Expert: Dear Tabbi - 4/29/2008

Question
I read your response to a question "Two male nuetered cats."  My two male neutered cats are around 12 years of age and in the past one of my cats would pin the other one down though the other one would fight him off.  However, just recently it began again though it is getting more aggressive! The other cat has given up and lets him do it.  Though now he really is having sex with him!  The cat who is getting raped by the other now is very timmid and skitish. He will not even come to me anymore.  How can I prevent this from happening? It makes me feel so bad that this is going on.  Do you think it is possible the other cat was not fully neutered? Or, is there any medication out there to make him stop?  Please help!

Answer
Meredith,

Your cats are 64 years old in human years and at that age things can start going wrong, even with their minds. Cats get a form of 'kitty alzheimers' and it could make them act strangely.

I would take your cats (or especially the aggressive one) to the vet for an 'older cat checkup. He needs a liver, thyroid, and kidney check plus an all around exam. Anytime the behavior of a cat obviously changes he should be checked. It could be a medical issue causing the current behavior.

When the cat starts acting like that try to distract him with food or a toy. Maybe a pet laser light (from Petco/PetSmart, etc.) or pull a shoestring around the floor. Do NOT pet him because that will stimulate him more. Do not punish him because he is not being a 'bad kitty' and that will just confuse him, especially if he can't help his actions (or reactions).

He could be smelling a female in heat in the neighborhood (even if he's an inside cat) and reacting to it. I would separate them in different rooms until the episode is over.

It is VERY rare that a cat was not neutered properly. You would have known it WAY before 12 years old if he wasn't...like in the first 3 months.

The vet can put the cat on 'kitty Prozac' to keep him calm. It is a very popular medication for emotional or stress problems. Talk to your vet about the possibility.

I am including some links to good articles about the elderly cat. You should find them informative for the future. Copy and paste, or type, the whole links into your address bar:

http://www.sniksnak.com/resources/geriatric.html

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1310&articleid=610



I hope this helps.
Tabbi