So my pair have just been involved in what started out as an epic play fight that lasted for sooo long! Throwing each other around, somersaults, pinning each other down...really entertaining! Then for the first time in the year since I got them they started hissing. First Maasai....which shocked both of them, because then they both sat still next to each other looking a bit stunned, and a bit scared if Im honest. Then they started playing again, and Maasai went for it like Ive never seen him before. Spider is, very slightly, in charge usually I think now, but Maasai is bigger and stronger and I saw him properly pin Spider to the ground and bite him. Then Spider hissed! Both of them in the space of 10 minutes. I separated them for the first time since Ive had them. This is new territory. They are both behaving oddly now. Spider is at me like glue and Massai is parading around the room. I think I may have just seen the power shift between them.

Oh my. Be very careful with this situation, you don't want to end up with your home becoming a war zone! I was in that situation 6 months ago and it isn't pleasant...

Keep a very close eye on their body language. I went to a behaviourist who specialises in bengals and was told that sometimes what might look like play, really isn't. In fact I was told to assume nothing was play and break them up. They do play again now, every evening when I get home there is a game of chase and play fighting in the garden. If it seems to remotely get aggressive though I stop it.

Be very alert, Spider most likely won't take this power shift well and will want to regain his status, especially if Maasai is parading around like that!

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Clare
Hendrix and Jagger, Brown Marble Boys (born 18 August 2013)
Hampshire, UK

Thanks Tabitha. That is what I am concerned about. They made it through the night without killing each other thankfully and to be honest this morning they seem to have returned to normal, but their antics dont usually start until later in the day......Im keeping my fingers crossed it wasnt quite the pivotal moment it seemed. They have always been such good buddies until now!

I've got everything crossed for you too, but if you do get problems, it is fixable. It takes time but my two are friends again. They rarely sleep together now but each morning when they greet each other they groom each other and seek each other out to play etc. I often find them in the garden together too.

How old are they? If they're hitting social maturity (2y) you definitely need to be at high alert as apparently that is when you can get problems and that certainly is when things went awry here! I guess it's a bit of muscle flexing but it can become very stressful!

I'm happy to go through the treatment plan I was given by a cat behaviourist if need be.

Good luck!

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Clare
Hendrix and Jagger, Brown Marble Boys (born 18 August 2013)
Hampshire, UK

Thanks for that. Ill see how we get on, but may have to take you up on your offer! Even in the couple of hours since I last posted the tension has risen. It was wishful thinking they had gone back to normal. Definitely not a warzone type situation, but they have been sizing each other up and tail flicking for the last hour or so. A couple of tumbles, nothing like yesterday, but Maasai has been 'on top' both times, which is definitely a shift. I think he may be just be waking up to the fact that he has the advantage physically. Spider is so much more boisterous, but I guess that will only get him so far! Theyre 15 months old now, so probably it is time for adult dynamics to start kicking in like you say. Luckily I have a bit of time off atm to keep an eye on them

You didn't say how old your kitties are, but it definitely sounds like a power shift is going on. As Clare said, be very careful She went through this recently and I know it was not a pleasant experience for her. Supervise the kitties as much as you can, separate them if you have to leave. Things can get out of hand very easily and you have a severely injured kitty on your hands.

Things seemed to have settled somewhat today. Still a bit of rough and tumble, but they are sleeping together and I saw them grooming each other earlier. Hopefully it will turn out to be more of a slow burner as they get through their adolescence!

Kitties are fickle. Raiden, my bengal, will go nose to nose with the outdoor kitty I feed. They will sniff each other, etc. Other times, Raiden will try to aggressively go after that kitty and has viciously attacked him twice in the past year and, at times, wants to attack him while he's on a leash. I would love for these two to become friends. The black and white kitty wants to play with Raiden and he wants no part of it. I hope things continue to improve for your babies.

The rest of the day has been event free so I am quietly optimistic. Maybe because its the first time I saw real aggression between them I worried unnecessarily. The hissing was completely new to me though. Not just with Spider and Maasai, but none of my other cats have ever done it, and with bengals being renowned for being challenging as well. I will be keeping my eye on them and see how it goes. Maasai is definitely asserting himself more for sure, but hopefully it wont destoy the status quo as much as I thought it might!!

Thanks for the offer of teaching me those steps Clare, I really appreciate it, and will keep it on file just in case!! Lol