Panicking at cat behaviours

[Belepheron]

Resident cat appears to be playing with kitten. Or wants to eat it. I don't know any more.

But kitten is absolutely tiny - like a baby squirrel, frail, naff all fur, I mean small. Vet said looked like 6 weeks not 9, when she had her jabs.

So I'm so worried when he bundles her around and does that thing where she's on her back under his body. My stress is through the roof.

I have the opportunity to "lodge" her at my DPs for a few weeks - would it be fairer all round to let her grow bigger and older before reintroducing them?

I'm trying to attach a photo

Can you separate them within your own house? The problem with taking the kitten away and then bringing her back later is that she'll smell different and your cat might be hostile to her.

When you went to pick the kitten up did it's condition not concern you? 6 weeks is far too early to be away from its mother. The kitten will let you know if it's distressed by what the older cat is doing to it

You need to separate them now, the kitten is far too young for this kind of rough play and the older cat could, and it has happened before, kill the kitten.
What are you thinking?

A dog crate for the kitten quick. With a cosy bed, food, water and a litter tray. Even fully grown cats and new kittens need time apart. If you don’t have a dog crate, put one of them, in your cat basket whilst you get one.

Kitten is definitely 9 weeks as was part of a litter I saw at 2 weeks. She's the runt and was then too.

I've been separating them. She has her own room and comes out three times a day.

She chases resident cat, too. Seems fascinated not scared by him. She has plenty of places to hide or climb. Even when she hides momentarily she pops out again and prances up to him. There are quiet times too when they both potter about.

If I give up on this, should I give her back to the breeder who will a) crate her and b) sell her again ie make loads more money from breeding kittens? I don't know what to do for the best. That's why I thought foster at DPs then try again here when she's bigger.

I feel terrible. Honestly thought I was doing an ok thing.

Does she squeal when he pins her down? Kittens play unbelievably roughly with each other and mum cats are sometimes quite “firm” when they are fed up of their kittens. When things go too far kittens will squeal to let each other know. If she’s going back for more I wouldn’t worry, a frightened kitten would be hiding.

It take at least 6 weeks and in my experience more like 6 months before you can leave them out together all day. They will still roll round together and chase each other but at least they’ll be similar sizes.
We had two for years (current cat has only ever been an only) and they ate together and curled up together and at 2am most mornings had a play fight on the landing.

You can buy kitten play pens but they'd have to have an enclosed roof to stop bigger cat jumping in.

She has squeaked twice and he let her go, she ran off after a second on her back legs in the air, then he chased her and did it again. Then he'll stop abs simply watch her as she potters about. She has chased him too.

My concern is she's too small. I wish I could post a photo. Will try via laptop

Buy a play pen for the kitten from Amazon, get all her stuff in there and let the older cat come up to the pen and sniff through. It's all about gradual introductions OP. This will take several weeks. Do not let them play rough, the kitten is too small for this.

I wouldn’t worry, cat play is rough but he won’t kill her.

Need a pic ! Sounds like normal cat play but obviously if it goes to far separate them

Pic attempt again

Does sound like normal cat play - our kitten was tiny compared to fat resident cat. As long as the bigger cat lets him go when he squeaks then it's fine

Sounds normal to me. My kitten was tiny when we had her an my big ginger tom (and I mean massive) used to throw her around.

My kitten absolutely adored playing rough with my bigger cat. He loved her most of the time. It sounds like normal cat play, but just keep an eye on them.

Normal cat and kitten behaviour. If big cat is respecting the kitten's squeaks and you can see that he's not hurting her, it'll be fine. Pictures of my 9 week old kitten when we first got him with bigger older cat. They're best mates now but they rough fight all the time, no claws but some nipping. If it gets too much they part and are tussling again 5 minutes later.

Big cat is probably being careful enough of the kitten and if they are willing seeking each other out I'd leave them to it.

Earlier photo didn't attach.

Those are reassuring photos and stories thanks all. I spoke to my wonderful cat sitter who basically told me they are CATS not children, cats play rough, resident cat is being all cock of the walk and showing her whose boss, she's being a sassy madam prancing up to him ie not scared of him, and I'm to stop being neurotic and stressed. She said if there was growling and hissing, she's be concerned. But there isn't.

So I'm feeling a whole lot better. They had ages today just pootlong around then some chasing then he got cross if his tail wagging was anything to go by, and he wrestled her to the ground very firmly until she squealed then he let her go. At that point I put her to bed.

Enjoy them! She has to learn who's boss and he has to learn that kittens can be a pain in the arse!

Mine likes playing with the kitten but there are times when he just wants to head outside away from the kitten. He mews despairingly at the door and basically needs a fag and coffee break.

Cats

OK so that is a seriously cute kitten! And those paws are so floofy!

The photos were worth the wait.

@TheLongRider that describes life here to a T. He's a cat who never showed off before, being runty and kinda funny looking himself, so he's like "oh man, the kitten, I tell you, it's a responsibility - I gotta show her how to hang upside down on one claw from the top shelf, I gotta keep her off my afternoon sleeping spot, she's always in my food bowl, I just gotta put her in her place ya know, like slam dunk you are daw-nn lil kitty, eat my chest fur ya lil squeakhead." And then he looks at me and says "I'm stressing out here mum, let's you and me go out and pee in the garden like old times."