Willow's huffing and puffing....what does it mean?

[Tina B and crew]

I'm pretty good at reading cat language, but I can't remember just what mood or message is trying to be communicated by the huffing and puffing. Willow does it when she's posturing at Chunk. It almost reminds me of a tiger chuffing but it's more breathy. She's usually postured with her back hunched and her tail flicking when she does it, but not always...I know the tail means she's annoyed to a certain extent.

Speaking of tails....Tim and I were wondering if Willow's short tail makes it harder for her to communicate her mood to other cats.

Traci...I've been doing what you suggested, holding Chunk on my lap next to Willow and she does fine when I do that. In fact last night she decided his ears needed cleaning. She only started hissing when he turned over and started waving his paws to play with her. So I touched her head and said no and she quit. After that Chunk started getting too antsy and I took him away. I'm still noticing most of her hisses and growls in the morning. I wonder if she misses our quiet morning time that we use to have after Tim left for work. That was usually one of our play times. I've also noticed that she seems more hissy with him when it's just me here with them and Tim is gone.

[Traci]

Just to confirm, this is NOT after any exercise or activity, right? (no panting, actual breathing distress?)

I would wager a guess it is agitation/annoyance. Sometimes it is because they get carried away with play and suddenly revert their play behavior to asserting behavior, as if they are ready to pounce and attack (kicking and biting might occur with this assertion behavior in some cats, usually intact males or strays meeting other strays, establishing their territory - and females as well during normal play activity). The hunching of the back is to make them appear larger to the opponent. Sometimes their body is twisted sideways and their head does a "swivel" motion while staring at the other cat, ears are flattened.

In Willow's case, she might be telling Chunk, "I'm in control now", or, due to the fact she hasn't been around a young energetic kitten for awhile, she may be inadvertently playing too "rough" due to the excitement of the moment. You kind of have to observe both cats' behaviors during those moments in order to determine what the response is. Sometimes friendly play turns into rough play, and it is not necessarily a bad thing unless it is frequent or direct agression comes into play.

However, I rarely see huffing and puffing as you describe, so please make sure she isn't over-exerted or exhausted.

As for the shorter tail, possibly. Again, raising and arching the back and having the fur stand on end gives them the notion of being larger so she may be instinctively compensating for her shorter tail.

You could be right (and very observant!) about the morning routine and her seemingly needing her "quiet time" with you. Unfortunately, Chunk doesn't recognize that since he's so full of energy on a constant basis.

[Tina B and crew]

No it isn't after exertion or exercise. It's very directed. She can be sitting perfectly still and he can approach her and she will do it. Her ears are usually not flat but often to the side, an indication that she's annoyed. We still have hissing going on, I'm trying to persuade her to not hiss when he gets near her...they aren't ever very threatening though, it's just strange to see Willow act even remotely aggressive since she has always been so calm.

They do play kind of rough, most of their interaction is wrestling, but I have never heard either one cry out in any sort of distress. Chunk squeaks every once and a while but he almost always comes back for more. Willow never backs down, which is good because Chunk is starting to realize he might need to lay off after a while. I've not seen any sort of scratches on either of their noses, ears, lips. It's rough but playful and as Tim says, Chunk's a persistent little *bleep*

She is sharing the bed with him without much complain now. I've seen him sit behind her with his back touching her back and not heard her complain...so it's coming along. I'm still waiting to see a true bond between the two...no snuggles yet unless they are doing it when I'm not looking. I make sure I give Willow extra cuddle time before I open the door and let Chunk come romping in....she still doesn't want to share mommy though

[Tina B and crew]

Ok...I can't figure this cat out (Willow that is)

She's been hissy all morning into the early afternoon. Chunk would walk by and she would hiss. She just jumped down from her nap in the sunny spot and came into the living room..she see's Chunk and hisses, jumps up in the chair and immediately goes into the "play posture" where she's crouched down and ready to jump at him when he walks by. They are now wrestling in the floor and Willow's doing her "puff puff puff" thing again. It's so funny watching them do their acrobatics! The way Chunk flops around I'm afraid he's going to hurt himself...he's like a fish out of water!

One of our former foster cats, Cricket, does the hiss thing for no apparent reason. There is never any threat or aggression in it, she just hisses at random moments sometimes.

My guess with Willow is she wants to play on her terms and not on Chunk's terms.

