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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/1 year old cat biting 7 week old kitten
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Question
I have a 1 year old tabby cat named Dallas. The other day I brought home a 7 week old kitten. I am seperating the two cats while I'm not home. When I let them out together the older cat chases the kitten around and roughly bites the kitten on the neck and chest. The kitten doesn't seem to be hurt or cry, but it looks very rough. I'm not sure if this is normal or something I should be concerned about. Also sometimes the older cat is very calm around the kitten and just walks away from it. Any info on this would be extremely helpful.
Eric,
A 7 week old kitten is too young to be a playmate to a one year old. It cannot defend itself when the older cat plays rough.
You should also have 2 kittens. For one kitten, especially one that is so young, it is too frightening to be in a new place, see new people, new cats, etc. It is probably missing it's mom and littermates too and can get depressed. Having 2 kittens, they give each other comfort and they can play kitty games with each other and snuggle with each other for companionship.
A kitten should be left with it's mother until it is 8-12 weeks old. That is when the mother teaches the kittens 'life skills' and correct behavior.
Also is your 1 year old cat fixed? If not he may see the kitten as a 'sexual toy', hence the biting on the neck.
Tabbi
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Answers by Expert:
Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
Education/Credentials
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Awards and Honors
* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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