Worried about swiping.

[Hippykitty]

Pairs of cats almost always play fight. My attitude is that it's wise to let them practise on each other so that when they meet a real enemy, they'll know how to stick up for themselves.

[Leanne]

I read that unless it is a real fight. It's best to let them sort out their issues as stopping them will just frustrate them and can make things worse.

Exactly what I think now too Mark (I think you calmed my nerves when Milo first arrived by saying that as well)

[Sheli_80]

The main issue really is that Charley loves to play and keeps pouncing, Henry is not so kean his favourite pastimes are eating and sleeping he does have a hernia which means it must hurt if Charley gets him in the sore bit. Trying to convince OH that Charley needs a playmate but unsure as Henry might end up with 2 playful boys pestering him.

[Mark]

I read that unless it is a real fight. It's best to let them sort out their issues as stopping them will just frustrate them and can make things worse.

[Leanne]

Jess and Milo play fight all the time, if Jess hisses then Milo will stay away (this has only happened a handful of times in 3 months), there is alot of batting with paws and pinning down and kicking but I feel they are just playing, sometimes my Hubby gets a bit upset by it and tries to break them up I tell him to leave them to it, I think Milo is just being a kitten and playing and Jess is being the boss and telling Milo that.

I don't think we've ever had a full on cat fight, but sometimes its hard to know what to worry about

[Mark]

2 of my 4 bat each other if one passes too close - I guess it's just a cat thing 

We often have the "checkmate" situation when one wants to come in the back door and another wants to go out 

[Sheli_80]

I'll try not to worry but to quote OH "if you had nothing to worry about you would worry things were going too well".

Trying to look at it as friendly warnings, each cat seems to have alocated a section of house, Charley has bedroom and Henry has the chair and behind the sofa (I didn't alocate this just thier favourite places) and Charley will swipe henry if he goes in room and vice versa or I'm petting one and the other comes along.

Thanks for advice :D

[Mark]

It sounds like he is just a dominant cat. If it isn't turning into a full blown fight, I don't think there is much to worry about. The fact that Henry is coming back for more seems like he isn't too bothered. If it was genuine aggression. They would probably call at each other and they would have bushy tails with one of them moving away slowly. I wouldn't intervene and would just let them get on with it.

[Sheli_80]

I've had my 2 cats for 6 weeks. We brought them home at same time from different foster homes and weren't worried about them because we had seen them surrounded by other cats. At first Henry (14) hissed at Charley (4) and made him run away after a week or so this died down and they could stand each other. Then Charley got brave and wanted to play so he would pounce on Henry to play fight which Henry did not like and the hissing resumed. I made a post about it and was advised to play with him more and it seemed to work but Charley's favourite target is always Henry. Now Henry has started swiping Charley with his paw as well as hissing and today Charley started to whack him on the head with his paw. Charley has no fear and doesn't know when to stay away, I've watched him run in fear only to about turn and run right back.

My OH tells me it will get better but so far it only seems to be getting worse and I'm worried they will escalate into proper fighting. Both cats are neutered and when apart are the most loving affectionate cats it's just when they get together.

I'm probably worrying too much but any advice on anything I can do would be great.