Will my big cat kill the new kitten?

Question

I have a 3 year old male cat, Oliver. He is a big cat and quite aggressive in general. He kept attacking a german shepherd dog I had brought home, he even bites people for fun or for aggression. Anyway, I recently found a female kitten, Penny, in the streets and brought her home. I put her in a separate room for a week. I gradually introduced both cats to each other's smell. Finally, I let them meet. I was worried my cat would attack the little one. Turns out they started "playing", basically Penny chases Oliver's tail, and Oliver slaps her. It looked like they might get along, but Oliver is getting harsher every time they meet. She disturbs him, it is true, by running around him and playing with his tail. But now Oliver grabs her with his mouth and bites her quite hard, until I stop them. He doesn't hiss and Penny keeps going back to play with him, but I am worried that Oliver isn't really playing. From experience, is it possible that things will get worse? Because they get harsher

PS. Oliver is neutered, but he acts like he isn't. He has never had another animal companion, and frankly my husband and I are the only humans he accepts too. He doesn't break her skin when he bites her, but today he chases her and grabs her and bites her even when she is not bothering him. I think he is trying to establish who's boss, but I think Penny goes back to play not because she likes it, but to hide she is afraid of him. Does it make any sense?

Answer 1

Do not let the two cats together without your supervision until you are sure that Oliver accepts the kitten. Just keep trying. Since the kitten keeps going back for more, that is a likely sign that she is not getting badly hurt. Maybe Oliver is getting rougher because Penny is getting bigger and can take rougher playing. Just please be careful that you watch them together until you are POSITIVE that the bigger cat won't hurt the kitten. Good luck!

Answer 2

Are both cats spayed/neutered? A male cat will bite a female pretty hard in the scruff of her neck when he's trying to mate with her. If they're not fixed, have it done soon because an eager male cat can easily kill a female kitten trying to mate with her. Oliver will also be less aggressive and more calm.

If both are fixed, then they should get used to each other and learn to play nice--older cats usually resent a new kitten, but if they are playing and not hissing of fluffing up angrily, they should be ok. You may want to keep an eye on them until Penny gets a little bigger, but other than that they should be alright. Good luck!

Answer 3

If Penny keeps coming back to play, then I don't think he is very serious in hurting her. Cats have thicker skin then people, so their claws don't usually pierce deep, or even go very far from the fur. Check regularly for small injuries on the kitten, for blood and penetrative wounds. That way you will know know if he is hurting her. And when they play try to keep calm voice in telling him to play nice, because if you scowled him about it, he might get jealous and attack her for that reason.
Just in case he gets too aggressive, maybe you should keep an eye on them when they play, and keep them in different rooms when no one is at home, because that is when he will do anything he isn't allowed to do. Keep an eye on them for a month or so, and if everything is fine then you have nothing to worry about.

Answer 4

He's probably just trying to remind her that he's the top cat. But if they're also playful together he's probably accepted her as part of the family. It's unlikely that he'd kill her at the point, but just like dogs and people, you can never predict things 100%. If you ever see the kitten looking badly injured you may need to find a new home for one of the cats. It wouldn't be fair to keep them together if the kitten's in danger.

Answer 5

i am in the process of introducing a 5 week old stray i brought home to my two 3 year old cats. One already loves him and the other hisses and spits and has a tantrum everytime he see's the kitten. But they will eventually get use to the kitten it just takes time and i doubt he will eat the kitten, he just wants to show the kitten who's boss!

Answer 6

I take it that it incredibly is her first clutter? might desire to be that she's merely green and would not comprehend what to do; and particular might have inadvertently smothered them, i assume: although puzzling to comprehend "how" she could try this. some pets are a lot greater soft to strangers presence than others. this might probably clarify an irrational act on her section. enable me relate a narrative a pair of sow we had, whilst my relatives lived on the farm. She replaced into an OIC reserve grand champion: meaning she got here in 2nd place at a straight forward; however the final analysis for stating this, is that she replaced into no longer purely an inordinately high priced purchase, yet a cannibal mom. My father have been warned, that she replaced into in the habit of ingesting her off-spring: he "pooh-poohed" it. nicely, because it grew to become out, this warning replaced into maximum valid certainly: she had 2 litters, one actual after the different, each and every a brood of 11-12 piglets, and he or she devoured up each and every final considered one of them. of course, we butchered her after the 2nd clutter. it may look that no longer all mothers, are worrying and loving dad and mom. desire it incredibly isn't the case, with yours. in step with risk the grey kitten will proceed to exist: enable's desire so. Alberich

Answer 7

Hopefully Oliver is neutered. If not, then yes he may hurt her. If he is, he is just a grumpy old man. Keep an eye on them but it will probably be fine. Be sure Penny has plenty of toys so that Oliver's tail isn't her only pastime!

Answer 8

try 2 be with the cats when they're together so that your big cat won't hurt the little kitten. if the big cat does anything 2 the little cat , spray him with water or tap him on the nose. Trust me it works!!!!! And if it gets worse, put them in different places where they won't see each other.

Answer 9

The older cat may be establishing his dominancy or they may just be playing. If the kitten keeps on going back to play then they are fine. You probably shouldn't interfere unless one is injured.

Answer 10

Not likey. Even if you cat is aggressive, cats are in general, social animals. if he didnt attack the kitten when he first saw it, odds are he wont. that doesnt mean they won't fight somtimes, or get rough. But i doubt there is any danger.