Why do my cats play fight in front of me?

[Gingermum]

Stan and Bunty will often have a wrestling match but only when I'm there. There's a lot of grunting, rolling and pauses for a quick wash, but I've watched them carefully and there's no ear flattening or screeching so it's just play.

But why do they only do it in front of me? They have the run of the flat at night and never wrestle then.

Maybe they feel freer to have at each other if 'Mummy Cat' is there to step in and stop any serious roughhousing?

Stan and little Bunty terribly sweet... Maybe they are showing off their prowess.

Ah - showing off. Now there's a good explanation!

Another vote for showing off their MadSkillz.

Oh, and they're very prettyful and have excellent names.

Thank you for your input ladies. Cozie I never thought they might be showing off in front of me. RubbishMantra - alas, little Bunty has a heart of darkness. She shows me nowt but contempt and grumbles if I pick her up, but smarms up to my male next door neighbour!

How do you know they don't do it while your out?. I don't know what mine gets up to.

Other than attack toilet rolls, Fluffy. Other than attack toilet rolls.

PS - I think we need the pic.

Yep. Showing off for mummy. The 'stop & wash' bit is a clue. They're probably expecting critique & scores a la Strictly.

Ha! I'll sit there with a cats bum mouth and score card then, and try to get some decent photos.

Fluffy I know because at night they just curl up together. The flat is quite small so I'd hear them grunting and tumbling about if they were doing MadSkillz!

Or maybe they're attempting to entice you to join in the rufty-tufty cat happy-slapping? In a sort of "hey mum, look how fun this is!"

I was in when this happened. He's not allowed free run of the house when I'm out.

My childhood cats fought all night, we never heard it but you'd find tufts of fur everywhere the next morning. They were wildly mis-matched as foes but the female played dirty.

I love that picture!

That's because you don't live with him & that flick of the tail that says "fuck you mommy".

You wouldn't choose a bengal for a pet twice.

True. Neither do I know him well enough to tell whether that look on his face is guilt or temper at likely being stopped from finishing the toilet roll off.

Or a bit of both!