Older cat being too rough ?

[Mcameron]

Hopefully someone can give me some advice cause I'm a little worried. We got a lovely wee kitten who is about 11 weeks now but he's quite small. Our resident boy is a very large 5 year old who has always been very chilled out but seemed to want some company, so that's what we did! We've had the kitten for about 3 weeks now and they've had some rough playing, a little biting but nothing too major. The kitten often jumps on our 5 year old and can get a little relentless but we always make sure it never gets too far. Very recently though our 5 year old is tackling the kitten while they play and kicking him with his back legs. As he's so much bigger I worry that he'll hurt him. Is it aggressive or playful? There's never hissing or puffing of fur or claws. And if I'm honest even if our 5 year old makes the kitten squeal, the kitten always goes back for more! Does anyone have any advice?

[Lilith]

Hi and welcome

They sound to have settled together very well and if Kitten's going back for more I don't feel there's very much amiss. I used to breed cats and the way mothers would roughneck with their kittens was amazing. If you've any doubts it might be as well to separate them when you can't supervise them, until Kitten's got a bit heavier (which will happen in no time) but I reckon if Kitten's not squealing and is actively chasing Senior, it's ok. It's very good for kitten - teaches him valuable socialisation and to inhibit biting and clawing; I wish my older cats had been young enough to teach my youngest cat that.

Fusses to them and all the best

[Kay]

sound advice there from Lilith, as always - male cats would not normally interact with kittens - that is the mum cat's job - so your boy is on a bit of a learning curve, but it sounds from what you say that both of them are finding their 'sessions' more pleasure than pain, so I think you only need to intervene to the extent of checking the current physical imbalance between them, which time will sort eventually

[Mcameron]

Thanks so much for the advice, I feel much better about it all now