Read About Male Cat Behavior

Most of us, whether trying to decide which cat to bring into our homes or just watching the ones already have, are puzzled by male cat behavior. It’s common knowledge that spaying your female cat will prevent pregnancies, help control the overpopulation of stray and unwanted cats, and usually result in a kinder, gentler pet. ImageWith male cats, though, there may be some misunderstanding.

Unaltered males, in fact, cause or contribute to the majority of problems with male cat behavior. Sexual maturity in a cat develops around six months of age. At that time, they will start marking what they consider their territory, whether that’s your furniture or you and your family. With marking their territory comes a strong, overpowering odor and stains that are difficult to remove. An unaltered cat, after marking everything and everyone in your home, will soon want to go outside and mark his territory there.

Considering that outdoor cats live an average of three years, while an indoor cat can live upwards of 16 years, and there are even cases of some indoor-only cats living 34 years, this is not a behavior you want in your male cat. The unaltered cat will wander further and further to mark his territory, making him an easy target for cars, other animals and the battles involved with other male cats over territory, and various diseases and illnesses.

Once you neuter your male cat, you will find his desire to leave your property should greatly diminish, and may even end altogether. Most mature cats are awake only six to eight hours of each day, and a neutered cat will spend that time with you, while an unaltered cat will be too busy with his territory to spend much quality time with his people.

Once you have neutered your male cat, you should find that the unwanted male cat behavior will disappear. They may also be much more loving and attentive than they were before they were altered. Don’t be alarmed, however, if it takes a while for the behaviors to disappear completely – if at all. It may take several months for the changes to occur in your cat, and some behaviors may not stop entirely, particularly aggressiveness that may have become a definite part of his personality. ImageFor example, it is normal for your cat to try to spray urine to mark his territory. Once he’s been neutered, he may still continue this behavior, but will be unable to spray as he would before he was altered.

If you do find that unwanted male cat behavior continues even after you have your cat neutered, consult your veterinarian. If there are no physical reasons for the behaviors, your darling male may need some training. With a little time and a lot of love and patience, these unwanted male cat behaviors can become a distant memory, and you can spend less time wondering about male cat behavior and more time playing with and loving your pet.