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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Cat Biting Other Cat
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Question
We have two kittens under a year that are a few months apart. The older kitten often stops to lick the other and then ends up biting out her fur and eating it. The younger kitten is usually sleeping or simply resting. They don't fight or hiss at each other and seem to otherwise get along just fine. Is this territorial, or playing, or just not socialized correctly.
Kylene,
You don't say if they are male or female but it sounds as if the older kitten is starting to behave in a sexual manner. When they just start to develop their hormones they get confused about what they should do about them. I would consider getting both of the kittens spayed or neutered if they are not. Kittens can be done early now. I had 2 kittens neutered at 11 weeks.
As long as the younger kitten allows the older kitten to act like that then I wouldn't worry too much. When it bothers her (?) or it is too rough for her she will let him (?) know it. Make sure you give the older kitten Petromalt (a tube of hairball passer), or put a small stripe of mayonnaise or butter down it's front paws to keep the cat from getting hairballs from ingesting the younger cats fur.
You may want to try to distract the older kitten when it starts to behave like that. You don't want to punish it because it's not really being a 'bad kitty', but get a toy (a pet laser light is an excellent distraction), or some food to get his mind off of munching on the littler kitten.
Tabbi
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Answers by Expert:
Dear Tabbi
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.
Experience
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).
Education/Credentials
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* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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