I have four indoor cats & 1 dog (not indoor!). Started with just me & prettycat, then we moved in with DP & adopted 2 brothers who were 4 months old. 5 months later minicat arrived at 6 weeks old & our cat family was complete.
Their dynamic is brilliant & very interesting. General they all get along - the brothers are obviously very close (with occasional rough play/falling outs), prettycat is the boss & the boys both adore her but minicat isn't her biggest fan. Although they do get along they avoid each other & sometimes chase each other around. Minicat has bonded so strongly to the boys that she has picked up their mannerisms & though she is a moggie she thinks she's the same pedigree as them. She is joined at the hip to one of the boys & prettycat is to the other.
There's a lot of snuggling, cleaning each other & playing but I do have one concern. The biggest of the brothers (who are ocicats so BIG cats!) occasionally randomly lashes out at minicat in a completely unprovoked attack & not in a playful way. He means to hurt her, & often does if we don't stop him soon enough. Minicat screams & there's fur flying everywhere (hers) & if she flees he chases her. We've scolded him for this behaviour & it seems to have lessened in frequency but still happens often enough to concern me - 1-3 times per week.
Should I be concerned? Is this normal? Does anyone else have multiple cats & similar occurrences? Any insight appreciated as no one I know has more than 2 cats!