We have two cats. The older cat is 13+, and we've had her for all that time. She had a companion that passed away a few years ago. Earlier this year we adopted a new cat, a 2 year old male (or maybe a bit younger, no one is sure).
The old cat is short haired and small. She is a lap cat and enjoys sleeping and cuddling. The new cat, we discovered, is a very playful and energetic cat that apparently came from a household with way too many cats. He has a lot of energy; I mean a LOT. We play with him with interactive toys, and he'll still run up and down the house like crazy afterwards. He also gets bored of toys easily, and he wrecks them anyway by pulling out the feathers or string.
Both cats have been seen by our vet and they are ok. They are both fixed. They are exclusively indoor, no negotiations.
Once the younger cat became familiar with the surroundings, he began to chase the older cat. At first this was him following her around and trying to sniff her, and chasing after her when she got fed up and ran away.
His behaviour has been getting worse though. Recently, we've noticed that in addition to chasing the older cat, he tries to pounce on her and bite her neck. Sometimes he'll pounce so hard he does a somersault roll. This makes the older cat yelp and cry, and eventually she runs and jumps on the couch or some other elevated surface. Sometimes the younger cat will continue the 'game' by waiting for her to come down from the couch or whatever.
We've tried making loud noises, tossing toys and scolding the younger cat when we catch him rushing or trying to the other cat. But nothing works; he'll stop for a second and then get back to chasing her. Now I try to give him a verbal warning whenever he gets too close to the other cat, because I'm afraid he'll suddenly decide she's a toy to play with.
Fortunately, he hasn't really injured the older cat so far. But she's rather old and not much of a fighter, whereas the younger cat is bigger, stronger and faster. I can't figure out if he's just an overgrown kitten and that this is just rough play on his part, or whether he's gradually ramping up the bullying in an effort to 'chase' the old cat out.
I'm already so sad that the cats don't like each other much (they don't cuddle together or groom one another); I really would like to keep both of them but I don't want my older cat to get hurt or super stressed.
Anyone else have a similar scenario? Is it just rough play or is he trying to make the other cat's live a living hell?
The old cat is short haired and small. She is a lap cat and enjoys sleeping and cuddling. The new cat, we discovered, is a very playful and energetic cat that apparently came from a household with way too many cats. He has a lot of energy; I mean a LOT. We play with him with interactive toys, and he'll still run up and down the house like crazy afterwards. He also gets bored of toys easily, and he wrecks them anyway by pulling out the feathers or string.
Both cats have been seen by our vet and they are ok. They are both fixed. They are exclusively indoor, no negotiations.
Once the younger cat became familiar with the surroundings, he began to chase the older cat. At first this was him following her around and trying to sniff her, and chasing after her when she got fed up and ran away.
His behaviour has been getting worse though. Recently, we've noticed that in addition to chasing the older cat, he tries to pounce on her and bite her neck. Sometimes he'll pounce so hard he does a somersault roll. This makes the older cat yelp and cry, and eventually she runs and jumps on the couch or some other elevated surface. Sometimes the younger cat will continue the 'game' by waiting for her to come down from the couch or whatever.
We've tried making loud noises, tossing toys and scolding the younger cat when we catch him rushing or trying to the other cat. But nothing works; he'll stop for a second and then get back to chasing her. Now I try to give him a verbal warning whenever he gets too close to the other cat, because I'm afraid he'll suddenly decide she's a toy to play with.
Fortunately, he hasn't really injured the older cat so far. But she's rather old and not much of a fighter, whereas the younger cat is bigger, stronger and faster. I can't figure out if he's just an overgrown kitten and that this is just rough play on his part, or whether he's gradually ramping up the bullying in an effort to 'chase' the old cat out.
I'm already so sad that the cats don't like each other much (they don't cuddle together or groom one another); I really would like to keep both of them but I don't want my older cat to get hurt or super stressed.
Anyone else have a similar scenario? Is it just rough play or is he trying to make the other cat's live a living hell?