odd cat behavoir

[varwoche]

My family adopted 2 cats semi-recently and am puzzled by certain behavoirs.

The male cat totally dominates the female cat (both are neutered) almost all the time. He aggresively chases her off, constantly, and she flees post haste. The only exception is when there is food present, at which time the female is totally dominant. Any thoughts?

 

[Benguin]

Is there an age difference? That sounds the way our dogs behave when one thinks it has a parental role.

 

[LostAngeles]

Some cats are just dominant like that. Ridley (my blond kitten) is much more demanding when it comes to things like attention and love and let's play with everything. Saul (my grey one) is much more subdued, but when it comes to the food bowls and the litter box, he takes precendence. (Me first, mine, mine, mine)

Ridley likes to spend a lot of time slapping Saul around, but he won't dare try to take Saul's food.