Dominance on the Cat Tree

My female tabby Mitsy is seven months older than my orange male cat, Teddy. I initially thought that Mitsy was the dominant cat because she was older. Also, from the moment they accepted each other Mitsy took on the role of mother. As I've said before, just as some people love children, some cats love kittens. 

Why Would a Cat that Never Had Kittens Act Motherly?

I thought it was adorable when Mitsy started licking Teddy's ears. My husband's late cat Baby, would have never groomed my late cat, Panda Bear! They were older when first introduced. They were also still here when I brought Mitsy home. 

Baby didn't exhibit motherly instincts toward Mitsy. It was like watching a cranky old lady scold a playful child. She tolerated other animals in the house, but they knew to keep their distance.  

Mitsy still grooms Teddy's head, ears, and neck, and he often lies down in front of her as if to say, 'You can groom me now'. It's still as adorable as ever, but it also looks funny since he's much bigger than she is. I sometimes refer to her as Mama Mitsy. 

Is a Motherly Cat Dominant?

You would think that Mama Mitsy is dominant, right? Well, she was at first, but after Teddy grew larger than her his desire for dominance kicked in. It was around the time he was neutered, not that it makes a difference. 

Before having these two I didn't know that dominance in cats isn't always what it seems. My little house tigers fought for it early on and still occasionally tussle, but the alpha has kept the title of Supreme Feline. That's one reason why he's dubbed Teddy the Terror! 

The two cats play well together, but Teddy sometimes turns into Catzilla. I've seen him bite her on the neck without provocation. He reminds her who's boss, but she rules the window with an iron paw!

My cats love their flower cat tree!

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Other Signs of Dominance in Housecats 

Mitsy gets extremely upset if Teddy tries to get the best spot by the sliding glass door. That's where they watch visitors to the birdfeeders and other goings on outdoors. She demands a front-row seat and bites and grumbles if he tries to get in front of her. 

Teddy claimed the upper bed on the cat tree.

They never sleep on the other's bed. Upon researching dominance in cats I learned that the alpha sleeps higher in position than the others. It's interesting!

Which Cat is the Alpha?

I've come to the conclusion that one cat isn't completely dominant over the other, at least not in my household. It depends on the situation and location. They've established what works for them, and that's all that really matters. 

What are your cats doing to try and establish or maintain dominance? Feel free to share your experience in the comments. 

Until next time, 

Kim