I have two seven-year-old cats who have been together their entire lives. They are both male and neutered and usually get along extremely well.
For the last few months one has been biting the neck of the other and holding him down, I realise this is dominance behaviour, but why after so many years? When will it stop? It looks terribly uncomfortable for the other cat and sometimes it makes him yowl. I put a stop to it when I see it, but I'm not around them all the time!
(To be honest I'm sick of the chorus of 'your cats are getting it on!' whenever it happens.)
2007-12-10 11:55:07 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Your cats are getting it.. ok, sorry, but it does look like it, you have to admit!
Our two older toms were buddies right up to about 10 years old, and then they started the same crap to the point I had to seperate them. I used to tell people they were like the two guys in "Grumpy Old Men" that had been friends so long they started being mean to each other?
Well, it finally stopped around 15 years old, and we lost them both this year at the age of 18. All I can tell you is "Boys will be Boys" and short of breaking them up, let them work it out.
2007-12-10 12:16:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have 3 female cats. I rescued the first two and they are sisters. They are very close and get along very well, though they do have there moments of "rough playing."
The 3rd cat came along about 9 months later. She is actually my sons' cat, she is about 5 years old (the kittens are just over a year) and a rescue as well. All the cats were spade before I brought them home.
It was a rough going for about a month or so, but they tolerate each other very well now. In fact, the older cat and one of the kittens (Bella is more assertive) actually get along quite well. They eat and play together daily.
For the last month or so, I have noticed the older cat biting the back of Bella's neck, who meows out and then I intervene, by separating them. I did not read any other comments about females doing this. I presume its a dominance thing?
Any other thoughts?
Thanks.
2016-11-09 03:19:04 · answer #2 · answered by Claire 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Biting and pawing are part of how cats play. Sometimes they take it a bit too far, and these are the times when you should step in with a firm "NO" and perhaps a squirt from a spray bottle. In nine cases out of ten this is harmless behavior. Unless your cats are in bad health I am sure the one being dominated is quite capable of defending himself, so you don't really need to worry about them hurting each other. If they start hissing and growling at each other you may have a more serious problem, and a trip to the vet may be in order.
2007-12-10 11:59:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
My mom's cats do that on and off (both males, brothers, about 10 years old now, neutered). I don't know that there is anything that you can do. I know that when she is home she sprays the bad one with a little vinegar water (which he hates) and that seems to have helped.. at little.... It turns out though, that the one that is getting bitten in front of my mom actually instigates things when it doesn't look like 'Mom' is around.. so I think the neck bitting is retribution. It's not going to kill your guys though. If they get along most of the time.. they are working things out.
Cats - their little personalities are sometimes not so little haha
2007-12-10 12:07:05 · answer #4 · answered by elementoflife 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hmm, I was looking for this answer too! I have three cats (2male 1 female) siblings almost 2 years old, and one of the male cats has started doing this to the other 2 cats just recently. The female cries out when he does it and the other male just cowers and looks scared.
2007-12-10 12:00:15 · answer #5 · answered by DisneyKrayzie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's to show the other kitty who's boss. It's completely normal. My neighbor's cats do that all the time.
Get yourself a water pistol and when ever they do it shot the one doing it.I have 15 cats take my word for it.Yeah it is a dominance thing--not a sex thing. They will do it all their lives.
2007-12-10 12:01:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Like you said, its dominance. Dominance is a never ending beast, both my dogs get into it all the time, and the bigger one always wins, the little one always loses. The bigger one steals the bones, the little one doesn't get any treats (but I give the other one treats in hiding so it works out alright)
You can separate them, scold them, throw them out, whatever, you just gotta let them do what they are gonna do. Like two little kids bickering, same principle.
2007-12-10 12:00:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well i have two male cats and they did that till i went and bought a stuffed animal for the one that was doing the biting,but before i gave it to him i rubbed it up against the other cat and wala ,he didnt do it anymore they are both nutred too
2007-12-10 12:01:45 · answer #8 · answered by froggylonglegs2000 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sounds to me like a mating thing...
its like puppies just because their testies haven't dropped doesn't mean they don't try to hump females...
it could be a domainace thing... but it wouldn't explain the 7 years of not doing it before...
a cat bites the neck of a female to mate with her... thats the only way they can because a cats penis has spines on it that stimulates the release of the egg...
Hope this helps
2007-12-10 12:01:20 · answer #9 · answered by Robert D 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's to show the other kitty who's boss. It's completely normal. My neighbor's cats do that all the time.
2007-12-10 12:00:41 · answer #10 · answered by sunshine_rainbow123 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