Expert: Ali - 11/2/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have a 6 month old Persian male who for the last few weeks likes to "meow" alot and come and walk around my legs. He is an indoor cat and the only time he does go out is when the wife puts him in the balcony. My question is....is he trying to tell me something like its time I found him a female friend to mate with?


Thanks

ANSWER: Charlie,

Cats usually reach sexual maturity at around 4-8 months of age depending on the health, breed and status of the individual cat. Breeding cats is a huge responsibility and considering that there is already a very serious overpopulation crisis I think that you should consider whether or not it's fair to breed your kitty. Also, cats that have been sterilized tend to be less likely to develop serious behavioral issues like marking their territory with urine or feces, wandering, fighting and becoming aggressive. If you have your little man neutered he will be far less likely to develop potentially life threatening health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, or infections of the reproductive system. There is also a significantly reduced risk that this kitty will develop serious behavioral issues if he is sterilized. It's also not entirely safe to allow your cat to wander on the balcony at all... Many cats are seriously injured from falling off of a balcony every year, a significant number become so seriously injured that they die or need to be euthanized. If you would like to allow your cat to sit on the balcony and smell the fresh air then I would suggest that you do so in an appropriate enclosure or by having the cat on a harness and lead. Cats that have been neutered have a significantly longer and healthier lifespan, especially when they are provided with adequate medical care and properly cared for.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: If I was to get my cat neatured would he still have a sex drive and would he still be able to mate with a female? I know that she wouldn't get pregnet. I would hate to know that he has a penis for nothing. I would like to know that he could still have sex and not be just laying around the house

Thanks again

Answer
Charlie,

Your cat would still be able to mate if he so chose, however it's not likely that he would bother doing so if he was neutered...Given the massive numbers of mixed breed and purebred cats and kittens admitted to shelter systems worldwide I can honestly say that too many cats are finding out about their sexuality. Sadly these cats often end up being euthanized simply so that more animals can be admitted to the shelter...Room and resources are among the most likely reasons aside from health that a cat or kitten is euthanized in a shelter. Your cat would still be able to use his penis to go to the washroom, so it's not like it would become a useless body part if you have him neutered.