My Cat Bites My Other Cat's Neck

The reason why a cat bites another cat anywhere on their body will be dependent on the context of this behavior. We can analyze this context by looking at the cat's body language and the environmental factors surrounding the event. Biting on the neck is one aspect of this context and it can help us to better understand why it appears our cat is biting another cat in the home or elsewhere:

Exploratory behavior

This is especially common in younger cats. If you have just adopted a kitten and you have another cat in the home, you will likely see them biting their neck. The kitten is motivated by curiosity and exploring their boundaries. During the first weeks of life, cats are discovering the world around them. This includes their own bodies and abilities.

It is natural for a cat to use their mouth to explore their environment. This includes the neck of another cat. When kittens are in the same litter, siblings will test boundaries by biting each other's neck. In the wild, a neck bite is often used for a kill of their prey. Kittens know this instinctively, so playing in this way replicates cat hunting behavior. It is very important to learn bite inhibition in this way to know what is simply play and what will cause harm.

Older cats may also carry out this behavior when they are first introduced to a new home. While exploratory behavior is most evident in kittens, new situations will need to be explored and understood by a cat of any age.

Maternal instinct

Especially if they are biting a kitten, a cat is biting another cat on the neck may be related to their maternal instinct. Mother cats will often pick up their kittens by the neck with their teeth to move them, discipline them or even remove them from a potentially dangerous situation. This type of contact is also believed to have a calming effect on kittens, evidenced by the fact they usually remain limp while being carried.

Our cat may bite our other cat's neck if they are feeling maternally protective over them. This can happen at any age, but particularly when an older female cat has a positive relationship with a younger feline. Even if your cat has never been pregnant, the presence of a kitten can stimulate their maternal instinct and result in various behaviors.

Territoriality

Animals have a territorial instinct as a means of self-protection and survival. While we may provide protection in the home environment, this does not mean dangers do not appear. Many are real, but others are misperceptions on behalf of the cat. A cat's protective instinct is the strongest when at home or with the resources present there. However, it is very important we do not confuse territorial behavior and aggression.

In order for a cat to protect their resources, they will manifest their territoriality in various ways. While we may associate these behaviors with males, it is something which both male and female cats may do. These behaviors include:

• Marking: there are different types of marking behaviors in cats. Scent glands on their paws, face and flanks can be rubbed against various surfaces to deposit pheromones. Urine marking is also particularly common in males, especially against vertical surfaces. Since cats have such acute olfactory ability, this alerts other felines in the area who has laid claim to it.
• Warning: it is not uncommon for a cat to bite another cat on the neck to warn them off from an area or an object. When in the home, this can be a problem with resource protection. A cat may feel insecure and believe the other cat is trying to take away something they feel is valuable. For example, if a cat tries to steal the other cat's food, biting on the neck is a clear warning that this will not be tolerated. Resources not only include food, toys, accessories or other tangible accessories, but also the attention and affection of other family members. In more complex cases, the cat may feel the other cat is a rival and strong neck bites may occur. This can be exacerbated in environments poorly enriched for the cats.

If the cat is a new arrival to the home, it is possible we did not bring them into the new situation in an appropriate manner. Learn how to introduce a new cat to another cat with our related guide.

Sexual behavior

Especially if they are male and female, two sexually intact (i.e. unneutered) cats in a home can have serious difficulties. When one or both reaches puberty, you will observe a serious of behaviors associated with their sexual instinct. The exact age a cat will reach sexual maturity differs, but generally males do so slightly later at 6 to 8 months, whereas females reach sexual maturity earlier at around 5 months of age.

Among the various gestures and postures that make up the mating dynamics of cats, it is very common to observe the male cat biting the female cat on the neck while copulating. This is both a practical means of holding the female in position, as well as potentially subduing her. This is connected to the aforementioned calming effect of neck biting in cats. It is important to remember that this can happen between siblings, so neutering is important even for family.

Discover why preventing some of these behaviors is important with our article explaining the benefits of neutering a cat.

Since biting on the neck is an instinctual behavior, it is very important to understand that inhibiting or repressing it can be counterproductive. It can even be dangerous and increase the possibility of aggression in the cat. For this reason, we need to mitigate the factors which are leading to this behavior and redirect it to something healthier.

