Play fighting or real fighting?

[Toddlerteaplease]

Cheddar is being quite aggressive to Penelope . She chases her around, not sure if that's play or not. But then she growls at and goes for her, she will sometimes back her into a corner.

Penelope doesn't seem hugely bothered by it, and is often lying on her side with her tummy exposed. I've put the pet remedy back on, and ordered some feliway friends. They will happily sleep close to each other on my bed. I'm a bit worried as they are going to the cattery in a few weeks and will share a large pen.

I've had Penelope six months. Something it would have settled by now. Although this is probably the first time, she's actually fully well. Given her ear and teeth issues.

Forgot pics. The first one was just after I'd broken up a punch up.

It sounds like play to me.

If it was silent I would think it was, but I read that noise indicates it's a real fight.

Cheddar is such a placid gentle and laid back cat, so this side of her has really surprised me.

But no actual biting/scratching/viciousness?

Chasing is normal but growling doesn't sound like play to me, neither does her backing the other cat up into a corner.

What's her body language like before and during the incidents? Ears and tail in particular?

Growling generally means a cat is scared, annoyed, angry or aggressive - it's not a sign of playfulness. Hissing and spitting also come under the same category.

I've never heard any of my cats hiss, spit or growl at each other during play - ever.

I have 3 young cats and one is twice the size of the other two, most of the time they get on well, eat and sleep, rest happily alongside one another but if the bigger cat wants to play and the other two dont, they will tell him, they can get quite vocal. I think they are asserting themselves. He allows them to pinch food from his bowl when he's eating, he is non aggressive.

Completely normal body language! I tell her to stop and she usually just wanders off, completely chilled out. It's odd.

Never seen her ears back or tail puffed up.

And it only ever happens upstairs, or on the stairs. Never downstairs.

Interesting. Isn't upstairs where you kept Penelope at first? I wonder whether it's Cheddar's way of asserting herself or trying to show that it's her space too?

Could Cheddar be getting a bit territorial now Penelope is well? So she's happy to share downstairs but is a bit less keen about upstairs and of course the stairs are an obvious advantage point for a stealth attack!

Rex used to get beaten up a bit by his (much smaller!) sister, including some growling and swiping, but then they'd snuggle up together. I think some cats just have that dynamic.

If they aren't taking chunks out of each other I'd not worry too much. Just warn the cattery and if it gets more serious when they are in one pen they might have to separate them for a bit.

@lifebeginsaftercoffee yes. Penelope was installed in the spare room. It took her a good couple of weeks to venture out. I tried to keep them separate, but Cheddar would manage to get in, when I went in.

Penelope's favourite place to sit is on the stairs. I really wish they'd tell
Me what is going on! Maybe I need. That cat communicator, I posted about.

None

Sounds like Cheddar is trying to make it clear that those areas are her domain now?

@lifebeginsaftercoffee yes. This is the first time she's been Queen Bee in her life. She was bullied in her previous home. And Magic was the boss until she died. Penelope is only 3 whereas Cheddar is 12/13. So I wonder if she's feeling a bit threatened by this tiny young upstart.

Mine beat each other up regularly-they are littermates.they do growl at each other, but if one of them yowls it seems to mean it's gone too far and they stop. Incidentally, I think that on your back is a dominant position for cats because it means you can use your big weapon-your back legs and claws.

I thought cats showing their tummies was more of a submissive pose as it's their most vulnerable spot.

@Toddlerteaplease yes, that's why I remember it-it seems counter intuitive. But if you think of the damage they can do with those powerful back legs and claws....

Showing their belly can mean all sorts - it can be a sign of trust but in a fight it can also mean "Go on, I dare you" - as in, "if you even attempt it, I'll mess you up", lol.

Well who knows what she means then. 🤔 they both seem happy and settled, so I'll not worry too much!

One of my girl cat growls and hisses both when definitely playing and when she's pissed off and telling the others she doesn't want to play.