11 week old kittens play-fighting but squealing a lot

[GlomOfNit]

Is this ok? They're brothers and have always been together, and they seem to love one another when they're not fighting - they mostly sleep wrapped around each other, a bit of mutual grooming (actually it's mostly the underling who grooms his brother).

I haven't had two kittens together before and while I know they're doing normal kitten play and it's good for their learning and socialisation, the play-fighting is getting quite vicious. One of the kittens is chunky and basically a solid slab of muscle, the other's like a delicate insect! The vet checked them out during their first jabs this week, said the difference in build was fine and often happens, and that they're both really healthy.

The little one screams and squeals when he inevitably gets bowled over by his chunky brother. His brother is very business-like and generally goes straight for the throat! They're not otherwise displaying any signs that their fights are real - they don't growl, their ears aren't back, they're not holding their bodies rigid or anything like that. But poor little under-cat is getting the worse of it. They do take it in turns to attack and chase, and the underling is quite often the aggressor and continues to goad his brother even when Chunky Cat is knackered and having a rest.

Do I worry about this? Underling cat is so delicate and lightweight, Chunky Cat is like a Sumo wrestler in comparison! Is there anything I can do about it? I think they'd be very unhappy separated.

Pic of when they're loved-up, for Kitten Tax. (Tabby is Underling Cat but closer to the camera.)

[GlomOfNit]

bump? squeal?

[Clarich007]

Hi
Your post made me smile as that's how my kittens were.
They were 2 girls though, 1 tiny and dainty, the other was a chonk.
In fact we thought she was a boy as she was so big
They did exactly the same, play fighting one minute, the next they were loved up and curled around each other
It sounded as if the littke one was being murdered every time, but she often instigated it and always came back for more.
As they grew up it was very obvious that littley was definitely in charge.They turned out to be two of the most loving cats I've ever been lucky enough to have.
I wouldn't worry, enjoy your kittens😸

[Clarich007]

PS your kittens are utterly gorgeous

[AnnaMagnani]

It's not always the fight winner thats in charge when they grow up. My little one is now the vicious territorial boss.

But yes that's normal kittens, enjoy it while it lasts.

[Octavia64]

Mine were like that. I have three.

I did intervene occasionally when it seemed to be getting a bit out of hand.

[TheLongRider]

The squealing is perfectly normal. It's their way of communicating that the wrestling has gone too far. Our current kitten takes on our bigger boys and even they hiss at her when she goes too far. Then they're playing again half an hour later.

We had one pair of kittens where the smaller one would start squealing before the other had even touched him! The other kitten would look at us as if to say, "He's crying wolf, I did nothing"!

[Dareisayiseethesunshine]

Liar liar fur on fire.. Those perfect angels don't put a paw wrong..... Or should that be purrfect?
My 2 from 2012..

[GlomOfNit]

thanks everyone!

I hoped as much, but the little one really IS a crybaby and the squeals seem to be getting more frequent. I hope it's just him finding his voice.

[Laurama91]

Can you make a space where the bigger one won't fit? We tried to rescue a kitten. He was 12 weeks but tiny and our boy was a year so a lot bigger. When he went too far the little one would squeal, retreat under the bed for a minute then back out to play. This was our size difference

[fieldsofbutterflies]

It's normal but I always intervene when it's getting too tough. It can also tip from normal to bullying quite quickly so you do need to make sure it's all evenly matched.

[GlomOfNit]

@Laurama91

Can you make a space where the bigger one won't fit? We tried to rescue a kitten. He was 12 weeks but tiny and our boy was a year so a lot bigger. When he went too far the little one would squeal, retreat under the bed for a minute then back out to play. This was our size difference

We don't have nearly that sort of size difference, sadly, otherwise I'd give it a try. They are 12 weeks old today - happy birthday, psycho-kitties!

[GlomOfNit]

update: the Wimpy Kid kitten has started squealing pre-emptively when the Chunk is about to launch himself at him. I note that he doesn't squeal before he himself launches an attack...

I think they're matched in terms of aggression and provocation and the Wimpy Kid does keep coming back for more, so for the moment I think we're ok.

[LammasEve]

Sounds quite normal, we find the one who squeals loudest here is either the one winning, or he started it and then squeaks when he can't get his own way.

I think I spend half my time telling one of them to stop trying to kill the other but they're best friends despite the noise!