Is this play or aggression?

[u/Mirokaix]

I have recently introduced my kitten (4-months, F) and adult cat (7-years, F) and am not at the stage where they can be in the same room.

Over the past week their play has evolved to what looks like fighting. The video attached is an illustration of the wrestling that they have started to do. Is this normal?

The kitten will approach the adult when she is scratching or looking elsewhere. They typically part ways after a few seconds and then may re-engage a few minutes later.

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[u/fishArePeopletwo]

This looks like my cats currently. I think big cat is trying to set boundaries and is a bit upset. This doesn't look like normal play from the big cats side. Little cat is a kitten thinking absolutely everything is play.

Not a fight by any means, but I think big cat is irritated. Which is normal. Its normal for different energy levels to lead to stress between cats. give it time

[u/Mirokaix → u/fishArePeopletwo]

Thank you for your reply!

This is the first time I have introduced two cats so it is reassuring to know this somewhat okay. We'll make sure to give our adult cat places to go when she wants to be alone.

[u/Trock25]

Not an expert but my best guess is it’s play on the kittens part. As long as your older cat isn’t drawing blood and chasing down the kitten then they’re probably fine

[u/Mirokaix → u/Trock25]

Great, thank you!

[u/FallenTsar]

Big cat is teaching little cat what kind of play is ok

[u/ButterleafA]

looks like play to me. Exposed bellies, bigger cat giving the smaller cat breaks to run away.

[u/Excellent_Shallot999]

Play. A bit on the rough side, but they are playing.

[u/kxxr09]

Seems one would avoid the other if it were serious. It’s play.

[u/Lunettta]

Play. You will know if it's a fight. There will be tons of fur flying, hissing, screaming, and if that little one ran away, the big one would be on their tail the whole time until they crawled under something. Cat fights, and any animal fight, are pretty chaotic and fast.

[u/DireSquidmun]

Play for the little guy, a challenge of dominance for the big guy.

Nothing to be worried about though.

[u/SheGotGame0913]

Play. Trust me when I say u will know when its aggression. It would be super loud with a lot of yelling & hissing at each other. They'd move so fast you'd see a cartoon like fight blur instead of specific movements and there would be tufts of fur everywhere and guaranteed someone would come out bleeding.

[u/deliberatewellbeing]

rough play, big cat allows little cat to escape and take breather so it’s all good.

[u/International-Bid254]

It’s play.. have you never owned a cats before?

[u/Qirui1999]

This frome the 0:01 is the invitation for playing

[u/CompleteDeniability]

Looks a little aggressive to me