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Cats/Cat Masturbation

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Expert: - 3/6/2009


Question
My neutered male cat who is 10 has apparently started masterbating.  He kneads my stomach and then does a weird dance with his back legs.  When he is done he will bite my dog on the neck if she is laying next to me.  Now he has a scab on his tummy where his penis is.  Why is he doing this and is he hurting himself?  I have never seen this behavior in any of my cats who would be combined 50 years old.  He would do this "dance" every half hour if I would let him.  What should I do?  Thanks.

Answer
Adrienne,

Since your cat is neutered I'd recommend taking him to the vet to confirm that there aren't any hidden medical issues going on, especially with his urinary tract. Your vet may recommend a urine test with cultures and a pre-anesthetic blood profile, the urine test with cultures essentially is to check for any kind of bacterial growth in the urine and the pre-anesthetic profile will give your vet a good overall picture of how your cat's doing in terms of major organ function. I'm a little concerned about the possibility for the wound near your cat's genitals to become infected so it's something that the vet should have a good look at and treat if necessary. If these tests come back with no reason for this disturbing little dance then you can treat the issue as a behavioral one. I'd recommend that you become consistent about tossing this kitty unceremoniously to the floor every time he starts this dance and avoid allowing him to ever complete it. Cats are quite smart, it won't take long for him to get the point and become less dominant with you and your dog. In the event that simply preventing the cat from gratifying himself on your lap doesn't work then you may want to speak with your vet about having a referral to an animal behaviorist specializing in cat behavior to set up a formal behavioral modification program.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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