Play Time with 2 Cats

[Sushi (GA 5/05-3/14)]

Hello!
Happy Mother's Day to all you Sugar Cat Mommas! :smile:

I have 2 cats; 1 sugar cat, a 7 year old male named Sushi and 1 civie, an 8 year old girl named Bella. I've had Sushi all his life (7 years), and I adopted Bella from a friend about 4 years ago. They tolerate each other. Sushi is very curious and outgoing; he will walk up to Bella and sniff her any chance he gets. He sticks a paw out every time she walks by. Bella really overreacts to Sushi. She growls, hisses and swats at him or just runs away any time he gets too close for comfort. Sushi doesn't really react to Bella's "attacks," if anything he will swat back a little bit. They don't really make contact when they swat at each other, so I thankfully don't have to worry about injuries or anything. At times Sushi does harass, stalk and chase Bella. Their relationship improves as time goes on (which has been fun to watch!), but I don't have hope that they'll ever be buds.
Because she's female, Bella is naturally more feisty. She came from a home where she basically hid from 2 large dogs the entire time, so it's been a process to get her to relax, gain confidence, and open up. Plus Sushi is very much an "alpha male," he's very territorial, outgoing and just the boss!

After 3+ years, Bella is finally to the point where she will play (yeayy!). But, Sushi being Sushi will eventually run in and join the play session. He's more confident, outgoing, and naturally more aggressive than Bella, and he's used to playing, so there are many times he takes over the time. I'm interested in the dynamics here, and I have questions:

• Is it okay to let them play "together?" I worry that play time is just one more thing they feel they have to compete over, and one more thing for them to be jealous of.
• Should I play with each of them in separate rooms?
• Is playing with them together going to make them closer?

Any insight to their relationship and play time would be appreciated!
:smile:

 

[nwnews]

HI Ashley - I've only ever had on pair of cats that were bonded and they were sisters. All my other cats came at varying times and while they have mostly peacefully coexisted thats about it - there was no bonding. I think you should play with the cats seperately giving each their own time and space. The two of them will work out their relationship in their own time. Jan

 

[Sushi (GA 5/05-3/14)]

Thanks Jan! : )

 

[mybuddybinks]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

OMG- I could spend hours relating the Saga of The Tortie Wars...
but I'll just sum it up for you-

Binks and I moved into my sister's house and adopted her two Tortie Females, who had lived here without humans for 6 years :shock:
It has been a constant battle...but we're coming up on two years together.
At first i separated them for feeding and play time...and sleep time was awful if we all slept in the same room.
But Binks is dying for a playmate- and in the last 6 months...i've been playing with him and the girls in the same room.
A couple weeks ago, my most playful Tortie got so excited when Binksy's playtime took too long that she played WITH him for the first time!!

We were all thrilled, except Annie- who was so embarrassed that she played with him that she ignored him for the next 2 days :lol: :lol:

Poor binks lost his Manxie buddy and his boxer buddy in the same week right before his Dx-
and he's really lonely- so my goal is to get them to play together

celi

 

[Sushi (GA 5/05-3/14)]

Celi!! :lol:
Poor Binks--he's like Sushi; not trying to cause any harm, they just want friends!
That's hilarious about Annie! Has she come around any in the past week?

So far I've continued to play with my 2 together, but I think I may try a little of both; playing with them separately too.
I bought a pack of mice this week and gave one to each cat, but of course Sushi thinks they're all his! :lol: Poor Bella!

...and :shock: 2 cats living without humans for 6 years?!