How to Stop Mating Behavior in Castrated Cats?

It is not uncommon for a neutered male to chase, attack, and mount another cat, which can lead to stress for both you and the other cat. If this happens regularly in your home, there are a few ways you can find out what is going on and stop or manage this type of behavior.

Some cats exhibit this type of behavior toward objects, such as pillows or toys, and then there are embarrassing situations in which the cat tries to mount the owner’s foot. This may be an indication that the cat needs more attention.

Neutering the cat is beneficial from the age of 1 year or when it begins to mark its territory.

Why do neutered cats still have mating behavior?

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Sterilization cannot automatically stop a cat from trying to mate with another cat, by grabbing it with its front paws and biting its neck with its teeth. The behavior may be due to health problems, the social hierarchy of your cat, or other problems.

Causes related to health

Mating behavior is totally normal for uncastrated cat males. Even after castration surgery, it takes some time for the hormones to leave the body and it is not uncommon for the mounting to continue for at least a few weeks, if not longer.

Urinary tract infections also seem to lead to such behavior in some cats.

It is always best for the veterinarian to check out first to make sure that there are no health problems. If it turns out that your tomcat is physically healthy and that the habit has continued consistently, then it is probably a behavioral problem.

Causes related to behavior

The mounting behavior can be linked to stress and anxiety. This is most likely when something has recently changed in the cat’s environment, such as adding a new family member, moving into a new home, or even a nearby cat that he can see from the window. Boredom is also another cause.

However, cats also use mounting behavior as a way to strengthen social rankings when cats reach maturity, usually between the ages of 2 and 4. Before this age, you might get along formidable, and then suddenly the social ranking of cats begins to matter. Tracking, mounting, and chasing the other cat away from important resources can reflect territorial problems or bullying.

How to stop the mounting behavior

If a medical cause is found, treatment to improve health will be the first step.

Behavioral causes can be more difficult to manage. They often require a good understanding of how the cat’s world works, so you can try to work with, rather than against, the natural instincts of your feline.

Reduce stress, anxiety, and boredom

Make sure your tomcat gets all the attention, mental stimulation, and exercise he needs. Play with your cat every day. If you can identify a source of stress, do what you can to improve it.

Provide distractions or discouragement

If you see your cat getting ready to hop on another cat, clap your hands hard or throw a book on the floor. You might also give a stuffed toy to a cat who has such intentions so that it leaves you alone or the other cat.

Reward good behavior

Find ways to reward your cat’s proper behavior. You can do this with treats, toys, or extra attention when it is calm and interacts nicely with other cats. This is much more effective than common discipline techniques, such as sprinkling water on it or screaming. And of course, you should never hit your cat.

Expand the territory of the cat

It can help offer the cat more space to increase his range of influence. Cats like to climb, so provide cat assemblies and separate windowsills to windows for each of the felines. You can even have fun installing high walkways for your cats to explore the house.

Sometimes you need to give each cat its own personal space for basic needs. Try to place bowls of water and food in different locations so that they will not fight for resources.

You should also follow the “two plus one” litter rule, which means you need three boxes for two cats. Make sure they are not next to each other to avoid eventual tensions and give all cats their own privacy.