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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / February 2005cats meet - confusing
Hi I let the cats out for a supervised meeting today, and I was a little confused as to what happened. They have been separated for almost 2 weeks now. I have been switching them around a few times a day, and letting them see each other for short sessions. They are eating with their dishes touching the gate with no problems as well. I also have a Feliway diffuser I plugged in yesterday to help things out. The meeting started by Elwood, the 5 month old kitten, charging at Jake, who is the older, and bigger new cat. They patted each other a few times, and it looked like they were going to start playing. Elwood then tried grabbing Jake and giving him a big ol' hug. Then it seemed to me like Jake started to get nervous and more serious, and started biting at Elwood's neck. He got Elwood down on his back, but he didn't quit biting his neck. This is where I got worried, and broke them up. It was very difficult for me to tell if they were playing or fighting for real. I didn't want Jake to hurt Elwood. I am wondering if this is normal? Did I mess things up by breaking them up? Should I have let them go at it? They weren't hissing or growling that I noticed if that helps. It seems to me like Elwood makes Jake very nervous, which is strange because he seemed to have the upper hand. Can anyone explain this? Thanks! Justin > Hi > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > up? Should I have let them go at it? They weren't hissing or growling > that I noticed if that helps. The neck-biting thing is classic dominance behavior. Jake was just letting Elwood know who is boss. In the cat world, someone has to be the boss. They need that. Since there was no hissing or growling, I think there was probably no danger. The aggressive cats I have seen have been very vocal, giving lots of warning before they try to do real damage. > It seems to me like Elwood makes Jake very nervous, which is strange > because he seemed to have the upper hand. Can anyone explain this? Jake is very nervous because you brought him into Elwood's territory: Elwood was in the house first, his scent was there when Jake got there. If Jake had been first, Elwood would be nervous. It's okay--you are doing everything right. You're a good papa! >>Hi >> [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > Jake got there. If Jake had been first, Elwood would be nervous. > It's okay--you are doing everything right. You're a good papa! Well, I let them go at it a while longer and watch them very closely, and I must say there were some interesting battles. Elwood Charging Jake, Jake charging Elwood. Elwood on his back, then Jake on his back. I must say, Elwood has surprised me in that he is sticking up for himself quite well. At this point, they are taking a food break, and I would have to say they are at a draw. Hopefully they tire each other out enough so that I get a decent nights sleep tonight. Justin >>> Hi >>> [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > > Justin Rofl!! It sounds like it. Actually, if all this is going on with no noise, I'd say they are doing really well and quite interested in each other. >>>>Hi >>>> [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] > Rofl!! It sounds like it. Actually, if all this is going on with no noise, > I'd say they are doing really well and quite interested in each other. Well, they are interested in each other, that is for sure. I am just not sure if it is a good interested or bad after tonight. Jake seemed to be getting really serious with the battles, to the point I could see Elwood was getting scared, and I figured I should break it up. What should I do now? It seems as if neither one wants to back down and let the other be boss, but that is just my guess. Justin > > Jake is very nervous because you brought him into Elwood's > > territory: Elwood was in the house first, his scent was there when [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > must say, Elwood has surprised me in that he is sticking up for himself > quite well. God, I bet this is cute!! Got a video cam?? > At this point, they are taking a food break, and I would have to say > they are at a draw. Hopefully they tire each other out enough so that I > get a decent nights sleep tonight. Justin it really sounds to me like you have been successful at introducing them. Good for you!! >>>Jake is very nervous because you brought him into Elwood's >>>territory: Elwood was in the house first, his scent was there when [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > God, I bet this is cute!! Got a video cam?? Heh, it was pretty entertaining at times, but no video cam :( >>At this point, they are taking a food break, and I would have to say >>they are at a draw. Hopefully they tire each other out enough so that I >>get a decent nights sleep tonight. > > Justin it really sounds to me like you have been successful at > introducing them. Good for you!! I am not sure, they seemed to be getting serious tonight. I may have to leave them separated for a while longer :( Justin "Justin L" <Leejustice2@hotmail.com> wrote > > introducing them. Good for you!! > I am not sure, they seemed to be getting serious tonight. > I may have to leave them separated for a while longer :( Your instincts so far have been good. To give them a "time out" when they get too serious is a great idea. It may be that they enjoy playing so much that they will eventually get the idea and behave themselves. >>>> Jake is very nervous because you brought him into Elwood's >>>> territory: Elwood was in the house first, his scent was there when [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > Justin Yeah, I would just go back to separating them when they are too serious. Keep bringing them together like at meal times and are you playing with them with a wand toy so that their focus can be on something other than each other? > >>Hi > >> [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > > Justin Just be sure that neither cat feels punished (separated) if and when you feel you need to break them up. This could make the 'punished' cat associate 'punishment' with the other cat which might lead to provocation on sight. Sounds like "this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship, Louie"! LOL! Best of luck. Phil <snip> > Just be sure that neither cat feels punished (separated) if and when you > feel you need to break them up. This could make the 'punished' cat > associate 'punishment' with the other cat which might lead to provocation on > sight. I am not really sure what you mean to do here. I had to break them up a few times. I covered them up with a blanket, and stuck one in the room to let them cool down. Would that be punishing? > Sounds like "this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship, Louie"! > LOL! > > Best of luck. I am hoping so, thanks! Justin > Phil > <snip> > > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > few times. I covered them up with a blanket, and stuck one in the room > to let them cool down. Would that be punishing? Not necessarily - as long you showed the cat plenty of affection. The cat might feel punished if you broke them up and put him a room by himself and closed the door. Unless the cats are growling and hissing and taking a defensive posture (ears back, arched back), sometimes if difficult to tell if its play fighting or for real until its too late. OTHO, play fighting strengthens their relationship so its usually not a good idea to interfere. An occasional hiss and swat or even a pounce are perfectly normal behavior. A queen will often swat a kit on the head when she does something wrong or annoys her. > > Sounds like "this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship, Louie"! > > LOL! > > > > Best of luck. > > I am hoping so, thanks! Better cover your VHS/DVD so they don't get dusty... you won't be using them much anymore. There's nothing more entertaining than cats! ;-) Phil
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