Neutered Alpha Male Cat keeps biting spayed female cat

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Rechelle - 23 Feb 2006 21:29 GMT

My oldest cat, Shadow, is almost seven years old and is the alpha cat in the
household. The other cats have never tried to take that status from him.

The problem I am having is that he continually kinda mounts and bites my
oldest female cat, Ebby (she's almost seven also, they grew up together), on
the neck until I chase him off. She will not defend herself against him.
Shadow has no fear and punishments don't work on him.

How can I deter this behaviour? Shadow doesn't do it to the other females
in the house, nor to my male kitten. I'm concerned about this because
Stormy is starting to try to do it to one of the other cats, imitating
Shadow.

All the cats are in excellent health and have been checked out by my vet.
He can't figure out why Shadow is doing this, so I'm hoping that someone
here can help me with this.

Thanks!

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Anna - 23 Feb 2006 22:14 GMT

>The problem I am having is that he continually kinda mounts and bites my
>oldest female cat, Ebby (she's almost seven also, they grew up together), on
>the neck until I chase him off. She will not defend herself against him.
>Shadow has no fear and punishments don't work on him.

He's neutured, right?

My male will put his mouth on the back of my female's neck and the female
just sits there almost as if she is stunned but she doesn't cry out so I know
it is not hard enough to hurt; it is more like a "holding" of her neck with
his mouth, rather than trying to hurt her. I think it may be a male thing
just to show who's boss or it may very well be playfulness albeit a bit
aggressive. He could be bored and is looking to get a rise out of the other
cat. As long as he's not hurting her and she doesn't seem to mind, I don't
think it is anything to worry about. Does she freak out about it or just sit
there?

Anna

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~*Connie*~ - 23 Feb 2006 22:45 GMT

Its a dominance issue. Shadow is trying to tell Ebby that he is in charge.

When I catch that going on in my house I discourage it by making a loud
noise. I am the "alpha cat" in the house and I don't want any of them
thinking otherwise.

If it keeps up even after a few loud noises, take shadow by the scruff
yourself. Just enough to subdue him. Scruffing a cat is a reflex in cats
that makes them relax and go limp. Left over from when mom would need to
carry them. Very handy when doing discipline.

> My oldest cat, Shadow, is almost seven years old and is the alpha cat in
> the household. The other cats have never tried to take that status from
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Thanks!

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Priscilla H. Ballou - 24 Feb 2006 22:02 GMT

> My oldest cat, Shadow, is almost seven years old and is the alpha cat in the
> household. The other cats have never tried to take that status from him.
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> He can't figure out why Shadow is doing this, so I'm hoping that someone
> here can help me with this.

It's just dominance behavior. By pseudo-mounting another cats, the
hierarchy is demonstrated and reinforced -- or adjusted.

Priscilla

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