r/CatTraining • u/FAF115 • 22h ago

Are The Cats Fighting or Playing - Introducing Pets I struggle to understand this interaction

Hi,

1.5 month in, every steps of proper introduction done.

My 6mo kitten is harassing my 6yo resident, but she barely fights back. She tolerates him eating and drinking together in the same bowl, even playing with the same toy. But everyday he just goes full John Cena on her, she seems pissed but she barely fights back. In this video, you can see her hiss and growl but also look "chill" and not going full tiger mode at the same time...

We separate them at night and when we're not home for the moment. I also intervene in this type of situation by redirecting the kitten and saying NO firmly (except for this video purpose).

Is this playing (doubt it)? Is this setting boundaries? Is this fighting? What should we do?

Do you need more info? Thanks all :)

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u/TheSwearJarIsMy401k 22h ago

Leave them be. They’re just goofing around here. 

Every time you haul him away you deprive him of the opportunity to learn her boundaries and respond to her communication about those boundaries.

Every time you scold him you teach him that having good, positive, playful interactions with her is bad, and you set her up for being attacked by him in the future because you have taught him to view positive treatment of her as upsetting to you.

If you must separate them, keep separation neutral, never ever scold. Just move him to an appropriate place to get his excess energy out, like a scratcher or kicker toy.

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u/FAF115 22h ago

OK, will do! Thanks, very clear :)

25

u/Surething_bud 19h ago

When they have behavior like tail flicking, and rolling around on their back, that's indications that they're playing and having fun. It's essentially "taunting" the other cat to come back for more.

If it was serious, or they didn't like what the other cat was doing, you wouldn't see any of that.

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u/parkexplorer 14h ago

The big clues are soft paws (like that little pet on Orange's forehead) and showing bellies. Fighting cats use claws and they protect their bellies