Sorry another anxious mummy thread. I've had my boys just over a month and they are just under 8 months old I think. They are rescues and were trapped by cats protection as very poorly young kittens (but mum escaped) and their foster mum had the whole litter (4 of them) for about 6 months before they came to me.

Anyway they were re-homed with the 2 more boisterous cats together and I got the 2 timid boys.

When they first came kitten 1 (who their foster mum described as the baby) was very unsettled and nervous and it was clear that number 2 was the more brave brother and was top cat, kitten 2 would go into other rooms and kitten 1 would get really anxious if he wasn't there and call for his brother and if he wouldn't come back he would get worryingly distressed. Anyway, since they've come to me and kitten 1 has settled he's become far far bolder, he's the naughty one (his brother isn't shy really but he's just quieter and less playful) and also he's got massively bigger. When they came kitten 2 was a little bit bigger than him but now kitten 1 is far bigger, he's grown an unbelievable amount in a month i wonder if his brothers were all fed with him and he didn't get enough of his food.

Anyway kitten 1 has obviously decided he would like to be number 1 in all ways and I've noticed he's started to boss his brother around. They are quite playful anyway so I wouldn't intervene but I found blood on my bedroom carpet when I was hoovering yesterday and then realised that kitten 2 has a small bite on his neck and then last night when I was feeding them kitten 1 was guarding both bowls and hissing at his brother and poor kitten 2 couldn't get any dinner until I picked number 1 up, which did not make number 1 happy at all.

Do I just leave them to sort it out between them or is there something I can do. most of the time they seem good friends they are currently sat together in my windowsill, I'm just conscious that number 1 seems far happier now he's settled but it seems to be at the expense of kitten 2 which seems a shame.

I want two happy boys!!

I always intervene, if things start to look as thought it could get out of hand. tbh my Dog usually deals with these situation before I get a chance to.

I believe cats do have a heirarchy but it is more subtle than dogs. Sweep was top cat here until Bellini joined us then the roles switched and Bellini became top cat, only today I noticed he backed off while Sweep tried to eat his breakfast. As I have mentioned previously I intervene, I moved Sweep to his dish and allowed Bellini to eat from his own dish.

I fill all their dishes and put them out before I let the cats into the kitchen to eat. It just alleviates any possible problems.

I don't tolerate food possession either any growls and the food is removed usually its Duke's pieces of meat Sweep nicks and growls a warning to keep away, the little sod.