Q: My neutered cat still seems to be sexually displaying.
Q: My 18 month old male cat Charlie has started doing something very weird in the last 2 weeks. He keeps getting on my bed and purring agressively, he then starts extending and retracting his claws and dragging his private parts along. He even mounts my boyfriends leg. Initially I thought it was just some strange thing neutered cats do every now and again but he's doing it between 4-6 times a day and last night he woke me up because he was mewling at the same time and biting. I'm now worried that he might have some medical problem rather than just a sexual instinct, your advice will be greatly appreciated.
A: Firstly, you mention that Charlie is neutered. Are you sure that both testicles were removed? Some kittens may have one (or both) testicles retained within the abomen, and on the rare occasion the retained testicle may not be found. If it is still present and producing testosterone, that could be one reason for the sexual behaviour he is displaying.
Assuming that Charlie has indeed been neutered, what you are describing may very well be a behavioural issue. This may be a normal behaviour even in neutered cats, but when it is excessive in frequency - as seems to be the case with Charlie - it can indicate that the cat is stressed or anxious. You may be able to identify the triggers, especially if it only started a couple of weeks ago - has a new person moved into or visited the house, is there a new cat or dog in the neighbourhood who is antagonising him, are your neighbours making a lot of noise, any renovations taking place? Are you spending less time with him for any reason (longer work hour, new baby, other commitments)? Some cats do not cope well with being indoor only, so having no access to the outside world could be a stressor.
If you can identify the source of stress, you can try to eliminate it. Otherwise, try to interact with him more and enrich his environment with interactive toys, hiding places, toys which dispense food, and things he can watch (such as television, or fish bowls).
If the above does not seem to help, you may wish to contact a behaviorist for further assistance.
If you have a question for Dr. Dalya simply send it through to drdalya@petside.co.uk
Top 10 Conditions
Petside: Get Started
-
- Kitten Life
Learn about the different life stages of your Kitten and much more!
-
- Puppy Life
Everything you need to know about raising a Puppy, all in one place! Check it out.
-
- Find a Breed
Browse dog and cat breeds to find your perfect pal.
-
- Diagnose a Condition
Use PetVet to research what's ailing your pet.
Comments (0)
add your comment