[Traci]

Some cats just naturally hiss at other cats, not so much out of fear or agression, you could be right about Willow's hissing as a means to communicate to Chunk "on my terms". As long as they ARE playing, sharing the bed, etc, it sounds like everything is progressing as normal as can be.

Usually, when introductions don't go smoothly, you'll see withdrawal, fear of the other cat, changes in behavior and routine. Those instances are when the owner has to devote more time and work toward providing for the needs of both cats.

[Tina B and crew]

Update - I've noticed that Willow isn't doing the huffing and puffing as much the last few days, but then again it's been very cold and snowy and she's spent much of her time curled up on my lap or on the heated blanket. But when she does wrestle I haven't noticed it as much.

But, it seems we have another issue, and maybe it will work itself out. I've noticed that she has become a bit more hissy and growly in the last 2 days and seemed really grumpy with Chunk. I chalked it up to the cold weather and her extreme dislike of it. She never seems to be as happy when it's below 70 and it was -1 this morning (yes, in Virginia it was -1), so the floors were quite chilly. At anyway, to the point, I've caught Chunk twice this morning nudging toward her belly as if he wants to nurse. Both times she greeted his action with a pretty good hiss and a few really hard swats. Hopefully that will deter him but I'm wondering if this has been why she's so grumpy with him all along. Laura did tell me that he was still trying to nurse on Lyra before we took him. He was 12 weeks then so he's 14 weeks now so I don't think it was an issue of him being taken away too soon. I know Gizmo tried to nurse even when he was as big as Frodo Do you think this is going to be a problem or should I just let them sort it out. If I see him scootching toward her like that and am close enough I'll distract him, otherwise I let Willow handle it.

Otherwise they are doing great. Willow is really getting back to her normal self, it's just so weird to hear her hiss so much and to growl. She never did that even in her horrible confrontations with Gizmo! It's such a different side of my sweet Willow! Chunk is growing like a weed and we found he likes to eat snow that falls off our clothes when we come in (there are no chemicals on it, we don't use those unless it's straight ice outside) He really entertains himself well if I'm busy and can't play with him. I can see a very sweet temperament developing and hopefully Willow will start seeing that more.

[Tina B and crew]

I've noticed that since the "nursing" attempt this morning that Willow has been quite annoyed even at the sight of Chunk. Lots of growling and heavy hissing, even when he is minding his own business playing. There have been some not so nice glares coming from her as well. I'm so conflicted with this. At once she seems to be fine with his presence and then this. This is the worse growling I've seen the whole time he's been in the household.

[Traci]

It's probably nothing serious....just observe both of their behaviors, and try not to intervene unless Willow is overly agitated, otherwise yes, let them sort it out between them. She will teach Chunk that the nursing stage is over, even though Chunk may view it as a comfort measure. The fact that he tried, indicates that he respects her as a big sis or mom figure, so she has the advantage of "teaching" him what she considers manners.

And, cats can just have bad days too, give it a few days.

[Tina B and crew]

Thanks Traci...I've been snowed in for two days, I guess cabin fever is setting in. Willow's probably thinking "I wish they would leave so I could get back to playing with that cool new toy they brought me and quit pretending that I'm not happy!"

And as soon as I said something about Chunk's sweet temperament he tries to eat my research notes

I can tell that Chunk really wants Willow to be his companion, he tries to give her pressies and snuggle with her sometimes. He follows her wherever she goes, much to her dismay. I swear I'm like a paranoid new mother...strange because it's not like I haven't been around lots and lots of cats I am sure she is having a bad day, at -1 degrees this morning who wouldn't be! I know I wasn't too pleased with that temp on my thermometer! Now it's nice and sunny outside and I'm stuck here writing because I have to hand in a draft (albeit a very rough one) tomorrow and I want to have more than 20 pages out of 50 done...egads! No stress here

[Tambrey]

Can you give Chunk a blankie to "nurse" on....Monquie...the one I hand raised from about 4-hours old...will get ahold of ANY blankie that a dog or cat is not laying on and proceed to suck on it....knead it....and roll it underneath of him...it is like that is his own way of comforting himself...
He STILL has his stuffed "Brother" (the little stuffed bear) that I kept in his box when he was a baby!!

I should try to catch him on video sometime....it is really cute.....BTW...Monquie will be what....4 this summer?!