r/CatTraining • u/Acrobatic_Proof1435 • 1d ago
Are The Cats Fighting or Playing - Introducing Pets Is this playing or fighting
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I got a new 8 week old kitten like 3 weeks ago and i’ve done all the steps in their introduction. The little one is milo and the big one is nacho. Nacho didn’t rlly care about the kitten he comes from a shelter so im guessing he’s used to being around cats. when they’d “play” usually when milo would hiss or make sound nacho would back off. it’s always milo that starts by pouncing and immediately getting on his belly. nacho does not really care but he gets on him. but now milo seems to not enjoy it. at first i thought milo was just scared but nacho doesn’t rlly back off anymore. like i said i thought it was ok because milo is always the one to engage for some reason lol. Look at he video and lmk what yall think and what steps i should take to get them to be more friendly with eachother because I can just restart the whole process. i just thought it was ok since milo is the one always engaging
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u/LogicThrillScam 1d ago
Seems more like playing. The pauses between “attacks” and how they are both easily distracted are signs of play rather than a real fight. The hissing is probably just boundary setting and assertiveness.
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u/ehburrus 1d ago
Also, cats do not roll on their backs like that when they are actually upset.
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u/SumiMichio 1d ago
So if they don't get distracted but constantly fall on the backs it still means they are playing?
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u/Playful_Site_2714 14h ago
I would separate them. Kitty is frightened. If the red one still has its balls have them removed.
Make cats are not always very gentle with kittens.
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u/LucyLueLue 13h ago
Yes, I noticed that also. If the orange one isn’t neutered, he needs to be. It will make a positive difference in their interactions (as well as all of the other reasons for neutering).
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u/r4ndoM_doGmagenshin 1d ago
Yeah no. That’s pretty bad. Big cat is too rough. Teach him to be more gentle or give them another couple months. That little guy is not having fun by the end. It’s not a fight but little one is clearly not okay.
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u/baghelp 1d ago
I agree. I think if the kitten starts excessively yowling like that, it's too rough. The downward ears and body from the kitten reads as frightened to me. I think orange is trying to play but is definitely too rough at times
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u/Acrobatic_Proof1435 13h ago
I saw someone else say to let them figure it out and build boundaries. today i’ve been separating them if they yowl but the kitty rlly hasn’t
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u/LucyLueLue 13h ago
Agree with this. The big cat is a little too rough for the baby. Not sure how to advise in this exact situation, but I am sure someone on here will have something helpful.
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u/BigReputation568 1d ago
It’s a little aggressive… just watch it and make sure the baby can escape if she wants to.
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u/Acrobatic_Proof1435 13h ago
So next day and i let them figure it out and play. now they chase eachother and the kitten doesn’t cry or yell anymore. One person that got a lot of downvotes said i needed training and so did the orange cat so whenever i see nacho try to bite the little ones privates i seperate them. so far now yelling and no biting :)
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u/Humble_Recording5325 1d ago
Ginger looks like they might be a bit rough, having said that I'm sure kitten starts yowling & ginger wasn't doing anything.
Kitten also initiates a lot of it & comes back for more.
Kittens will practice hissing as well, it's quieter than a proper hissing.
I suspect you have a drama queen there...too cute
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u/SumiMichio 1d ago
Is there anything to do with rough play? One of my kittens is like that and I wonder if they'll figure it out on their own. I worry if it can cross into bullying(
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u/Humble_Recording5325 21h ago
Ours knew 'gently' as a command. Cats are so clever they very quickly pick up that if they're too ruff with you, you'll not play any more.
They soon grow up & give as good as they get.
As long as there's space for adult/kitten to retreat to when they've had enough.
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u/Rich-Bus1279 1d ago
Big orange is trying to play but I think the gray tabby is fine with play but orange is being rougher than gray wants to deal with, hence the vocalizations. They'll most likely work this one out on their own
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u/Squeezymcballzack 1d ago
Seems fine to me. Nacho is taking breaks and Milo is coming back for more. They doing great
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u/Traditional-Deal6759 1d ago
Generally this looks fine. Big one is making breaks; the small one comes for more. Just at the end, Big one is a little overhyped and forgets that he is ten times the kitten.
Let them play, it´s important for the kitten. But make sure that there is supervision, when they play - at least for another month or two, until kitten gets some muscle to stand up for itself.
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u/RandomPantsAppear 1d ago
Playing, with a side of one deciding at some points he’s tired of playing. Then having second thoughts and playing some more. Then getting tired of playing again.
Basically cats trying to find the right boundaries.
Not outright aggression for sure.
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u/Pale-Fee-2679 1d ago
Baby’s got some moves. Nacho will meet his match when Milo is a pound or two heavier.
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u/dirt_elf 1d ago
Aww, they like each other, they're having a great time, they're gonna be good buds
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u/Pretend-Literature35 1d ago
playing and teaching. They are cats not humans: this is how cats play.
And it is "play fighting" inasmuch as the little guy needs to learn how to fight.
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u/Capital_Shopping277 1d ago
Sassy play fighting - it sounds much worse than it is. As everyone has said, there's pauses, kitten on his back.
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u/BrittyRose61 1d ago
Certified feline behavior consultant here! This looks like normal rough play rather than genuine aggression. The key distinction is whether both cats are willing participants. Look for brief pauses, relaxed body language, and voluntary re-engagement. If one cat is consistently trying to escape, hiding, or being cornered while the other continues pursuing, that’s when I’d intervene. Based on this video, I wouldn’t be particularly concerned.
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u/autopatch 22h ago
Play. Lots of pausing, 1/4 speed movements, ears forward on both parties. This is training.
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u/No_Wasabi_4496 1d ago
You have 0 common sense if you can’t answer your own question based on the video… I don’t understand how some of you people have made it this far in life
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u/AARonFullStack 1d ago
Flip that question back on yourself as the video is clearly play and if you know anything about cats you’d know it is just rough play. All the signs of wilful participation by both cats is present.
Make sure you know what you’re talking about before you try to lambast others
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u/Jaylynx9 1d ago
Play fighting, not real fighting. The older cat is teaching the younger one boundaries and status. The kitten rolls on his back to show submission and the older cat backs off. Kitten still engages in the attack and interaction so he isn't getting hurt badly.
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u/Commercial-Candy-926 1d ago
Playing. You can play with the kitten this way too (put your whole forearm across them) and teach them boundaries with humans, if you want a cat that plays like that anyway.
It got a little more aggressive at the end as far as the sounds go but nothing actually escalated. Orange is a beast, they'd demolish that kitten if they wanted to using their back legs, not biting like that.
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u/Mira-Rae 1d ago
This is a mixture of play and boundary setting. the kitten went back for more and is exposing his belly so he good.
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u/agradoway 1d ago
honestly it reads like play with some boundary testing and if milo starts it but then gets pissy when nacho doesnt back off just toss a toy in there to break it up for a sec and you def dont need to restart the whole intro
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u/Playful_Fly5882 1d ago
Plz stop the orange cat from doing that, especially bc it is a kitten! Thry are getting to interested and mouthing their privates! This keeps happening u are going to have serious issues! 1. Kitten will become injured bc adult cat is territorial and wants to hurt the baby and secondly bc they are going after the privates ur going to have bathroom issues! And ppl wonder why... oh my cat is peeing or pooping outside the box. Well this is a big reason why! Ur adlut cat and the person filming need remedial training and a time out!😡
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