Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Aggressive Nuetered Male

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 4/6/2009


Question
We have an agressive nuetered Male Cat that is so rough & agressive with our spayed Female Cat that it makes her throw up. He waits for me to leave the room or be occupied, usually starts with licking her, which she likes, than he starts wrestling & biting. She starts hissing & running from him & of course he starts chasing her & tackling her, if I don't stop him in time. He likes doing this right after she has fallen asleep and it quite frequently makes her throw up! I have to make sure he is confined at night. He is about 3 yrs. old & she is 6. Is he going to grow out of this? What can I do?

Answer
Vicky,

No the neutered male will not grow out it. Sometimes cats just are not compatible due to different temperaments, energy levels, and personalities. To keep harmony in your home and to keep your female safe and happy I would think about rehoming the male. It is not fair to either cat, her being stressed and upset, and him being locked up for something that he can't help doing. Maybe the male would be happier being an outside cat where he can burn up his energy, as long as he didn't start acting like that to neighbor's cats.

If the female keeps being stressed by the male it can lead to physical and/or emotional problems, or a permanent personality change.

Tabbi  

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

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Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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