OK, out of curiosity,
I have two male fixed indoor only 1 year old cats. They rarely get in
serious fights (I think) but they do tend to play fight a bit, which
usually ends with my smaller cat holding his ground while my larger cat
runs away.
The only time i see them mutually grooming is before a fight. Usually,
while one is sleeping, the other comes over and starts licking, and the
other starts licking back. But after a minute or so, one starts biting,
then the other starts biting, until finally there is some growling in
pain because one is biting too hard. Eventually they are swatting and
chasing each other.
So my question is - why do they groom each other if it always ends in
fighting? Is it possible for them to groom without fighting? Do they
"like" each other? Thanks!
Jason James - 09 Jan 2006 18:03 GMT
> OK, out of curiosity,
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> fighting? Is it possible for them to groom without fighting? Do they
> "like" each other? Thanks!
We have the same situation, tho they only do it very occasionally now. At
first I had to separate them (in fact I put the stray outside until
meal-timees for a few weeks),.after a few weeks they learnt to tolerate each
other,...most of the time.
We are after-all talking about 2 males who have not grown-up together. I
think its virtually normal behaviour at first, based on territory and stuff.
Jason
John - 09 Jan 2006 20:45 GMT
>OK, out of curiosity,
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>fighting? Is it possible for them to groom without fighting? Do they
>"like" each other? Thanks!
It seems like natural cat behaviour to me. They are just play fighting
and signs of affection.
My sisters cat (before she split with ex-bf) was living with a young
but large Rottweiler and a Rabbit. The Cat often play fighting with
the Rottweiler despite being much smaller. He often used to ambush him
and jump on his head as well as punch him with his paw and jump on him
when he was sleeping.
Because he grew up with a Rottweiler pretty much as both his Mum and
Dad he has a very unique and strange personality. He often used to
chase other large dogs in the area away because they knew he was
associated with this Rottweiler that was the dominant dog in the area
(yet still a big softie for this type of dog). Dogs would run a mile
when they saw our cat.
Since he moved back in with us another cat in the area that is very
small has been bullying him and chasing him, and he is a very big cat
now. It is really strange how things work out. Cat relationships are
very complex. For those who don't have cats confined indoors they
would be surprised by who their cat stalks and chases and who he gets
chased by outside, and also who they become affectionate with.
Your cats I think it is simply play fighting. If it was real fighting
you'd soon know about it ;) I don't think you have anything to worry
about.
John
CatDude - 14 Jan 2006 05:52 GMT
> So my question is - why do they groom each other if it always ends in
> fighting? Is it possible for them to groom without fighting? Do they
> "like" each other? Thanks!
They have a love/hate relationship. It is possible they are homosexual.
Captain America - 23 Jan 2006 21:01 GMT
> OK, out of curiosity,
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> fighting? Is it possible for them to groom without fighting? Do they
> "like" each other? Thanks!
They are one-year old males. Computed to human years, about 16. Watch a
group of 16-year old boys for a while and then go watch your cats.
Does that answer your question?
--Catmandu
Pat in Atlanta - 24 Jan 2006 16:37 GMT
In my opinion, and I've had cats for 60 years, there are some that are more
aggressive than others. At this time I have a male that licks the head of
the other which tolerates it for about 20 seconds, then turns it into a
screaming fight.
> > OK, out of curiosity,
> >
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> --Catmandu