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.

Both Girlcat & Boycat, and now Girlcat & Tobias, had/have what seems outwardly to be massive punch ups, but I'll find them happily settled down afterwards on the same bed. They seem to take turns in who is the aggressor, but I've never yet seen Girlcat be the one to stop first or submit.

I go by the rule that if there's no hissing, screaming or blood, it's play. Growling is definitely something Tobias does during play, including when he is killing his Molly's Mice or similar toys.

I wonder if Cheddar thinks Penelope is still a kitten who needs to be taught how to behave. She was tiny when she arrived. She's a bit bigger now, but still not 2.5kg

They're so hard to fathom!! Girlcat 2 gets on great with new Boycat, and they wrestle and chase each other. Girlcat squeals the odd time, but Boycat is very rough! I have the scratches on my hand to prove it lol, because when I pet him he goes for my hands/arms, biting and scratching, just in play but it hurts! 'No' doesn't seem to be in his vocabulary! But he's only here 10 weeks and he's a big placid dote otherwise, and she gives as good as she gets!

Girlcat 2 does the showing her belly/rolling thing to Girlcat 1. It's very much, "I dare you!" There has been aggression between the two of them. We think #1 wants to be friends with #2 and she's just not having it! Particularly since we got #3, when there were a few days of her growling at him and then she realised he's not a threat and they've got on great since!

I'd say maybe separate them in the cattery but then that might create bigger problems when they're back home? I don't think I will use a cattery (though I did have the intention too) - I think I will get someone to come to the house. I haven't been away since we got them when there hasn't been someone at home.

They're spoilt too as there's mostly someone home, so that might be a problem too!

Well, this morning they were both snuggled up right next to each other under my arm. So cute. Cheddar had her paw on Pen's. And lots of burying her face in Pen's fur.
I prefer to had them in a cattery if I'm away for more than two nights. The cattery they go to is excellent and the pens are really big.

That's so sweet! None of mine do that, yet anyway.

I've never used a cattery so I'm a bit nervous of trying one!