My new 2 month old kitten beats my big adult cat! Please help!?

Question

I adopted a 2 months old kitten about 2 weeks ago, and hopefully he can be my 3 years old big cat's friend. I used the "door trick" and seprated them in the first week, then i started putting them in one room to see each other few hours a day.
My big cat is peaceful and gentle, so he wouldn't attack the new kitten. He only hisses when the kitten gets too close to him, but then the new kitten is getting very mean. That new kitten always tries to ambush big cat and chases big cat all over my apartment. Big cat does try to fight back some, but he really isn't so good at it. The new kitten just beats the big cat almost every time.
Although so far they two haven't used claws and tooth on each other too much(mostly just chasing), I am so worried my big cat would live unhappily with new kitten. I neither want to send the kitten away or have my big cat to be unhappy. If you know how to deal with this mean kitten, please help me!!

Answer 1

Your big cat could cream the little one if he wanted. He is being gentle and tolerant, but he is beyond the play age. He doesn't want to be a kitten sibling. He is very adult. So he is running. And he is tolerating the 'beatings' because the kitten is, well, a kitten, a fact of which he is well aware.

Each of your cats is acting perfectly his age, and neither is hurting the other. An 8-week-old kitten can't beat up anybody. He may jump on the big cat and bite him and growl, but this is PLAY. He would do the same thing to his mother if she were there, and your adult cat knows it. His running away just MIGHT be play back. When he turns and hisses at the kitten, though, he means business, and he is the one who could do the hurting.

This is in fact all very normal. You are upset because your cats aren't interacting as you imagined, but they really are okay.

You need to get a water pistol, and if somebody really gets out of line, you need to give them a brief toot. That will stop whatever is going on. And you need to spend quality time with BOTH cats individually, and then, together (try some catnip). If you heap attention on your newcomer, no matter how sweet and gentle the adult cat is, he will get miffed. My cat used to nail ME when I overdid on one of our foster kittens, but the kitten could be a little at risk as well. And since nighttime is cat activity time, and you are asleep and don't know what is going on, you may want to cage your kitten so he doesn't get into trouble when you can't intervene. But that is your judgment call.

But worry less, and get a book and read about cat behavior, or call your vet if you need to deepen your understanding or want more reassurance. Your cats are fine. Don't worry.

Answer 2

The kitten isn't being mean (especially not at 2 months old!), he's playing. They jump on and chase their litter mates till they're about 5 months old, so this is normal behavior. It lets them build up muscles and practice hunting techniques.

An older cat may or may not like it--if there's no screaming or hitting back, it's likely that your cat is grumpily accepting the play but isn't wanting to continue it but will put up with it. Any adult cat fed up with kitten antics will turn and clock him really hard between the ears as a big 'no'.

You didn't mention screaming or yelling, so I'd say just leave them to their actions, even if it does disgruntle the larger cat. The big guy isn't vexed enough to take things to the next level (whomping the kitten to say cut it out).

Answer 3

The kitten will probably mellow out some once he gets used to his new home and to your adult cat. Right now, he's staking a "turf claim" in your house, which means he'll be aggressive until he and your adult cat have things sorted out.

They may also be figuring out who gets to be top cat. One of the cats has to be the boss; that's just how it is. Your adult cat could just be the mellow type, while your kitten is more from the "alpha cat" mold.

That doesn't mean you need to feel sorry for your adult cat if the kitten comes out on top. The cats will get along better once the pecking order has been determined. For now, just give them time and space to settle things, and the cats will be fine.

Answer 4

Play with the new kitty to wear it out a lot more, and give it a 'time-out' when it starts acting like a meanie. You could also catch it and hiss at it when it's chasing the big cat to let him know you don't appreciate that.
That's why I always found adding an adult cat to be a lot easier than adding a kitten. At least than they're similar energy levels.

Answer 5

This may be because young kittens often play-fight with there mothers or siblings. Your cat could be taking on the instinct of motherhood and letting him do this. They are never aggressive when kittens do this. Always gentle.

Answer 6

The new cat is playing. Working on its skills.
chill out!!!