I have four of my own, all obtained at different times and points in their lives (three as kittens --Jack six years ago, Sam five years ago and Pip two years ago–and Ms. Kate, four years ago as an adult). I’ve also had visiting adult cats from both Hallgirls–Hallgirl1’s three cats and Hallgirl2’s two cats (but not at the same time).
I guess mine are pretty laid back, because although there’s chasing, and wrestling (including puffs of fur all over the carpet when they’re finished–a very popular activity right after I’ve vacuumed), there’s never been any bloodshed. Every now and then, Ms. Kate tends to try to play with Pip, but when he joins in, she gets pissy and lots of tail swishing begins on her part until he wanders off with a “what did I do?” look. Overall, they tend to pretty much avoid her. If she’s sitting on the arm of my chair, none of the boys will attempt to join me. However, if one of the boys is in my lap, the arm of my chair, or between my feet on the recliner, the other two don’t hesitate to join me, even if it means they’re literally sitting on top of each other. (Why, yes, it does make it rather roasty-toasty under the blanket of cat bodies.)
The boys tend to play rough and hard–lots of thumping each other off furniture and onto their backs and “attacks” to the throat type of stuff–but never any growling or actual biting. Aside from Pip occasionally paying attention to Ms. Kate, the boys never mess with her–they won’t even snuggle with or groom her. The boys, though, I’ve seen all three of them squished into a single box together and they tend to have the occasional groom-fest between them.
I love having boys. They’re more affectionate and have more personality than any of the female cats I’ve ever had. They’re also more “attached” to me–will seek me out or come when I call them individually.
When I had two cats, they would fight about once a day. (Neutered female, neutered male, female about 4 years older than male and she was the Original Cat.) Usually it started as play, either mutual or as one of them wanting to play and the other wanting to be left the fuck alone. When they really got into it the dog would go in and break things up (yeah right, he was just trying to get some fun in himself and have a bark or two).
This usually happened around 2 am.
However, we lost one kitty, and now the remaining cat, who was more often the instigator of the play/fights, has been bereft ever since. But we figure he’s too old to get a new cat for him to boss around and fight with.
I think…they kind of like to fight.
When we had two that were introduced as kittens, they never really fought. When we had two introduced as they were older (one was four, and the other was eight) they never really got along. The older one didn’t really care, he just wanted food. The younger one was the one always starting fights.
We have five cats - two males and three females - that range in ages from 3 to 8 years. They don’t fight but there are the occasional hiss or swat if someone is feeling a bit cranky.
The Calico Monsters fight on a daily basis, but I think it’s more in play than a life-and-death struggle over territorial issues. I can usually tell how serious Charley is about it if she’s making her tribble-like skirling noise or if she’s doing the possessed-kitty deep growl. And Emily seems like she generally considers it playing unless Charley, who is older and bigger, gets too rough with her.
They were both kittens when I got them; Charley was a little over a year old when I brought Emily home last fall, and Em was about 5 months old then. Emily’s just over a year old now, and Charley is pushing 2.
One of my cats loves to fight. He will lie in wait for one of the other cats to walk around corner, then he’ll pounce on them. For him, I am almost certain it is all in fun, as he will later be seen grooming or sleeping with the very cat he picked a fight with earlier. But the other cats don’t seem to appreciate his brand of fun. I always break up the fights, but he is never discouraged. To humans, he is the sweetest most loving boy you can imagine.
Well, the cats are getting along nicely. My original cat, a female about a year and half old is playing with the new 1 year old male. The new 3 year old female mainly watches and/or ignores them. None of them seem to notice the dog’s existence. So far, I’m encouraged.
What’s really going to hurt is that in 2 years, I’m going to have to give the new cats back.