If your cat keeps biting your other cat's neck, there are interventions we can make which will help with the above objective. You can do the following to prevent escalation and avoid injury:

1. Stay calm and neutral: it can be difficult to not react when we see our cats fighting. If we think they are going to cause actual bodily harm, then intervention may be necessary to prevent injury. Generally speaking, yelling, getting upset or using negative body language will give off clear signs of stress. This will be registered by the cat and can make the situation worse
2. Don't scold or punish: you can reprimand the cat, but do not scold and never punish the cat for expressing their feline nature. Physical or emotional violence will often not have the desired effect, confusing the cat and even exacerbating behaviors we are trying to stop. The cat may be confused or even feel threatened, resulting in defensive behavior. While it may stop the action in the moment, it can have negative consequences in the long term. It can also harm the bond you have together.
3. Point out the unwanted behavior: if you are present at the exact moment your cat bites your other cat on the neck or if you sense they are about to do so, you can give them a firm ‘NO!’ to let them know this behavior is not acceptable.
4. Distract the cat's attention: immediately after saying ‘NO!’, divert the cat's attention to prevent them from biting the other cat's neck again. The same applies if saying ‘NO!’ didn't work and they continue to bite. You can do this by using a toy, sounds to attract cats or simply making noise with your cell phone or keys, for example.
5. Separate your cats: take advantage of having their attention to guide the cat that is biting the other cat on the neck into another room This removes direct contact with the fellow cat. Keep them separated until they both calm down. Pay attention when allowing them to interact again to recognize signs of anger or aggression. Take a look at our article on how to know cats are playing or fighting to learn more.

If you have sexually intact male and female cats in the home, it will be essential to separate them when we see signs of heat in the cat. This will help to avoid unwanted pregnancies, as well as the stress of having the two cats carrying out sexually aggressive behaviors. Better still is to have the cats spayed or castrated before they reach sexual maturity, a practice which is recommended by veterinary professionals.

As we have seen, many of the reasons why cats bite the neck of other cats are due to being young. Once they have matured and settled in their home, this behavior will often right itself naturally without significant intervention. However, some cats can develop this behavior as a result of problems in the home. To best avoid its development, we can do the following:

Socialize the cats

The process of socialization allows cats to fully develop their confidence, while also being able to deal with the various stimuli they are likely to encounter in a healthy way. This includes almost anything they may find in their environment, but it is especially important when interacting with other cats. Cats that are correctly socialized are significantly less likely to feel insecure and resort to aggression when they feel surprised.

We should begin socializing felines when they are kittens since this is the time they are most impressionable. The most sensitive period of cat socialization is between two and seven weeks of age. However, this does not mean adult cats cannot be socialized. While it may prove more difficult, socializing adult cats can be successful with the correct approach and a lot of patience. Some may benefit with the help of a professional feline ethologist.

Introduce the cats correctly

Cats will often bite the neck of our other cat when they first enter the home. This is due to marking territory or trying to establish a hierarchy in the home. Before presenting a new cat, it is best to create neutral territory. In this way, neither cat has an advantage and they can meet on a level playing field. The cats will interact of their own free will, helping to reduce conflicts and territorial behavior.

If you introduce an unknown animal into your cat's environment and routine all of a sudden, there is a very high probability they will show defensive or even offensive reactions. These include biting or attacking the other cat, with the simple purpose of protecting themselves and the resources they consider essential for their physical and emotional well-being.

When this introduction goes poorly, an option for some people is to separate the cats into another home for a short period. We may be able to ask a friend to care for the new cat while we try again. The next time, we can be better prepared for the new arrival and follow the protocol more closely. If this option is not feasible for you, you will need to find other ways to help two cats get along if they don't like each other.

Enrich the environment

Another trigger for conflict between two cats sharing the same home is a lack of resources. For this reason, it is essential that each cat has their own toys and accessories. These should include feeders, beds and even litter boxes. If they are not forced to share them, they will not fight over them. The more enriched the environment is for both cats, the less likely they are to fight. Learn more about what you need with multiple cats in the home in our article asking can two cats share one litter box?

Evaluate the benefits of neutering your cats

Although neutering does not change a cat's personality, it has been proven to be the only truly effective method for attenuating behaviors related to sexual desire and territoriality in both male and female cats. For example, mounting, marking, escapism and intersexual aggression are all reduce. In addition, this procedure is our best ally in preventing unplanned pregnancies and the general overpopulation of domestic cats.

We strongly recommend you consult with a trusted veterinarian about the benefits of neutering your cats and the best time to do it. The benefits of neutering cats extend to beyond reducing behavioral problems. It also greatly reduces the chances of developing certain health issues in both male and female cats.

You can also check out our video below on some practical tips to help two cats get along:

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