Determining play fighting vs actual fighting in cats?

Sound like normal cat play to me.

Real fighting would include the cats rolled into a tight ball with each other with lots of intense growling, when they would break apart, they would still face off with alot of low deep growling, then one or both would attack and they would wrap up in the tangled ball again.

You will know the difference. You will see the violence.

Often my younger cats will pounce on another passing cat, they may roll around a bit, chase each other back and forth through the house, jumping too, sometimes a bit of low meowing.

Your cats may be each trying for the dominant/lead position. This usually only happens with 2 males.

Definitely get them neutered if they are not already.

Though they get on well, my two cats (male and female) used to wrestle and playfight all the time. Sometimes it looked like things were getting out of hand because the female would start hissing, but no sooner had they separated, than she would encourage him to start fighting again. Our female cat is the more dominant of the two and would often straddle our younger male cat as a way of showing she was in charge. The playfights were just a way for them to burn off excess energy, because since I moved from an apartment to a house and allow them to spend time outside during the day if they want, they no longer playfight at all.

Unless there are serious injuries or one of the cats starts acting withdrawn and begins to avoid the other one completely, then I don't think you have anything to worry about.

There's a little battle for dominance going on. If your cats' fur isn't fluffing hugely during the activity, then it is in the vein of two immature guys in their late teens and early 20s doing their "guy" thing. It is something they will grow out of, particularly once they both feel more settled and secure in their new environment.

ADDED: I've found it can take up to two months for cats to acclimate to each other. If you think there might be an issue (yeah, its fun until somebody pokes an eye out) separate them while at work if at all feasible, giving each one their own litter box for a while.

Usually you can tell. I've never owned a cat, but watch them closely. If they're hissing at each other, they're not playing. Also, look to see if the hair is standing on their backs. That could mean that they're taking a real aggressive stand. Also, of course if one is bleeding or comes up injured, you know it's for real.

It sounds like play fighting to me, have you ever watched growing kittens in a litter, they do it all the time and it looks really rough. With adult cats you can tell if it's serious fighting by their flattened ears,lashing tails, and angry yowls !

I wouldn't worry if I was you.

i've got presented numerous cats and that i've got constantly chanced on it somewhat is acceptable to maintain them aside for a pair days. the 1st day thoroughly seperate so the recent cat has of project to get used to you and their new homestead. the 2nd day i like to place the cats the place they'd see and scent one yet another yet no longer get to one yet another bodily. commencing the 0.33 day I enable them to roam freely decrease than my supervision and then placed them back to the place they'd't get at one yet another whilst i'm no longer homestead. whilst they are comfortable (interior of two days in my adventure) I enable them to roam freely. This has constantly labored splendidly for me/my cats. yet another project to attempt is Rescue therapy to calm them down whilst they are first presented (i chanced on it on the diet save). you need to use it for your self too once you're feeling frazzled with regard to the full difficulty. solid success!