My tough little kitty

We've had new kitty neighbors for the past few months, and for the most part it has worked out okay. The girls are the shy ones, staying mostly inside, and the boys frowned at each other on the stairs, but learned to allow the other one to pass by.

Then Scotti (the neighbor kitty) began visiting our apartment. It became a fun part of his day, and he would sometimes meow at the door until I let him in.
Tabby and Sabrina tolerated this, but began to resent his purposeful friendliness to me - rubbing against my leg as he gave a pointed stare as if to say, "I'm adopting her."
Sabrina began to play a game of her own. If Scotti went onto the back porch, she would block the entry way as if to say, "So... how are you going to get back inside, buddy?" He would wait until she was preoccupied and then would scurry back in.

Lately Scotti decided that he wanted to be the "kitty in charge" in our apartment, but Tabby wasn't going for it. Once Scotti jumped on the couch, where Tabby was lounging, and gave him a pointed look. Tabby glanced up at me as if to say, "Can you please make him go away?"

I guess Tabby finally had it with Scotti trying to be "the big kitty on campus". I saw him lounge on the carpet in a relaxed fashion, and was curious that he would do that when Scotti was in the house. Typically he would sit up and keep watch, both boys keeping their distance but letting the other know that they were watching.

I walked in next room, and I guess Scotti must have challenged him. Suddenly fur was flying, and he and Tabby became this fast moving ball of fluff. It scared me, because Tabby is so little, and he doesn't weigh a lot. Scotti is younger, and twice his size. When I got the cats apart (which I know, could be dangerous) I was surprised to realize that Tabby was the one kicking Scotti's kitty butt. In fact, he lunged at him two more times, clearly angry at what he perceived to be the taking over of his territory.

Scotti quickly went outside as I opened the front door, and Tabby rested, breathing hard from his exertion. His orange and gray fluffies were scattered all over the living room where they had tumbled around.

The next day I saw Scotti sitting on his own mat, quite content to remain near his own door. Tabby seemed to want to avoid any further conflict as well, and stayed in the next day.

Then yesterday things seemed to go back to normal. Tabby went outside and down the steps, and Scotti ran over and looked at me as if to say, "He's outside... is it okay to come in?" I let him in and laughed, saying, "Sure, you can come in. As long as Sabrina is okay with that..."