If your cat has been biting your other cat’s neck, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about it.
So, why does my cat bite my other cat’s neck? Likely reasons why your cat bites your other cat’s neck are dominance, grooming, or play.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your cat might bite your other cat’s neck and it might be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why does my cat bite my other cat’s neck?
Below are likely reasons why your cat will bite your other cat’s neck and what would make them more likely to be the main reason.
Dominance
It could be the case that your cat has been biting your other cat due to dominance or trying to claim territory. This would be more likely if your cat is aggressive towards the other cat when it tries to sit in a certain spot or do things such as eat first. In this case, it could help to give your other cat another place where it can go.
Grooming
Sometimes, cats will bite eat other when they are grooming each other but get to a sticky piece of fur. It could actually be the case that your cat is helping your other cat to groom itself which would be more likely if it does it when it is also licking your other cat.
Fear
The cause could actually be that something has been causing your cat to be fearful. This would be more likely if your cat does it when your other cat approaches it or when there are other things happening in its environment that might cause it to be fearful.
Play
Cats will often practice hunting by playing and it could be the case that your cat has been biting your other cat because it is playing. This would be more likely if your cat does it when they are both playing and if it tends to do it more in the early morning or late evening when cats tend to be a lot more lively.
Medical issues
Sometimes, cats can become more aggressive when they have medical issues or an injury. If your cat has started being aggressive suddenly, it could be due to medical issues. This would be more likely if it has been behaving unusually in other ways as well such as being aggressive towards you or being fatigued. In this case, it would help to take it to a vet for a checkup.
Possessiveness
It might also be the case that your cat has been doing it due to possessiveness. This would be more likely if your cat does it more when they are both eating or when your other cat is sleeping in a spot that your cat also likes.
It could also be the case that your cat did not socialize much as a kitten and did not learn how to properly interact with other cats as a result. This would be more likely if you got your cat when it was no longer a kitten and if your cat has always misbehaved with your other cat.
Your cat wants to mate
Male cats are known for being sexually aggressive. It could be the case that your cat has been biting your other cat’s neck because he wants to mate with her. This would be more likely if your cat is a male and the other is a female.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main cause.
If your cat has always bitten your other cat’s neck
If your cat did not always bite your other cat’s neck, it would help to consider what else happened when the behavior first started. If it started suddenly, it could be due to your other cat being in heat or because your other cat started going to spots that your cat likes causing territorial aggression. It could also be because your cat got an injury causing aggression due to pain from the injury.
The timing of when your cat bites your other cat’s neck
If there is a certain time that your cat tends to bite your other cat, it would also help to consider what is different about the timing. For example, if your cat does it when eating, it could be due to food aggression and trying to prevent your other cat from stealing its food.
The body language of your cats
It would also help to consider the body language of your cats. If they do things such as roll around and pounce on each other, it would be more likely that they are playing. Whereas, if one of them hisses and scratches, it would be more likely that your other cat is being dominant in some way.
How to get my cat to stop biting my other cat’s neck?
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Separate them
If your cat has been biting your other cat’s neck violently. It could help to try to separate them when possible such as by feeding them separately or giving them separate cat beds.
Consider neutering or spaying
If your cat has not been neutered it could help to neuter your cat since it often results in them calming down. If you also have a female cat, it would be particularly important to consider neutering or spaying one of them because your female cat might get pregnant otherwise and it should help to reduce sexual aggression.
Give your cat distractions
It could also help to give your cat other things to be distracted by such as a scratch pad or toys to play with.
Why does my male cat bite my female cat’s neck?
If your male cat has been biting your female cat’s neck, it could be due to sexual aggression. This would be especially likely if they have not been neutered and spayed and if your female cat seems to be in heat. However, it could also still be the case if neither of them have been neutered or spayed. It could also be due to dominance, playing or grooming.
Why does my cat bite my other cat’s neck while grooming?
Cats will often start biting while grooming because it helps to untangle the particularly clumped up parts of the fur.
Do cats bite other cats when showing affection?
Sometimes cats will bite each other when showing affection. This will usually occur when they are grooming each other and would be more likely if your cats are also purring, licking each other and seem calm.