 3 months, and for the first 6 weeks she was confined to one room as she had a fractured pelvis
when we first introduced them she would just hiss at the kitten and then she's hiss at us
but its a lot better now, and she will chase him, and let him chase her, just occasionally now she will hiss at him, usually when she is trying to sleep and he tries to pounce on her
they seem to like each other, we have a problem with the female vomiting (vet thinks its a food intolerance) and the kitten will sit near her and gaze at her when she's been ill it is so sweet
they will now play with the same toy at the same time
though the female is very possessive over the scratching post and lies next to it and growls at the kitten if he tries to get near

am sure it will settle down soon

 

[seppy55]

the problem probably is the kitten wants to play and the older female doesn't want to
we have a 2 year old female and a 10 month old male, and they are exactly like your 2
they will chase each other and then try to swat each other
but quite often when the female doesn't want to play she will hiss at the kitten and he just wanders off

That's from an above post and pretty much resembles what's going on at my place. I don't think the kitten is swatting at me since he doesn't have his claws out and it's in a gentle, playful way, almost like a high five. He's just a very playful, friendly kitten while she's always been a more reserved cat who likes to sit up high on the couch or table and view things. I think he's just trying to play with her and she doesn't want it yet. The hissing is coming less and less, although growling still occurs when she feels uncomfortable or he gets too close to her food. But they're sleeping within feet of each other and not getting upset. And he never makes any kind of growl or hiss at her.

 

[juliahadley]

Brilliant
sounds like they are getting on better and better

within a few weeks,months they will best pals hopefully
It does sound like its going well

also feed them together and move their bowls closer each day
this helps a lot as they associate something nice (food) with the presence of the other cat
and give them their treats together as well

sounds like they are bonding well

I hope you're enjoying being a 2 cat household
much fun especially when they go mad and chase each other around the house
best of luck with your 2 lovely cats

 

[seppy55]

I think the kitten prefers dry food to the wet food since he barely touches it. I've tried several different wet foods, so that's why I think that. He's eating plenty of dry food and drinking a lot of water so I'm not worried about that. I am trying to give them treats together and have them play together with toys I offer, but the female is still, and has always been, a little aloof even before the newcomer. But the hissing is WAY down and that makes me encouraged that even if they are never great friends that they will be able to tolerate each other.

 

[juliahadley]

Yey
it does sound encouraging

you've the right attitude, it is very common for cats to tolerate each other but rarer for them to be best mates (though does happen)

I still hope to come home and find our two curled up together
don't think it is very likely though
but they will play and eat together now which is good, when we first adopted Sonic (the 2 year old female) she would hiss at Patched (the kitten) all the time, if he even got within 6 feet of her
so it is a lot better now

glad things are working out for you

 

[kitkat]

Sounds more like playing especially since claws are still not out and also there isn't a real wrestling and hissing match going on. Hope everything is working out for you and your kitties =_