Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/male biting another males back

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 3/20/2009


Question
My 9 year old non-neutured cat is always trying to bite the back of my newly acquired 3 month old kitten.  He like to bite his back and try to hold him down.  This this normal behavior?

Answer
Tina,

I would get both cat fixed ASAP, or at least the kitten. It is a response that some cats have to sexual stimulation. Usually the cause for this behavior is that the cat smells a female in heat somewhere in the neighborhood (even if it is an inside cat) and reacts to it, or it could be that your young male is coming in heat and he is reacting to that.

When he does that don't get mad at him or scold him because it's nature and he doesn't understand what he is doing wrong. But also don't pet him because that can get him more stimulated. Try to distract him with food or toys. A pet laser light (from PetSmart, Petco, etc.) is an excellent distraction.
The behavior should stop when whatever is stimulating him stops.

He probably is also showing domination to the kitten, and making sure the kitten knows who is the head of the pecking order.

Watch that he doesn't get too rough with the kitten and accidently hurt him. I wouldn't let him alone with the kitten until you know the kitten will be OK with him.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

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Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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