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Cats/Aggressive Behavior - Unneutered cat

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Expert: - 4/15/2011


Question
Hello!

I am the happy owner of a 8 month old kitten. Since we got him, he has been the sweetest thing until recently. Since last week, my cat always meows and yowls when I pick him up, and he bites me frequently. He always wants to go outside and whines by the window (we almost lost him when he ran outside the front door), and slams himself on the window.

He is not neutered because I didnt realise hed be this bad, but I booked an appointment to get him neutered on April 26 because this behavior is unnacceptable ( he hissed at my brother and almost scratched his eye out!!!)
Is this behavior due to the fact that he is going through puberty??? He is 8 months old.
Will this behavior stop with him getting neutered??? I love my cat so much and I dont want this behavior to continue!!!

Thank you so much
John

Answer
John,

Sexually mature toms (and the male cats are sexually mature from about 6 months of age onward) can be quite territorial and aggressive. Since the testosterone has had a chance to take hold in your little man's system once he's neutered it will take a couple of weeks to see him settle down completely and 4-6 weeks for the male sex hormones to completely leave his system. It's important to have humane consequences for bad behaviour so it's not a bad idea to invest in a can of compressed air (like those used for cleaning keyboards) - when your tom is acting up you can send a jet of air up towards the ceiling in the same room as he's in and he should immediately get the message, if he doesn't see you doing this that's even better since he won't associate the unpleasant hissing sound with you. Neutering your tom will also help to prevent certain types of cancers and infections. Bear in mind it's kitten making season right now so the cat's aggression is only going to get worse as time goes on if you don't get him neutered. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me again any time - I'm more than happy to help in any way that I can.

Kind regards,

Ali

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Ali

Expertise

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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