We got a 2 month old kitten a week ago and our 10 month old won't stop pinning him down and biting him.?

Question

We've followed all of the proper procedures (i.e. keeping them apart for a few days, letting them get used to each other's smell, supervising their encounters and letting the encounters get more prolonged as the days went by, etc.). The first few times the older kitten hissed a lot. Now, he doesn't hiss or growl, but he just chases the little one, traps him into a corner, pins him down, and bites his neck or stomach. The little one doesn't seem *that* upset--he only cried a few times, and we separated them, but I'm still concerned he'll get hurt. Is this normal? What, if anything, can we do differently? How do we know when they are "ready" to be alone together?

Answer 1

it sounds like the older kitten is over the 'who's this stranger' and is beginning to play with the younger one who cries as a warning to stop when it gets too much.

kittens learn to hunt by playing and even litter mates will 'cry' when the play gets too vigorous so that they learn to bat with their claws in when playing with each other.

I think for now monitor the pair of them when together and don't leave them alone together for another month at least.

As time goes on they will get used to one another and will have developed ways and means of relating to one another and as the size differential becomes more even then the younger one will be better placed to be able to join in the contesting and friendly jousting that goes on on a more equal basis

and who knows they may even curl up and sleep together too before too long!

Answer 2

This will pass. The older one see the new kitten as a threat. A threat in the sense of getting petting from you. It is asserting it's authority in the household over the other cat. Eventually (and not too long), the older will see that the younger is no threat as long as you share the petting between them. If someone is patting the little kitten, the other can be petted by someone else.
We got 2 cats about 8 years ago. We got them about a week apart and they fought for about a week. We never kept them apart at any time. The younger one will learn very quickly how to defend itself.

Answer 3

I would leave them alone. I was in your situation a couple of weeks ago when I found a 7 week old kitten and my dog thought it was his new best friend. I would watch them carefully but I realized that my dog knows its a living creature. However, I would separate them for a while and only give them supervised play time because your little kitty might get squirmish. Never leave them alone together until your cat gets older. Now my cat is almost 3.5 months and the dog and him play all day and even sleep together.

Answer 4

I would suggest keeping an eye on them for a bit longer. Not seeing it myself, it's hard to judge. Kittens LOVE to wrestle and bite in their play, so that part is normal -- how aggressive it is is what's in question. Normally, they do this with their littermates, so they're fairly evenly matched. The age difference here would indicate a size difference, and the older kitty may not realize how much bigger and stronger he is. However, if the little one isn't distressed, it may be fine -- but I'd keep an eye on them and step in if it gets too rough. I have 3 9-month olds from the same litter. The one male is MUCH bigger than his sisters, and he's still a little goofy, and he pins them and bites them until they cry and hiss, and "mommy" has to step in and make him stop. He's not trying to hurt them, he just plays too rough. He still bites ME way too hard, too, so he just hasn't learned his strength yet.

Answer 5

Unless the 10 month old is really hurting the younger one ,its pretty normal cat behavior.They need to get used to each other and get it straight who is at the top of the pecking order. I have never seen a cat kill another cat, I have seen some real scraps between males that are not fixed when a female is around in heat. I really think they will be ok.

Answer 6

It sounds like the older kitten is just trying to play like he would with siblings, the problem being that the other kitten is so much smaller. Have you just watched to see how far the older kitten will take it? Usually, if one kitten gets too rough the other will find a way to get away, or make enough noise so that you will know if he is truly hurt.

Answer 7

keep them apart and only let them duke it out while supervised, hold the cat and show him the kitten, petting him and cooing him to get him to relax. If he bats at the kitten discipline him to show him aggression is wrong. the cat has to understand this stranger isn't an intruder he has to protect his house from. this should only go on for a max of one more week. I've had tons (not kidding) of cats I've never seen it carry on for more then 2 1/2 weeks

Answer 8

this is normal. the older one is showing the little tyke who is boss.
My cats stopped after the little one just learned to walk away and even 5 years later if the Younger one got to much attention or what every the older one would walk up and and pin her and say remember your place. but this happened very rarely after the 2-3 weeks together

Answer 9

All kittens and cats do this it think because we've had kittens and cats together for my whole life, and they're always getting into little fights, and stuff like that, the thing is, since the larger cat is older, it probably gets irritated and the little one wants to play so it doesn't affect it too much. as far as i know, yeah, its perfectly normal!!!

Answer 10

I introduced two 3 week old kittens to my 10 year old male six years ago. I had the babies in a room by themselves until they were big enough to climb out of the set-up they had. Now all three of them can be found cuddling together.