So my household has four cats, the fourth being recently adopted from the MSPCA. She has settled in wonderfully with the three other cats, and keeps to herself and is very people oriented.
The problem is that one of my two male cats, who is neutered and approximately 3 years of age, keeps having "play" moments with her where he playfully attacks and bites her neck.
I read elsewhere this is a sign of dominance and what male cats do when they want to mate. However, our new cat is an approximately 9 year old spayed female cat who has no teeth (they were extracted when she was brought in to the shelter because the existing teeth were so rotted from being a stray a long time).
Buttons (senior girl) can't protect herself or effectively get Rudy (the 3 y/o male) off of her when he does this. She tries to claw him but she never uses her claws very effectively, even when playing with people/toys, her nails don't extend very far.
Any suggestions? I read that putting the Bitter Yuck stuff on her throat might deter him from biting..but won't she taste it off her paws from grooming? Thanks in advance!
The problem is that one of my two male cats, who is neutered and approximately 3 years of age, keeps having "play" moments with her where he playfully attacks and bites her neck.
I read elsewhere this is a sign of dominance and what male cats do when they want to mate. However, our new cat is an approximately 9 year old spayed female cat who has no teeth (they were extracted when she was brought in to the shelter because the existing teeth were so rotted from being a stray a long time).
Buttons (senior girl) can't protect herself or effectively get Rudy (the 3 y/o male) off of her when he does this. She tries to claw him but she never uses her claws very effectively, even when playing with people/toys, her nails don't extend very far.
Any suggestions? I read that putting the Bitter Yuck stuff on her throat might deter him from biting..but won't she taste it off her paws from grooming? Thanks in advance!
Both my cats will bite each others' necks while they are wrestling. It usually starts with one trying to groom the other to show dominance (licking against the fur instead of along it) then there's a head lunge and they are both attacking the other's throat. It's all in fun and game here though, so I imagine it's the same there since it can't be mating behavior.
