Brother and Sister roughhousing too much
They’re from the same litter and have always lived together. They’re turning 3 in a couple months. No major changes except for moving from the studio downstairs to the 1-bedroom unit right above. It’s been nearly a year and they have since adjusted. They used to get pretty regular outdoor time, but I’ve been more restrictive lately for safety reasons.
TLDR: I’ve read about how cats play. This pattern seems more aggressive; most notably, he doesn’t respect her boundaries and stop playing/let her go when she wants to quit. This dynamic between them seemed to arise out of nowhere. I still offer playtime and puzzles. (They don’t always want that, as they’d much rather be outside). How do I properly address the issue without causing her more stress?
For greater context:
He is twice the size and weight as her. He’s the one to typically start play-fights, but does not always let her go when it’s too much. I’ve seen her dive under furniture for reprieve after getting surprise attacked.
When she hisses, he doesn’t get the hint to stop. Just this morning, he had her cornered behind the door. She was hissing and I could hear them swatting at each other. Only after I got up did he give her some space and she scurried away.
She still does initiate playtime, but it escalates quickly and she often runs away soon after. He’ll typically run after her too. Again, he doesn’t seem to be respecting her boundaries.
I offer playtime and puzzles. He is more affectionate and likes to be close, so he does get more cuddle time. She tends to like some distance and likes to be in her usual spots on the tower, lounge, or window perch. I do give her attention when I can and if she wants it (and I cherish the brief moments she’ll sit in my lap before abruptly moving on to one of her regular spots).
Any advice is greatly appreciated!