Hi Everyone

As some of you know I picked up my new kitten Rosso this week and have been taken introductions slowly with Mika

We are now at the stage where they allowed in the same room as each other and little Rosso seems completely unfazed by everything really, Mika on the other hand after initially being completely freaked out and refusing to come down from on top of the kitchen cabinets is now much more relaxed, but he still won't let the kitten out of his sight, he follows him everywhere, crouching down watching his every move, they have been playing tag, chasing around together, batting each other and I have been feeling quite pleased by how it is going as Rosso is completely holding his own...

But there has been a couple of occasions this morning that Mika has actually pinned him down and appears to be biting Rosso's tummy with a gutteral type moaning (I don't think he was actually biting him as Rosso wasn't crying) but it didn't seem very nice and freaked me out a little, I separated them into different rooms for a while and when I re-introduced and Rosso didn't seem scared at all just toddled back up to Mika and batted him on the nose and it all started again...

When does rough-housing turn into aggression? Am I being over protective? Do I let them get on with it or am I right to separate?

I have never had 2 cats before so am finding it hard to know where to draw the line

When my kittens play it always looks quite rough from a human point of view, but then the next minute they stop fighting and start grooming each other. Often one meows in a pitying way but the next minute they are in charge and the other is meowing so it all pretty false cries for help.

I think as long as they are not hissing at each other or don't have intimidated body language like ears pinned back then it is OK.

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But what about the pinning down and biting thing? Rosso is still so tiny (although he will probably grow to twice Mika's size so tables may turn ) How can I be sure he won't get hurt?

Mine are also doing very similar things to yours oliviarussian except with mine there is hissing, growling and ears pinned back... Hope we can get some good advice from the other members!!

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Yes they do this too. Sometimes they are on top of each other and it looks like they are biting/nipping the other one, but it is play biting not real. The next minute the other takes leads and does it. When I first saw it I did wonder, but kept an eye out for if there were mark/injury, and how they were with each other afterwards, but then realised they were just enjoying themselves.

If I stand near them and say "Boys?", they look up, separate and come over to me in a cutsie, butter wouldn't melt way. If it was true aggression they would just carry on.

I only tell them to cut it out if they insist on fighting around me and try and get me to join in. Chasing each other frantically on the back of the sofa by my head, and then falling over the sofa on to my feet whilst still fighting just doesn't do it for me

I am sure they think I am one of their litter as this morning my head was being groomed by Wilbur (yuk!, but nice)

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Mika is just letting Rosso know that she is still in charge My girls sleep cuddled up but still chase each other around like loonies and when Mai Tai has had enough Rosie gets a little smack or held down and bitten around the neck. She never even squeaks, as if she knows she's gone too far.
As long as there is no clear aggression - ears flat, growling and snarling - I'm sure Mika and Rosso are just establishing a pecking order.

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How we behave toward cats here below determines our status in heaven. - Robert A. Heinlein
http://www.lambchopsiamese.webs.com

We had the same thing with Kiki when Linus arrived. For about a week it seemed really aggressive - Kiki was constantly pouncing on Linus and attacking him and he wouldn't fight back. We were really worried it was too aggressive, but only separated them if it got really rough or he started squealing.

However after about a week, it suddenly changed and they both started chasing and pouncing on each other! It's now definitely play fighting and they regularly chase one another round the house causing complete chaos!