Desperate! My cat is terrorising my kitten!

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Hi everyone, I'm starting this new thread because I haven't been able to find any answers to my questions and the other topics didn't really fit my situation.

A year ago, I adopted my first cat, a female. She's a bit of a loner but she's always been very sweet and cuddly (when she's in the mood, haha!). I've obviously had her spayed!

A month ago, I adopted a new little female kitten at just six weeks old (I know, that's far too early, but the mother had abandoned them and the person giving her away just wanted rid of her).

Anyway, I followed all the advice I read to the letter!!!! I kept them separate from the start, leaving the kitten in my bedroom with everything she needed and giving the older cat the run of the house. I swapped their scents by stroking one after the other to transfer the smells, and then I swapped their towels to mix the scents further. I introduced the kitten to my first cat using a carrier; my adult cat hissed and growled when she saw the kitten, but that's normal enough at the beginning. After a week, I decided to let them be together (except at night, when I put the kitten back in my room just to be safe). It didn't go too badly; after two days, my adult cat stopped growling and they were even playing together!

But for the last two weeks, it's been an absolute nightmare and I don't know what to do. My cat chases the kitten constantly (who hasn't done anything to her), catches her, pins her to the floor, and bites her hard on the throat!! The kitten screams and it's terrifying. I’m scared she’s going to kill her, so I shout for her to let go, but she just does it again and it’s getting worse and worse!! I don’t have a life anymore because I can’t leave them alone together, and the kitten cries her eyes out if I shut her in the room for even five minutes!! I’m stuck. Any advice would be much appreciated in this situation 🤧

P.S. I tried a pheromone spray that cost me nearly £25 and, of course, it didn't work.

P.P.S. Sorry for any typos... I'm just not in the right headspace to check them.

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Every now and then, separate them for the sake of the little one... otherwise, play is really important, so... let them sort it out between themselves as long as it stays as mutual dominance play.

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Thanks for the reply and for your advice :) I didn't step in today and it was fine, it didn't really get out of hand.. The video I posted shows the absolute worst she gets, and it’s true that when I see she’s not stopping, I intervene by giving a loud "NO" or shouting "ROXY" (her name) just as firmly! I’m not sure what else to do because sometimes I feel like she’s going too far, but it’s hard to tell if she’s actually hurting him or not..

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Personally, I don’t think there’s any real danger; it’s still just play, but she’s got a real character and one day the tables might turn. They get on, but sometimes you have to separate the little one so she can get some rest; otherwise, just let them get used to each other. It’s nothing serious at all, it’s exactly the same with Jade and Jahel (my Siamese and Maine Coon). They can’t be separated because they’re always looking for each other—it’s a real love-hate relationship!
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    You need to keep an eye on things, but that doesn't mean constantly stepping in. You shouldn't do that, though you do need to establish some authority. As long as they aren't getting hurt and it looks like play, just let them get on with it; they're actually very good at gauging their own strength, even if it looks a bit cruel to us... nature will always take its course.

    You should try and explain this to your parents...

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    I'm not sure if anyone's already mentioned this (I haven't got time to read through the thread as I've got an appointment), but adult cats prefer kitten dry food because it's higher in meat content.

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    I've managed to upload it :) have a look further up, thanks!!

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    The video doesn't exist. That's what it says.
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    I've managed to film them!!!! I stopped the video because it was going too far; the kitten started hissing and screaming louder and louder and of course she just wouldn't stop!! Right now she’s just attacking him constantly even though the kitten isn't doing anything but staying quietly in his corner. I'm at my wits' end!!!!! I’ve done everything I can, I’m not sidelining her—I’m actually making more of a fuss of her than I did before. I’m so desperate!!! Let me know what you think.

    [youtube=http://youtu.be/pTSbtSoFUbI]

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    First of all, thank you so much for the replies. When I posted this message, I didn’t think people would take the time to help me, it’s lovely to see such solidarity :) Lucretia, you’re right, my kitten is two and a half months old. I feel like I’m seeing the same thing as you, but in my case, she doesn't lick the kitten at all and they don’t seem close, except for sometimes eating side-by-side and having a gentle sniff of each other. Of course, I spoke to my vet about it and he didn't seem to have a clue!!! I asked him if my cat could actually end up killing the kitten and he told me it happens but rarely (REALLY REASSURING, NOT). Then he sold me some Felifriend for about £24, which did absolutely nothing!!! It was after those failures that I posted here... I wish I could be like you and stop worrying!!! But I can’t manage it; I’m so scared she’s going to hurt her. I’d like to stop intervening, and I think I could do it, but the only problem is I’m still living with my parents and they step in a lot. They punish her, but I can see it has no impact and is completely useless. Anyway, your message is comforting and gives me hope!! I hope you're right and she's only doing it to "put her in her place" rather than to actually hurt her... Shanoa, it’s true that I’ve been wondering for a few days now if she’s really hurting her because, for a start, even after the "bites", the kitten goes back to my cat to play. Plus, I never see any injuries and her fur is never wet in the spots where my cat supposedly bit her! The thing is, I’ve never dealt with this before; it’s the first time I’ve had two cats at home, so I don't really have any experience to go on!! I wouldn't exactly call it a fight because the kitten will be playing quietly in her corner, then my cat comes over, flips her onto her back with her paws, pins her down and bites her until someone shouts. Next time (if I’m quick enough) I’ll film it and post it here so you can tell me what you think :) Thanks again, have a lovely evening fellow cat lovers! :D
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Are you sure your cat is actually attacking the kitten?

    I know when mine are playing, some kittens scream their heads off as if they're in ABSOLUTE agony when they aren't at all (sometimes they'd shriek even when my cat hadn't even touched them, believe it or not xD)

    Play fighting between cats can look pretty rough.

    I’d suggest filming it next time and showing us, because if you’re not used to it, it can be hard to tell the difference between a play-fight and a PROPER fight. In both cases, there’s swiping, biting, etc. — it’s just that one is much faster and more intense than the other.

    That said, if you’re certain it’s a real fight, I also think you shouldn’t step in unless you feel like someone’s going to get a claw in the eye... for that, you just need to grab a towel and throw it over the attacking cat.

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