Question:
My 3-year-old cats, who are both neutered, like to wrestle a lot. The bigger but younger cat, Tiger, has a tendency to overpower the smaller but older cat, Midnight. Lately, I've noticed that, as if they were mating, Tiger has been grasping the scruff of Midnight's neck and hunching over as if he were a tom and Midnight was a queen.Also, Tiger has been licking walls. Some are wallpaper, some are painted. This has been going on since he was about 2 years old. Our family thinks it looks funny, but we are also concerned about possible harm from the paint. My cats are not littermates. Please advise.
A.A. (age 12), Waldorf, Md Sep 18, 2005
Answer:
Your observations of your cats at play are accurate. They are, indeed, engaging in sex play, and Tiger is asserting his dominance over Midnight, who has learned to submit. Don't interfere, since this would upset their relationship and possibly lead to fights and injuries.Hopefully, your indoor paint is lead-free. Cats sometimes become obsessive wall- and floor-lickers when they have a chronic stomach irritation, like fur-balls or more serious problems. So mention this behavior when your cats go for their annual health checkup. Some forms of pica (eating/licking dirt, clay or chalk) can indicate a nutritional deficiency, most likely in trace minerals, or a lack of fiber/roughage in the diet that a holistically oriented veterinarian can help you investigate.
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