Ewww! Why is he doing this??

I have 2 kittens 6 months old. My one kitten is constantly trying to lick (Clean??) the other kittens rear end!! It is really disturbing and I try to stop him from doing it when I see it happening, but it happens all the time!! I don't understand why he is doing this. I have not had them neutered yet (appointment in a couple weeks) so is it possible that this is a mating thing? The problem is that they are both boys. I'm at a loss at what to do. Should I be worried??

Thanks


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Happy Holidays!!

No this is not a mating thing, it is a normal thing for kittens to do this self-grooming. The mom cat would be doing the same thing to her kittens, so what is the difference? I wouldn't try and stop them from doing this, it is instinct for them.

It's VERY NORMAL. I have 6 cats, 4 are old and 2 are younger; they all do this to each other. It's just a love-thing.

One especially seems to make a bee-line for the buttocks... Snickers. He's my oldest and dearest, a lapcat who will follow in your heels to the point if you stop, he runs into ya! He also follows the other cats and makes sure he puts his face square in their rump.

My neighbors two males do this too

Thanks for your replies. I just wasn't sure if it was safe. I know licking eachother's ears is a bad thing, so I wasn't sure if this was similar.

Thanks again

Why is licking on another's ear bad? My one kitty does it regularly to the other. They also lick each other's head, something they can't do for themselves.

I think it's just a grooming thing. My two (male, nuetered) were doing that a few days ago. It looks gross to us, but it isn't harmful. The worst part is invariably the one that was doing it will want to give YOU a kiss right after!!!

Rosie and Sophie wash each others bum every now and then as well. And even last night Sophie was washing Rosies ears, i've never heard that it's bad though?!.

Originally Posted by rosiemac

Rosie and Sophie wash each others bum every now and then as well. And even last night Sophie was washing Rosies ears, i've never heard that it's bad though?!.

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My vet told me that if I see them cleaning the ears, I should stop them. I guess they have a high chance of getting ear infections from the saliva or something. I don't know.

Originally Posted by Ozzy&Olly

My vet told me that if I see them cleaning the ears, I should stop them. I guess they have a high chance of getting ear infections from the saliva or something. I don't know.

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Never heard of that. Littermates and cats that live together will almost always groom each other. That said, my older kitten does not do it very often, he seems a bit antisocial. My new 3 1/2 month old kitten is always grooming the older.