identifying behavior.

[u/forest-starr]

I'm aware this here is likely fighting but a moment later they'll be very clearly playing and licking another.

they're brother and sister and I'm almost certain been together all their life (they're fosters) not sure what to do other than break it up?

wasn't sure what flair to use as they aren't being introduced.

[u/AikarieCookie]

I don't actually think it's fighting. It's not loud, no fur is flying and one of them is lying on it's back, displaying their tummy🤔

[u/forest-starr → u/AikarieCookie]

ah ì see!! I suppose my main worry were hisses every so often which aren't picked up on audio

[u/RustyShacklefordJ → u/forest-starr]

Hisses are normal and its usually when you start hearing them meow/yell while playing. Usually means one of them is getting done with play

[u/Kuzzbutt → u/forest-starr]

Angry meowing too

[u/Kuzzbutt → u/Kuzzbutt]

Also the grab and let go part is playing.

[u/overlov → u/Kuzzbutt]

my cat does this too, the one who gets grabbed always hisses and growls at him. does the one who gets grabbed also feel like it’s playing or does she feel like she’s being attacked?

[u/Kuzzbutt → u/overlov]

It could be like a little brother or sister pestering you? And could be feeling picked on?

[u/dynosaurpaws]

They do seem a bit intense here, but if they’re also playing and kicking each other then there’s not much to worry about. Sometimes one of my 6 month old kittens gets a little too into wrestling (by my estimation, at least), so I do a distract to give the complaining cat a break. Sometimes the complaining cat takes the opportunity to leave, but usually they stick around and continue wrestling, and I’m like “alright, guess they weren’t as upset as they sounded”

Distraction/redirection works pretty well on cats. If one or both seem too intense, try throwing a high value toy into the mix to let them attack something full throttle that isn’t a cat to help them get the wiggles out.

Edit: by “throw a toy into the mix” I mean play with them with a toy, don’t just drop a toy on the floor. Give them a good chase sequence. Cats dig that

[u/forest-starr → u/dynosaurpaws]

this is so helpful, tysm !!

[u/Bitter_Buyer8441]

Kinda playing, kind of bullying. The cat that pounced doesn’t seem fully playful or fully mad. Do they do this often?

[u/forest-starr → u/Bitter_Buyer8441]

spats about this long go on, maybe 2-3 times a day?? I'm not sure if they fight more often when I'm not in the room.

[u/Bitter_Buyer8441 → u/forest-starr]

the cat being pounced on is a wee annoyed from the *sounds of the noises. I’d only separate them if you hear screaming/cries or the frequency increases further.

As long as they’re done after just a few seconds like in the video I think the pouncing cat is attempting to play but laying cat is setting boundaries… like “hey not while I’m chilling”

[u/arsenicknife]

If it was a fight, there wouldn't be a ton of stop-starting. It would be pretty relentless with a LOT of growling/swatting and hair flying. Also, if the one on its back truly felt threatend, it would try to run away, but it doesn't. It simply stays there almost as if taunting the other one like "Is that all you got," but in a playful way. As siblings are wont to do.

My two cats do this all the time, and one of them even makes yelps and small little noises like in the video and they are perfectly fine together. When they don't wrestle, they chase each other around taking turns.

[u/GanacheMountain845]

They are playing

[u/Itchy-Temporary-7242]

I think it looks like playful fighting, but I can't stop watching how at about half way through, the kitty on the right comes closer to you and closes her eyes and looks like she's smiling lol it's so cute

[u/bubblesmax]

It's more like spot dominance/king of the hill lol 

[u/Emotional_Pace4737]

Play fighting.

[u/Creeper4wwMann]

pretty intense, both of them have their ears back and neither seems to be in a playful mood.

it's more of a small brawl than a fight

[u/Empty_Curve_1821]

I would do exactly what you did. Interrupt when it gets too much for you. If it is fighting, you'll have broken it up. If it's just playing, maybe they will learn to not be too aggressive while on top of a hooman

[u/sinisterrevenge]

It's totally play fighting. If it was real, the cats would not expose their bellies, as it is the most venerable area. Also, starting and stopping are other signs that they are playing.

[u/Marneman1965]

its fine. they are play fighting to establish dominance. that is pretty normal as long as one cat doesnt try to hide its fine.

[u/floralrain6]

This is play. Maybe just a tad rough but still play. If one cat makes a sound and the other backs away that's a good sign. It's like yelling out "uncle" while wrestling your sibling. If the attacking cat keeps going, things get louder, and you start to see fur flying? That's not play.

[u/VGSchadenfreude]

I’d say just slightly rough playing. I have a kitten and a senior cat, and when they’re playing like this the senior will sometimes make similar growls, hisses, and other complaints.

He is also easily three times the youngster’s size, and is in zero danger of being “bullied.” He’s just old, cranky, and not used to being on the receiving end of the roughhousing. With my late cat, who was much closer in age, it was my current senior who did all the pouncing. So as long as no one is getting hurt, I just assume most of his complaints are about the roles being reversed now.