Cats are aggressive creatures. Biting and pawing each other is very common between them and can mean many things from time to time. Sometimes cats bite each other while playing or grooming.
Biting can also symbolize dominance. Sometimes they fight for food or toys, and if they get too aggressive, they start biting each other.
But sometimes, young cats tend to bite each other’s necks while they are in the process of learning to hunt. Also, you might see a male cat biting the neck of the female cat when they are mating.
Why does my cat bite another cat’s neck?
Your cat can be agitated or mad because it is probably not getting what it wants, such as food or a toy. This can lead to repetitive catfights. This type of biting and scratching is common in multi-feline households. It can even happen to the friendliest of the cats if it is angry or agitated.
Biting is common amongst cats. But if your cat specifically goes for the neck, there might be a few relevant reasons as to why it does so:
1. Playful behavior
Cats, particularly kittens, are very playful. So, sometimes it might end up biting another cat all over the body, particularly the neck. Generally, this bite will not draw any blood or cause a wound, but you must rush the injured cat to the vet if it does.
The tendency to bite gradually outgrows after the cat turns a year old, but if it persists, then there might be other factors responsible for your cat’s agitation.
For example, the elder cat might be facing the following problems.
An unsocialized cat sometimes feels distant and finds it difficult to connect with new people and pets. So if you are introducing a new pet, particularly a cat, to the existing one, you can expect some bickering.
Your resident feline will react feistily and go for biting the neck of the other. It begins with a hiss and then followed by shrieks and a head-on animal neck-bite. This is aggressive behavior and should be taken care of right away.
The reason behind this aggressive attack is that your cat wants to drive away from the new resident from its territory. If you really want this behavior to be discontinued, you must take the necessary step.
If your cat does not enjoy socialism, it can even start biting other animals or even people every time it is outside in the new environment. This also means that the aggressive cat can prove harmful when around children.
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3. Resource competition
If your cat shares its food, toys, and litter boxes in your house with other cats, then the situation is prone to lead to resource competition. This can end up in neck biting or a full-fledged aggressive catfight.
The worst-case scenario might be that the new kitty ends up having other dangerous accidents in the house in order to protect itself from the dominant cat trying to protect its belongings.
The best solution to avoid any kind of such mishaps is to separate everything for each cat.
Assign separate corners for each cat and divide the food, toys, and other belongings equally amongst every one of them. Separating the cats makes the environment free from any king or neck biting.
4. Predatory instincts
If your cat belongs to any one of the breeds of Bengal, or sphinx, or the Egyptian Mau, then you must make a settlement with the fact that your cat has inborn predatory instincts.
If they cannot find a way to practice their skills, they might end up venting their anger on other animals by biting them or scratching them.
This behavior might be fatal to your other cat as the dominant one might go straight for the neck, intending to kill its prey.
Well, it is a good thing that preventing anything like this from happening is an easy task. You just have to make sure that the cats are provided with good playtimes or with proper toys that will keep them distracted for a long time.
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5. Seeking for attention
Sometimes, without noticing much, you tend to care for one pet more than the other, or in other words, you are more inclined to one than the other.
So if your cat feels ignored or does not get enough of your love and attention, it might end up hurting the one it gets jealous of. A strong catfight can be expected in such a situation.
6. Medical problems
A very rare chance might be there that the neck-biting habit of your cat may be due to some medical reasons. The biting can be the result of a secondary action of reciprocating pain. If the ailing cat is bothered by other cats, the former might straight away aim for the neck and bite.
But sometimes, problems like hyperthyroidism, hormonal imbalances, or something similar might also get your cat enraged in nature. In that case, you can take your cat to the vet and give him the necessary medications.
Just in case your cat is suffering from any kind of infection, it is recommended that you keep your cat isolated from the rest of the cats in order to prevent the spreading of the infection by bites.
What does it mean when a cat bites another cat?
This can mean two things, either your cat likes to bite other cats in a playful manner to show affection, which might not be a matter of concern as it will not wound the other one. Or it might bite to show aggression and dominance, which might lead to serious and bloody wounds.
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How to stop cats from biting each other?
Spend some time with your cat. Some very easy and cat-friendly ways can be maintained to stop your cats from biting each other.
Engage your cat with some catchy toys and flashy gadgets. Separate the aggressive ones and the docile ones with their personal belongings. Take your cats for routine checkups to ensure no medical reasons might contribute to their agitation.
Conclusion
Catfights are a common thing amongst cats. You just have to take care that there are no serious damages made. Take time to understand the pattern of behavior of your cat.
If your cat is just playful, you need not be worried. But just in case you notice aggressive biting or scratching, you do the needful to stop the fights. Give your cat some time to adjust itself, and you and your cats will be good to go.
Hi There, AJ Oren here. I am the founder of this amazing pet blog & a passionate writer who loves helping pet owners to learn more about their pets through my articles. I am also the content manager of this blog. I have experience in pet training and behavior, sheltering, and currently working for a veterinary clinic.