Expert: Ali - 1/22/2009

Question
My male cat is mounting my female cat and she is unaltered. She is in heat and he is trying to mount her like they are mating.  Is this normal?

Answer
Karrie,

Mounting isn't always a sexual behavior in cats. It's possible that your male cat has a general idea somewhere in the back of his head that he should be doing something, however I doubt that he would actually mate with your female cat. Sometimes mounting is a dominant behavior where one cat in a household is telling a lower ranking cat that (s)he is boss. I wouldn't be overly concerned if the male cat is neutered, after all, he's lacking the necessary equipment to add to the serious overpopulation when it comes to cats. I do think that it's extremely important to point out that an unspayed female cat and her offspring cat explode into 460,000 cats in the space of 7 years.

Given that there is an incredibly serious pet overpopulation issue affecting shelters, rescue organizations, vet clinics and private individuals that attempt to care for stray and feral cat colonies I would strongly suggest that you have your female cat spayed as soon as possible. In the meantime it's very important to keep this kitty indoors at all times as she could end up pregnant. Contrary to popular belief it's not necessary for female cats to become pregnant, give birth and raise at least one litter of kittens, this doesn't create a calmer cat and there are risks inherent in mating, pregnancy, labor, delivery and the immediate post-partum period.

If finances are an issue there are resources available in some areas that will help to partially or completely cover the cost of spaying or neutering a pet. Spaying and neutering isn't just about trying to minimize the numbers of healthy cats and kittens that are abused, abandoned, admitted to shelters and facing possible euthanasia simply because they are unwanted. The decision to surgically sterilize your cat is a responsible and ethical decision that helps to prevent health and behavioral problems. Cats that aren't sterilized can develop territorial behaviors such as marking their living space with urine and/or feces. These cats may also be more inclined to fight in order to defend their territory which can result in serious injuries that require treatment by a veterinarian.

Cats that aren't spayed or neutered require larger territories which means that during the course of fighting to defend their corner of the world they may become exposed to serious viral or bacterial infections as a result of exposure to bodily fluids like saliva or blood as well as infections caused directly by bite wounds. Female cats that haven't been spayed are at increased risk for ovarian, uterine and uterine cancers as well as breast and uterine infections which can prove to be life threatening. Cats that are spayed/neutered and kept indoors tend to live longer and healthier lives when they are well cared for. Please, help to save some lives and spay your kitty.