Love Bites?

Our big male cat loves to lick out smaller female cat, and for the most part she seems to put up with this. However, from time to time he will start out licking her and then in mid lick just start biting her. He gets really ruff. Does anyone have any ideas why he does this, any way to get him to stop?

Its a Tootsie Roll issue. Lick lick bite, just too hard to resist. Many cats, especially young ones, can't get through a grooming session without transitioning to play at some point. If he is pulling hair out or making her scream it is a problem, but biting enough to make a smaller cat want out of the play session is pretty normal and not a big deal if the smaller cat doesn't show avoidance of the bigger cat generally. Running away or hissing *during* the play session is normal, but if it is a true problem, the smaller cat will tell you by how she acts *after* the play session ended. If she is continually avoiding, hiding or hissing, its bugging her; if she comes right back out and is willing to interact with the bigger one its a non-issue.

She hisses and tries to run away before he pounches on her back. Which makes her hiss more.

solusumbra said:

Does anyone have any ideas why he does this, any way to get him to stop?

Click to expand...

Here's a TCS article Why Do Cats Groom Each Other? (the Answer Will Surprise You!) that might help answer your question.

I view what your bigger cat is doing is the equivalent of hug...... followed by a iMovie. My punk used to do it to his brother. He was put his arm around, act all.nice licking his brother's neck then nip at his neck. Think of it as the jerky older brother hug. I would read the article Ruby' s mama posted.

Has she gets bigger he can bully her less. For now, May be distract him with play when he starts grooming her? You can also build up her confidence with one on one play.

Ok hug followed by n o o g I e ..... not iMovie ... Damon tablet!