Smacking lips? Gnashing teeth?

[Catty1]

Thanks - I know the chatter you are talking about. Our family called it "going rackety-rack" .

This sounds like a lip smacking, and his mouth moves just like he is doing that.

I did read something about it comes from stress or pain...so if he is po'd at Oscar, I guess it happens!

[krazyaboutkatz]

My Ziggy does the chattering when she see's birds and I've also noticed her doing some lip smacking after she eats. She really enjoys her food so maybe she's just trying to savor the taste of her food.

Storm does what I'd call teeth grinding or chewing his cud. He'll sometimes just start making a chewing noise but he's not eating at the time. I've never understood why he does this. A friend of mines male cat does the same thing too.

Sorry to hijack your thread but I just wanted you to know that you aren't alone in the strange mouthing department.

[Catty1]

Cole does what Storm does. A friend of mine who has known cats and dogs forever says the 'gnashing' is a dominance thing.

Cole is not the Alpha...and I think your Storm is, right?

My friend says cats do not assert dominance once and for all in the way dogs do...it is a lifelong process!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Cole does what Storm does. A friend of mine who has known cats and dogs forever says the 'gnashing' is a dominance thing.

Cole is not the Alpha...and I think your Storm is, right?

My friend says cats do not assert dominance once and for all in the way dogs do...it is a lifelong process!

Very interesting. Yes, Storm is the Alpha and he keeps reminding all of the other cats about this. I know that Pearl wants to also become the Alpha but Storm would have to be gone first. Sky isn't the least bit interested in this position but I'm not so sure about Ziggy because she can be dominant if she has to be.

I also forgot to mention that when Ziggy was sick last summer, I told the vet that along with her not eating and vomiting that she was also smacking her lips. The vet said that cats will sometimes do this when they feel nauseated which I'm sure was the case here.