Okay, so, you won’t believe what I’ve been dealing with lately. I have two male cats, both neutered, and I’ve been catching one mounting the other. Yep, you heard that right. My first thought was, “What the heck is going on?” I mean, they’re both guys and they’re both fixed, so this was super unexpected.
At first, I noticed some weird behavior. One of my cats, let’s call him the “mounter,” started getting really aggressive with my other cat, the “mountee.” He’d pounce on him, bite his neck, and try to, well, mount him. It looked a lot like mating, but I knew that couldn’t be it since they’re both neutered. The mountee would just lie there, looking all confused and helpless. It was kind of disturbing, to be honest.
So, I did what any concerned pet owner would do – I started observing them more closely. I paid attention to when and where this was happening. Turns out, it wasn’t just random. It often happened when I was giving them attention, or sometimes in spots where one cat usually hung out.
My Observations
- Timing: Mostly during or after I interacted with them, like when I was playing or petting them.
- Location: Often in places where the mountee liked to chill, like his favorite sunny spot or his bed.
- Behavior: The mounter would get all hyped up, chase the mountee down, and then pin him by biting his neck.
After watching this play out a few times, I started to think maybe it wasn’t about mating at all. I mean, they are fixed. It seemed more like one cat was trying to show he was the boss. Like, “Hey, I’m in charge here, and you better not forget it!” This whole neck-biting thing? It looked like a way to totally immobilize the other cat and show dominance.
Once I realized it was probably a dominance thing, I started trying to change how I interacted with them. When I saw the mounter getting all riled up, I’d distract him with a toy or start playing with him to get his energy out in a different way. I also made sure both cats had their own spaces where they could feel safe and secure.
It’s been a bit of a process, but things are definitely improving. The mounting hasn’t stopped completely, but it’s happening a lot less often. And when it does happen, it doesn’t seem as intense. Both cats seem a lot more relaxed now, and they’re even starting to play together more without the whole dominance drama.
Honestly, this whole experience has been a real eye-opener. It just goes to show that even when you think you know your pets, they can still surprise you. And sometimes, what looks like one thing can actually be something completely different. It’s all about paying attention, figuring out what’s really going on, and making adjustments to keep everyone happy and healthy.