The play mimics how cats will later pounce on, grab, and bite prey. If the older cat doesn’t wish to play, perhaps you can provide soft stroking for the older cat while dangling an interesting toy for the younger cat. This is helpful knowledge to have when determining whether an encounter is playful or aggressive. ", mention fit their actions. This is part of why cat playing often seems like fighting: the same skills and techniques are used for both. The closer they are to each other, the greater the chance of getting hurt. Play between two cats is a little harder to gauge because one cat may be in the mood to play and the other is not feeling it. Feline play aggression is a common complaint among cat lovers, but it doesn’t have to be. Why do cats bite when you play with them? Furthermore, notice biting habits to see if one is biting the other more often, which can indicate aggression. Stopping to groom is a diversionary tactic. Creatures of Habitat: Where Do Cats Live? We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Determine the difference between a true cat fight and play here. Sizing Up: How Big Do Cats Get? What does it mean when a cat hisses at you? On the other hand, rough play can be dangerous for you and your dog because it can lead to bites or other injuries to yourself or another pet. You’re a lot bigger and stronger than a cat, and if you’re moving with force there’s a good chance you could hurt one or both of the cats. By using our site, you agree to our, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f9\/Know-if-Cats-Are-Playing-or-Fighting-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Know-if-Cats-Are-Playing-or-Fighting-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f9\/Know-if-Cats-Are-Playing-or-Fighting-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid8800232-v4-728px-Know-if-Cats-Are-Playing-or-Fighting-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"