You are here:

Cats/Marking & Sexual Behavior

Advertisement

Expert: - 7/11/2009


Question
I have a male short hair tuxedo cat.  He's about 18 months old.  We go him when he was 9 months old.  He was about 10-11 months when he was neutered.  Prior to being neutered, he was peeing on a lot of things.  After being neutered it lessened but he would still pee/mark on the same thing periodically.  For instance, a blanket he would lay on.  Lately though, in the last week, he's been doing two things a lot, almost to an irrational degree.  1) Licking his penis/arousing/pleasuring himself.  2) spotting on everything.  He's also pooped several times this week outside of his litter box on the mat at the foot of the box.

Is this two issues?  What can be done to reduce his sexual behavior, spotting, peeing outside his litter box?

Answer
Aaron,

It almost sounds as if he may have a urinary tract infection.  I would have him checked by your vet.

I would be willing to bet some of his marking behavior may very well be due to a urinary tract infection! This may also account for the pooping outside the box.  However, other reasons fro not using a litter pan may be as simple as changing the type or brand of litter!  There may have been an addition to the household (4 l4gged or 2 legged).  There may be some new cat hanging around outside that is marking there!

A couple of things you can do are to clean the problem areas with an enzyme based cleaner specifically for cat stains and cat odors (available at most pet supermarkets or farm stores).  If the vet visit finds no health issues, then you might try a Feliway diffuser (available from most pet supermarkets) in the room he marks the most.

Also, I am giving you a link to s series of articles on feline litter box problems which may have further suggestions:

http://www.geocities.com/heartland/pointe/9352/litterboxhelp.html


But, first, I would see your vet.

Best regards... Norm.  

Cats

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.