kitten terrorizing disabled adult cat

Question
I have a 4 month old male healthy playful kitten and a 4 year old male cat who had knee surgury and dosent move around that well.  While trying to be playful, my kitten attacks my older cat, biting and grabing onto his head, kicking him.  He chases him around the house and away from the food bowls.  Im sure the kitten with grow out of this behavior but I know my adult cat is not letting the baby know when enough is enough, the adult only cries and whines then hides.  I separate them for a time out but this kitten is determined to chew on my cat.  What can I do to discourage this and protect my original baby?

Answer
Hi Alysson.  I know how extremely frustrating this is.  In fact, I had a kitten who picked on my cat constantly after she had her eye removed.  I gave him time-outs and kept them separated when I wasn't there to watch over them, but finally, I had to give the kitten to my mother, who had cats much bigger and tougher than the kitten, to put him in his place.  Even that didn't teach him much.

Unfortunately, there's very little you can do.  Being consistent with time-outs, and keeping them separated when you aren't there, may be beneficial.  However, I find that most of it just has to do with the kitten's maturing.  Cats aren't emotionally or behaviorally mature until about two years old.  My bully kitten is now 1 1/2 years old and has just recently started to behave.  I'm afraid that, for the most part, you'll just have to try to manage him through his kittenhood until he learns to relax on his own.  

It might be helpful to tucker him out by playing with him with feathers, ribbons, etc.  If he's tired, he won't be as likely to hop on your older kitty.  

If at all possible, I'd definitely recommend getting a second kitten, close to your kitten's age, to keep him company.  The two will most likely entertain each other and leave your older cat alone far the most part.