Last weekend me and my girlfriend adopted two kittens from a local animal shelter. Our two girls were from different litters (I'll call them sisters to make things easier in this post) and they're 9 weeks old at this point (8 weeks when we adopted them.) Their names are Prufrock and Mungojerrie (Mungo).
Recently they've started to fight (kind of). I made an account because I can't find anything that talks about my specific situation.
Prufrock is MUCH more energetic and plays endlessly with us. She warmed up to the change of scenery more quickly than her sister. Mungo is more laidback and has a stronger desire for human interaction -- she's still playful, just not as much.
It took them a few days for them to become comfortable enough to attempt playing. Then, one would stalk the other, but the "target" would hiss when engaged, and the "stalker" would run off. They'd take turns doing this.
Now they're full-fledged playing, and sometimes it's fine (albeit rough, but within normal ranges). However, Prufrock will continue beyond what Mungo is comfortable with. They engage in rough play, but eventually Prufrock will tackle her sister and pin her down, causing Mungo to growl with her ears pinned back and try to "rabbit kick" to separate. She'll run away but Prufrock will chase after her and keep trying to play. I do my best to break it up with noise or a barrier when I hear growling. Mungo usually finds a place to escape (she loves to sit on the warm router in the living room!) but usually stalks her sister and tries to engage a few minutes later.
Prufrock never hisses and her ears are forward-facing while playing, so it seems to me like she's just trying to play, but I'm worried that we have a conflict in personalities. It doesn't seem like they hate each other because they can coexist peacefully otherwise and there doesn't seem to be any avoidance behavior.
We've started to separate them when we're out of the house, and they both have access to their own food, water, and litter boxes.
My girlfriend and I really want them to be happy, and we don't know if this is normal. We're worried that someone will get hurt or this could sour their relationship before it can really get started. I can provide any other information if it's needed.
Thank you so much for taking the time to help!!
Recently they've started to fight (kind of). I made an account because I can't find anything that talks about my specific situation.
Prufrock is MUCH more energetic and plays endlessly with us. She warmed up to the change of scenery more quickly than her sister. Mungo is more laidback and has a stronger desire for human interaction -- she's still playful, just not as much.
It took them a few days for them to become comfortable enough to attempt playing. Then, one would stalk the other, but the "target" would hiss when engaged, and the "stalker" would run off. They'd take turns doing this.
Now they're full-fledged playing, and sometimes it's fine (albeit rough, but within normal ranges). However, Prufrock will continue beyond what Mungo is comfortable with. They engage in rough play, but eventually Prufrock will tackle her sister and pin her down, causing Mungo to growl with her ears pinned back and try to "rabbit kick" to separate. She'll run away but Prufrock will chase after her and keep trying to play. I do my best to break it up with noise or a barrier when I hear growling. Mungo usually finds a place to escape (she loves to sit on the warm router in the living room!) but usually stalks her sister and tries to engage a few minutes later.
Prufrock never hisses and her ears are forward-facing while playing, so it seems to me like she's just trying to play, but I'm worried that we have a conflict in personalities. It doesn't seem like they hate each other because they can coexist peacefully otherwise and there doesn't seem to be any avoidance behavior.
We've started to separate them when we're out of the house, and they both have access to their own food, water, and litter boxes.
My girlfriend and I really want them to be happy, and we don't know if this is normal. We're worried that someone will get hurt or this could sour their relationship before it can really get started. I can provide any other information if it's needed.
Thank you so much for taking the time to help!!
