I’ve adopted a new kitten (Lillie, 9 weeks), on Tuesday afternoon.
My existing cat (River, 6 years, will be 7 in 6 weeks, he is fixed) approached Lillie, whilst trilling. After giving her a few licks on her fur, he then tried to hold on to her fur with his teeth - it didn’t seem to be a bite, more like how I’ve seen cats scruff kitten (only this was on her side where he was grooming her). There was no aggressive noises from him, and clearly the bite/grab wasn’t forceful enough as Lillie was able to move away (with a hiss at him). River then moved away and kind of just went back to doing his own thing, sniffing the area and occasionally glancing at what Lillie was doing, then back to his own thing and ignoring her - Lillie did the same, would glance over at River, then ignore him and do her own thing.
This repeated a few times, sometimes River would approach Lillie (trilling), sometimes Lillie would approach River (sneaking), and River would attempt to grab Lillie and/or ‘push her over’ (he’d use a paw to push her and topple her over but then make no attempt to pin her down or do anything). Lillie would hide, River would back off, they’d both then go back to doing their own thing, and occasionally glancing at the other cat. When they’re doing their own thing, their body language isn’t that of a wary cat - River is walking around as he normally does, coming to me for pets and head bunts and scratching his post, Lillie plays with toys, grooming herself or following me, even near River (who she then might then decide she wants to approach). Neither are loafing, persistently watching or otherwise acting fearful.
River even twice after Lillie hissed lied down in his side or even rolled over on to his back next to her.
There was one time when River pushed Lillie over and tried to push his nose into her butt as she was on her back - I dunno if that was deliberate or just becuase she was lying down tail end to him.
For context - in their limited interactions the last few days, when River first saw her he hissed. He then pushed his way into the room she was in later that night (because I was in there with her and he felt deprived of company - he usually settles in the same room I’m in, but not exclusively), approached where Lillie was sleeping on his tree, jumped up to the windowsill above her, ignored her for like 5 mins before approaching her. He hissed at her only a few times and then not again that night (and only really once or twice since). His interaction to her after that was to approach her but keep a distance, sniff where she had been sitting and the area around her and then watch her from a loafed position. Lillie would either watch him or ignore him and just mind her own business - or hiss at him if he came close.
It’s probably also worth nothing all of the above is the exact same experience I had two years ago when I cat-sat my boss’ kitten. River would hiss at her too for like the first day, then watch from a distance while trilling curiously, and then they started to get along but with the occasionally incidents of what I explained above (I only witnessed it the once but my flatmates saw it other times).
Maybe also relevant is despite being fixed River occasionally, after a period of snuggling with me in bed and being let, will bite my arm like he’s scruff in it then mount it and unsheath himself, until I remove him.
Appreciate you reading the above I realise it’s a few paragraphs wanted to provide as much context.
What are thoughts on this - from my perspective of a cat pet owner and from what I know, it doesn’t seem aggressive behaviour, there are no aggressive noises (sans the hissing but only when Lillie is pushed which - fair?) or stances. At worst cautious prowling mixed with normal behaviours. My inclination is that it might be attempts at play that Lillie doesn’t like yet (so needs to be moderated), but it might also be River acting on some sexual instinct even though he’s fixed?
Many thanks in advance!
My existing cat (River, 6 years, will be 7 in 6 weeks, he is fixed) approached Lillie, whilst trilling. After giving her a few licks on her fur, he then tried to hold on to her fur with his teeth - it didn’t seem to be a bite, more like how I’ve seen cats scruff kitten (only this was on her side where he was grooming her). There was no aggressive noises from him, and clearly the bite/grab wasn’t forceful enough as Lillie was able to move away (with a hiss at him). River then moved away and kind of just went back to doing his own thing, sniffing the area and occasionally glancing at what Lillie was doing, then back to his own thing and ignoring her - Lillie did the same, would glance over at River, then ignore him and do her own thing.
This repeated a few times, sometimes River would approach Lillie (trilling), sometimes Lillie would approach River (sneaking), and River would attempt to grab Lillie and/or ‘push her over’ (he’d use a paw to push her and topple her over but then make no attempt to pin her down or do anything). Lillie would hide, River would back off, they’d both then go back to doing their own thing, and occasionally glancing at the other cat. When they’re doing their own thing, their body language isn’t that of a wary cat - River is walking around as he normally does, coming to me for pets and head bunts and scratching his post, Lillie plays with toys, grooming herself or following me, even near River (who she then might then decide she wants to approach). Neither are loafing, persistently watching or otherwise acting fearful.
River even twice after Lillie hissed lied down in his side or even rolled over on to his back next to her.
There was one time when River pushed Lillie over and tried to push his nose into her butt as she was on her back - I dunno if that was deliberate or just becuase she was lying down tail end to him.
For context - in their limited interactions the last few days, when River first saw her he hissed. He then pushed his way into the room she was in later that night (because I was in there with her and he felt deprived of company - he usually settles in the same room I’m in, but not exclusively), approached where Lillie was sleeping on his tree, jumped up to the windowsill above her, ignored her for like 5 mins before approaching her. He hissed at her only a few times and then not again that night (and only really once or twice since). His interaction to her after that was to approach her but keep a distance, sniff where she had been sitting and the area around her and then watch her from a loafed position. Lillie would either watch him or ignore him and just mind her own business - or hiss at him if he came close.
It’s probably also worth nothing all of the above is the exact same experience I had two years ago when I cat-sat my boss’ kitten. River would hiss at her too for like the first day, then watch from a distance while trilling curiously, and then they started to get along but with the occasionally incidents of what I explained above (I only witnessed it the once but my flatmates saw it other times).
Maybe also relevant is despite being fixed River occasionally, after a period of snuggling with me in bed and being let, will bite my arm like he’s scruff in it then mount it and unsheath himself, until I remove him.
Appreciate you reading the above I realise it’s a few paragraphs wanted to provide as much context.
What are thoughts on this - from my perspective of a cat pet owner and from what I know, it doesn’t seem aggressive behaviour, there are no aggressive noises (sans the hissing but only when Lillie is pushed which - fair?) or stances. At worst cautious prowling mixed with normal behaviours. My inclination is that it might be attempts at play that Lillie doesn’t like yet (so needs to be moderated), but it might also be River acting on some sexual instinct even though he’s fixed?
Many thanks in advance!
