Why does it always end in tears

[Ann Clarke (Tabby cat)]

Just caught up with this one yes my two do this aswell. Always grooming each other then as Helen says the throat becomes too much of a temptation and next thing handbags at dawn  nobody ever comes to any harm though thank goodness 

[unseeliechylde]

Great thread! Yes, my two are exactly the same - lots of over-the-top face licking, rapidly deteriorates into face and neck biting, then cuffing, a full-tilt stampede, wrestling match and cuffing, more chasing, some growling, swishing tails, stiff-legged posturing, more chasing, and collapse on the sofa, only to start face-licking....and so on!
Saves me having to entertain them, and way better than watching TV

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

Mutual grooming always ends in fisty cuffs here too.  And did with Jaffa and Magpie.  I think grooming is dominance behaviour and when one wants to stop the other often insists on continuing in order to show their dominance.  Always ends in tears!

[Tiggy's Mum]

So true    The boys are always grooming each other on the head but then as they lick the throat area it's like the temptation is too much to resist and they lock on instead of licking 

[carl (billy and baggys dad)]

  Brilliant thread!

Baggins always, every night without fail, subjects Billy to a forced grooming. Its so funny to watch, you can almost hear Billy saying "Leave it Baggins ... leave it  ... leave it ... RIGHT THATS IT YOU'RE FOR A SHOEING!", followed by five minutes of Baggins getting his beating. He never learns though 

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Sasa will push her head to Misa for a groom and then after he has dully licked her she then wants more and yes its a wop and a chase and another wop but its all very harmless and it just seems to be ritual and I think they are playing

[Roz]

I have to say that it always creases Steve up.....he finds it very amusing...and in some ways it is 'cos it's not nasty.  We call it the Punch & Judy Show.  But there is plenty of swishing of tails going on...and then it's all over.  No cat is ever hurt and they're best mates again a few minutes later.

Cats.......endlessly fascinating. What ya see is what ya get with a dog...but cats are mysterious.

[dolcetta46]

Ollie is clearly a mummy's boy, yet he does the same thing to me quite often, while we are cuddling on the bed he would be all purring, headbutting and kissing, then suddenly jumps up, start gnarling at my hand, kicking my arm with his back legs  Clearly not to hurt me as he doesn't really claw at me and chewing is not hard, but the switch is always very sudden and dramatic

[Bazsmum]

Right my naughty boys Yagga and Baz do this......I still lean towards a domineering issue....Baz will be above (in pecking order) Yagga, but Yagga is no longer a baby and can only take so much....I think its Alpha male etc 

OO just remembered my Maisey does this to Baz also....she will go over to him when he is sleeping and start to groom him, he'l groom her back then they start scrapping then Baz moves....then Maisey gets the bed   

[Christine (Blip)]

Blip tends to do that to my OH after he has been stroking her for a bit but, strangely enough, never to me.  We reckon she views him as a sort of brother cat and me as meowmy so I'll be interested in the answers.

[Roz]

Hi everyone,

This is something I have always wondered about.  How is it that when two cats who obviously share a deep affection for each other, always end up scrapping within about three minutes of mutual grooming.

I've seen it happen over and over again....and it always ends in tears.  Not nasty but choreographed prancing, posturing, strutting and swiping at each other...maybe even a little growl...followed by a quick dash up or downstairs!
 
We could almost set our watches by how long it takes to turn from 'Ahhhhhh how sweet'....to 'Hold up....here it comes...Ouch!...take that, you swine!!!  Oh no.....not the evil stare....' 

WHY?

Lots of love

Roz