Question:
Our 13-year-old neutered male cat (Oggie) goes after our 13-year-old spayed female cat (Ella) in a sexual manner -- mounting her, pawing down her back and biting on her neck. He does this several times a day.
This seems very unusual since they both have been fixed. We thought Oggie would at least do this less as he got older, but he does not seem to be slowing down.
Ella tolerates it for a while, but it usually ends with her turning on him, voicing her annoyance and then chasing after him. It is a whole ordeal the two of them go through, but it also annoys my husband a great deal.
M.R., Arlington, Va Jun 12, 2012
Answer:
As I describe in my book "Understanding Your Cat
" (available now as an e-book), during normal play behavior, many cats will incorporate some sexual activities, even when neutered.
The back of the neck "love bite" is often the only component of male sexual behavior that one may see during cat play. This bite asserts dominance and triggers passive submission. When you seize the scruff of a cat's neck, you trigger that same passive, immobilizing reaction. This may have a calming effect, much like a mother carrying a kitten with her teeth.
During sex play, once the love bite triggers immobility, the physical contact the top cat feels can lead to the next behavioral sequence of mounting, back arching and pelvic undulations. If injurious fighting erupts, you should intervene with a loud clap or a squirt of water from a spray bottle.
From your description, it seems like a regular, non-injurious play ritual best left alone.
Subscribe