Is He Playing Or Fighting?

[FaBEAR]

My 5.5 month old kitten Tiger is starting to annoy the older cats! He does it with the dog as well, but it's more funny with him. With the two older females - he will rise up on his back legs and bat at them with his front paws when they are just sitting there doing nothing! They do not like him at all!!! I'm wondering if he is being aggressive/dominating or just playing? He is due to be neutered at 6 months old, but I wonder if it is because he is reaching sexual maturity?

 

[FeebysOwner]

Oh, wow! Sorry, but those pics are funny! I have nothing really to offer, other than wanting to acknowledge your post. But, if it will help any others who read this post - how long has he been in your home? If he has been there a while, and is now just starting to do this, it could very well have to do with maturing. I kind of don't think it looks like playing, but could be very wrong...

Until he is neutered, I would try to intercept in this interaction as much as possible because you don't want the other cats to really learn to despise him - especially if once he's neutered he calms down.

 

[FaBEAR]

Oh, wow! Sorry, but those pics are funny! I have nothing really to offer, other than wanting to acknowledge your post. But, if it will help any others who read this post - how long has he been in your home? If he has been there a while, and is now just starting to do this, it could very well have to do with maturing. I kind of don't think it looks like playing, but could be very wrong...

Until he is neutered, I would try to intercept in this interaction as much as possible because you don't want the other cats to really learn to despise him - especially if once he's neutered he calms down.

He has been living with the other cats for about 1 month now and it is definitely a recent thing! I thought it was funny too the first time I saw him do it, but you're right - now we stop it ASAP, on of the cats is really old and just likes her comforts at this stage. Hopefully he will settle after his neuter :-)

 

[susanm9006]

He is definitely playing - a game I would call annoying his siblings. If he was fighting, his ears would be back. You still do want to get him neutered ASAP. It will calm him down some and less risk he will start spraying.

 

[FaBEAR]

He is definitely playing - a game I would call annoying his siblings. If he was fighting, his ears would be back. You still do want to get him neutered ASAP. It will calm him down some and less risk he will start spraying.

Oh thanks thats good to know! And yes, the vet said 6 months for neutering so he is booked in to get it done at 6 months and a few days! :-)

 

[ArtNJ]

In college, my stuff was in milk crates. My kittens were best buds. One kitten would stand on one column of milk crates, the other would get on the other column. After the traditional stare down, at a silent signal from the great Cat in the Sky, ritual combat would begin, where they would take turns whacking each other on the head whack-a-mole style.

Yes, this is certainly playing. A bit less usual than plain ole jumping on the older cat, but still a familiar variant. No less annoying to older cat to be sure. Funnier to watch for the humans though.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Good point about the ears! I was paying more attention to body stance.

BTW - he looks like he's going to be a pretty big guy when he gets to maturity. Just comparing him to the other cat!!

 

[jen]

Definitely playing and maybe a touch of asserting his dominance. I disagree and would NOT intervene as they need to work it out amongst themselves. They will eventually put him in his place if he gets too annoying. Even if there is growling or hissing let it be. They need to have these interactions while he is young so he can grow and learn.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

LOL, it's definitely a game...to HIM. To the girls? Eh, not so much. And it probably does have a "I'm a TOMCAT!" component to it, but that will be taken care of shortly, and within a few weeks those pesky hormones will taper off. Until then, try to give your girls a safe place where they can retreat and get a break.

 

[susanm9006]

And I think it is important to keep in mind that he really isn’t doing this to be mean or to bully. He is a young energetic cat who really really wants to play. He needs lots of outlets for all that energy. If he hasn’t learned to fetch, that is a great game to wear him out.

 

[fionasmom]

Jamie, now my atavar, was brought into a house with older cats as a very tiny rescue. Once he got his bearings, he started to do the same thing...antagonize the others. Neutering helped a lot, along with our devising games that he likes to play, like cat dancer wands, tunnels, some interactive electronic stuff. Orange boys are adorable, although your older cats may be hoping that he takes a hike.

 

[FaBEAR]

Good point about the ears! I was paying more attention to body stance.

BTW - he looks like he's going to be a pretty big guy when he gets to maturity. Just comparing him to the other cat!!

Yep, he was 9lbs at 5 months old so he will be a biggie. He's a rescue and we think (as well as others on here) that he is a maine coon.... see below as to why!

Toe fluff and big feet

Totally laid back

 

[FaBEAR]

Jamie, now my atavar, was brought into a house with older cats as a very tiny rescue. Once he got his bearings, he started to do the same thing...antagonize the others. Neutering helped a lot, along with our devising games that he likes to play, like cat dancer wands, tunnels, some interactive electronic stuff. Orange boys are adorable, although your older cats may be hoping that he takes a hike.

Yes he chases the dog around and loves playing with empty water bottles ... he sort of fetches - and we let him out a bit more now as he loves playing in the garden!

 

[FaBEAR]

Definitely playing and maybe a touch of asserting his dominance. I disagree and would NOT intervene as they need to work it out amongst themselves. They will eventually put him in his place if he gets too annoying. Even if there is growling or hissing let it be. They need to have these interactions while he is young so he can grow and learn.

Yeh I was thinking to let them be... I usually laugh when he is annoying the at in the photo but intervene with the really old cat as she just wants to sleEP!

 

[FeebysOwner]

He's a beauty! Yep, it was those BIG old paws that made me sure he is going to turn out to be a big guy!!

 

[susanm9006]

Love those toe tufts.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Yep, he was 9lbs at 5 months old so he will be a biggie. He's a rescue and we think (as well as others on here) that he is a maine coon....

Yeah, I think you are right. That toe-floof is a pretty good give-away when coupled with his size and what is shaping up to be a magnificent ruff.