As many of you may have gathered, I am currently going through introductions with my current cat and a new little kitten. I'll start with details about the cats, and then describe what has happened so far. I need to know if you think it's going okay, if the behaviour was normal, and if the little kitten is likely to get broken
Firstly, the combatants:
In the red corner, Radar (aka 'Bitemarks')
Age: 8.5 months
Weigh In: not exactly sure, but 9lbs at least, maybe 10
Physical type: Tall, long, lean and muscular with big paws. Housecat with the build of a tiger. Heavier than he looks due to muscle density.
Character: Plays rough and fights dirty. Utterly fearless. The king of his realm.
In the blue corner, Sonic (aka 'loverboy')
Age: 3 months
Weigh In: 3lbs
Physical type: Tiny and dainty, long slender legs, wiry.
Character: Loves a cuddle, bit of a wrestler, a bit timid.
Description of the first bout:
Sonic has been housed in the bedroom since his arrival, but has explored the hallway and kitchen. Radar's main territory is the sitting room, but he has access to the hallway and kitchen when we are at home and not cooking.
Both cats were let into the hallway. Radar approached Sonic, who froze looking utterly terrified in a very defensive pose - back arched, tail looped down, ears back. Radar backed off and sat looking comfortable and confident - tail curled loosely round himself, ears forward. Radar approached again to sniff, Sonic hissed, and Radar backed off. Radar tried again, Sonic hissed, again Radar backed off.
Radar then rolled over onto his back at a little distance from the newcomer, and reached out towards Sonic with one paw, no claws out. After a couple of seconds, Sonic visibly relaxed, sat down, and started to groom himself (which I understand in situations like this is a displacement activity, indicating that he was still unsure but acting as if he wasn't bothered by Radar's presence). Radar was then allowed to sniff Sonic, and Sonic sniffed Radar. Both cats rolled onto their backs and rubbed themselves on the floor.
Then the 'fun' began. Now Sonic was more at ease, Radar grabbed him and pinned him to the floor, batting his head. Radar backed off, and Sonic stayed low to the ground. Radar watched. Sonic stood up and started to walk away. Radar again grabbed him, pinning him down and batting him. Then there was a bit of a wrestle, there were no claws or teeth involved, just rolling around on the floor grabbing each other. Radar backed off again. This happened a few times, Radar starting it every time Sonic stood up.
This all seemed to be play-fighting, but we separated them at the point when Radar pounced from a distance, landing splat on the kitten with his front paws and bowling him over. At this point there was some vocal grumbling and crying from Sonic, so I distracted Radar with a towel and dropped it over him, and put Sonic back in the bedroom.
Was I right to separate them, or should I have let them get on with it? I am worried about the size difference, and that Radar may be too rough and hurt Sonic. Radar doesn't understand that teeth hurt (Nate and I both have small bite marks from him at the moment, he doesn't do it hard but doesn't seem to know that it's still painful). Sonic however started crying to be let back out of the bedroom, and next time he was in the hallway he was crying looking for Radar! So maybe it was all OK and he was enjoying it
So any advice would be welcomed - Radar is my first ever cat, Sonic my second, and I have never introduced cats before!
Thanks
Firstly, the combatants:
In the red corner, Radar (aka 'Bitemarks')
Age: 8.5 months
Weigh In: not exactly sure, but 9lbs at least, maybe 10
Physical type: Tall, long, lean and muscular with big paws. Housecat with the build of a tiger. Heavier than he looks due to muscle density.
Character: Plays rough and fights dirty. Utterly fearless. The king of his realm.
In the blue corner, Sonic (aka 'loverboy')
Age: 3 months
Weigh In: 3lbs
Physical type: Tiny and dainty, long slender legs, wiry.
Character: Loves a cuddle, bit of a wrestler, a bit timid.
Description of the first bout:
Sonic has been housed in the bedroom since his arrival, but has explored the hallway and kitchen. Radar's main territory is the sitting room, but he has access to the hallway and kitchen when we are at home and not cooking.
Both cats were let into the hallway. Radar approached Sonic, who froze looking utterly terrified in a very defensive pose - back arched, tail looped down, ears back. Radar backed off and sat looking comfortable and confident - tail curled loosely round himself, ears forward. Radar approached again to sniff, Sonic hissed, and Radar backed off. Radar tried again, Sonic hissed, again Radar backed off.
Radar then rolled over onto his back at a little distance from the newcomer, and reached out towards Sonic with one paw, no claws out. After a couple of seconds, Sonic visibly relaxed, sat down, and started to groom himself (which I understand in situations like this is a displacement activity, indicating that he was still unsure but acting as if he wasn't bothered by Radar's presence). Radar was then allowed to sniff Sonic, and Sonic sniffed Radar. Both cats rolled onto their backs and rubbed themselves on the floor.
Then the 'fun' began. Now Sonic was more at ease, Radar grabbed him and pinned him to the floor, batting his head. Radar backed off, and Sonic stayed low to the ground. Radar watched. Sonic stood up and started to walk away. Radar again grabbed him, pinning him down and batting him. Then there was a bit of a wrestle, there were no claws or teeth involved, just rolling around on the floor grabbing each other. Radar backed off again. This happened a few times, Radar starting it every time Sonic stood up.
This all seemed to be play-fighting, but we separated them at the point when Radar pounced from a distance, landing splat on the kitten with his front paws and bowling him over. At this point there was some vocal grumbling and crying from Sonic, so I distracted Radar with a towel and dropped it over him, and put Sonic back in the bedroom.
Was I right to separate them, or should I have let them get on with it? I am worried about the size difference, and that Radar may be too rough and hurt Sonic. Radar doesn't understand that teeth hurt (Nate and I both have small bite marks from him at the moment, he doesn't do it hard but doesn't seem to know that it's still painful). Sonic however started crying to be let back out of the bedroom, and next time he was in the hallway he was crying looking for Radar! So maybe it was all OK and he was enjoying it
So any advice would be welcomed - Radar is my first ever cat, Sonic my second, and I have never introduced cats before!
Thanks