Growling kitten

**H&SWells** · 26th July 2011, 07:28 AM

in an attempt to keep the two monsters entertained yesterday i brought out a couple of new toys. Eric, the red immediately took charge of a fur ball and spent the next ten minutes walking around with it in his mouth growling..... thought that this might be a one off so took it out again last night and same thing happened. OH insisted i took it off him, bit of a battle ensued. My question is should this toy be banned, which is my OH opinion, or should i just try to find another one so that Ernie doesnt feel left out ? Is this normal behaviour or could this toy become an obsession with him.

**Peter Galbavy** · 26th July 2011, 08:45 AM

Leo does this and I find it the cutest thing in the world. He is never overtly aggressive when he does this (with feather toys) but occasionally he hisses when playing and that's a "calm down" point. The growling is just an announcement to the world "me! me! mine! me!" ... and is adorable IMHO.

Ooh, I forgot, here's a video of him doing it - but hard to hear with the crappy mic on the phone that recorded it:

**Howlinbob** · 26th July 2011, 09:52 AM

I have never had growling cats before, and it was quite a surprise when they first did it as kittens. As Peter says, when they growl they are saying 'don't even think about taking this off me, it's MINE!!' I agree, it is completely charming. When they were younger they would growl at each other over toys or titbits of food, and it was always the cue for a wild game and struggle for possession. All healthy competitive stuff IMO. Now they're older they don't growl as often - only sometimes over a tasty morsel of food if they're really hungry. It never gets out of hand and it's all part of the entertainment they are constantly laying on for us!

**StraD** · 26th July 2011, 10:08 AM

I've never had a growling kitty, but this thread kind of reminded me of this:

**missye87** · 26th July 2011, 01:01 PM

Benji doesn't growl neither does Storm, but Storm warns Benji off by pushing out air through his nose which makes a similar noise to hissing, but isn't a full on hiss. Quite funny to hear and only really happens when there is a bit of meat around :D

**Steve Morgan** · 26th July 2011, 01:24 PM

Our only "growler" is Tia and she only does this when she is eating, as if to warn the other off her food.

Raggles makes all sorts of noises, including snorting down his nose!! But no growling "like" noises.

**Carol ann** · 26th July 2011, 01:52 PM

Personally I would buy another one, but saying that, you might find your growler tries to pick both up at the same time.
My guys have been heard to grumble when they are carrying raw chick wings around, then they throw them in the air catch them before they land ,and so the game goes on, I suppose they are playing out what they would do with prey.

**Howlinbob** · 26th July 2011, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by Carol ann

Personally I would buy another one

Another coonie??? hehehe!

**Stacey** · 26th July 2011, 05:20 PM

Teddy purrs ridiculously loudly sometimes when he has a toy - I guess it does kind of sound like growling! He does it when he eats too...and when he wants to wake us up.

**Rachel-C** · 27th July 2011, 04:08 PM

When he was a kitten Monty had a silver glittery mouse that he'd always growl over once it was in his paws - I thought it was so darn cute! Sadly, he seems to have grown out of it now but it was funny at the time