Conference misery::feline_v1

kittens are amazingly sturdy little critters once past infancy - and Stanley
is just getting to the safe age.  You should watch for any strange
symptoms that might indicate injury (limping, staggering, etc) but I'd
bet no real damage will occur.  If Stanley starts trying to avoid the
encounters with his big sister, then you might have to monitor the play
for awhile until he gets a little bigger....but, he runs right in and
asks for it, doesn't he?  They will know how to avoid hurting one another.
Hopefully, Stanley will figure out how to avoid running into walls after
awhile ("that hurts...I think I'll stop next time").

				D

    
    I agree with D...they are not stupid creatures (although may act
    it sometimes).
    
    Dillan and Sammie fight really hard and make all sorts of crying
    and growling noises but if one seems to be hurt they stop.  It's
    usually me that breaks them up cos I'm worried about them breaking
    some furniture...yes that rough!!!!  I also find great big clumps
    of fur all round the house from their play fights....but they are
    not bothered!!!!
    
    I would be a bit worried about him shaking his head when he crashes
    into walls...his judgement of distance may be a little out!!!
    
    Sharon
    

    
    Another thing to look for is lumps.  Mielikki had a lump and the
    vet said it was either a delayed reaction to a shot or a reaction
    to a cat bite.  Since she got shots a month ago and Ishtar always
    grabs her there, I don't know which one it was.
    
    

    Niniane is about 9 months and runs into things constantly.  She's
    just at that age when she doesn't look where she's going!  Usually
    if I see her take a particularly hard clunk, I go pick her up and
    comfort her, but mostly I just let her be.  One of the more amusing
    incidents I've had is with my stereo cabinet.  The door is glass
    and when I'm doing live taping I need to leave the door ajar.  Well, neither
    cat seems to see glass very well.  They came tearing around the corner 
    and...clunk, clunk....two Siamese heads came in contact with the door,
    the door slammed shut, the noise scared them silly and they both
    tore back into the basement, where indignity and embarassment kept
    them there for over an hour!  Neither one will go near the stereo
    now, preferring to give it a wide berth while walking through the
    living room.
    
    They're hardy little creatures, even if they get occasionally confused
    and bewildered! ;-)

    
    Rocco and T.C. also play *very* rough.  I'm always warning them
    that if they don't cool it, someone is going to get hurt.  Well
    they finally believe me.  They were chasing and tackling each other
    as usual and somehow T.C. ended up hitting his little head pretty
    hard on the corner of the stereo cabinet and cut it.  As soon
    as I had cleaned it off and kissed it better, they were right back
    at it.
    
    Just like kids ... they hear but they don't listen! 8^)
    
    Donna
    
    P.S. Rocco also ran head on into the glass stereo cabinet door.
         He was quite upset at me for making him look so stupid! 
    

    Those antics can bring about injuries.  Our cat Misty hit his head
    on the wall, (didn't make the corner) and parted the two layers
    of his ear. The vet tried drawing the fluid off, but it came right
    back so, he ended up cutting the ear through the two layers and
    putting stitches in from back to front, bending the ear back against
    the head and bandaging it with red non stick gauze and white adhesive
    tape so he looked like he had a football helmet on. We tried not
    to laugh in front of him but it was funny. Fortunately it did heal
    great. Sometimes in later years they turn cancerious. He 15 now
    and enjoying old age.
    
    So do take time to inspect those bumps and bruises.
    
    Barbara

    Re: glass
    
    Can't you put decals or some such on the glass?  There's always
    the chance that it might break....