Male cat grabbing kitten by scruff

mx4878

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I introduced my kittens to their father about 2-3 weeks ago, they got along well and my male cat would actually play which he never did. I was always supervising and I separated them when I wasnt present and at night. 2 days ago he picked up a kitten by the scruff and dropped her on the other side of the room, I assumed the kitten was bothering him. Today he has been holding the kittens by their scruff and just standing there (both the male and female kittens), I dont know if hes trying to mate or not but its bothering the kittens. How do I get him to stop? And yes hes neutered (late), he often tries to mate my female cat too but she doesnt let him. Separating them during the day cant be a solution because I need to socialise the kittens, and mother cat demands to be allowed to go downstairs. What should I do?
 

susanm9006

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If the kittens aren’t being hurt, I wouldn’t do anything. He is choosing to move them or hold them for some reason and will probably give up when they don’t stay put. In any case, they will soon be too heavy and he will quit trying.
 
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mx4878

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If the kittens aren’t being hurt, I wouldn’t do anything. He is choosing to move them or hold them for some reason and will probably give up when they don’t stay put. In any case, they will soon be too heavy and he will quit trying.
I thought so too but im sure hes trying to mate now, hes like moving his back legs too? (and his thing is visible too) He cant actually mate though, considering the size difference. The kittens are bothered by him though, sometimes he refuses to let go until i make loud noises or the mother cat hisses at him. If i keep picking him up and placing him far away would he stop?
I know some fixed cats "masturbate" so why doesnt he do that instead?
 

susanm9006

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I am not sure he will stop if you move him, but I would continue to try. Maybe next time he is at the vet, ask them to check his hormone levels just to make sure he was fully neutered.
 

vince

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Yeah, at this point, it sounds like it's sexual in nature, rather than disciplinary. One of my guys tries to hump his little "sister." She won't tolerate it, bites and runs away. He's pretty inept at it. I don't think he'd be able to impregnate her even if he wasn't fixed! She's sterile, too.

It's wouldn't be a problem, but Chester starts that guff always when the two of them are on the bed at night. I just kick 'em off.
 

SDerailed

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Another alternative is dominance behavior which looks super similar to mating. I wonder if he isn't trying to tell them that this is his house while he is young? I see my boy do that to his brother all the time, although not with a sexual overtone. However I do see that behavior a LOT in dogs, so I wonder if that isn't another option here.
 
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