Wild Toms Vs Mild Moggies
Myth: Boys are fighters and will often get into a tussle with other tomcats. Girls will avoid confrontation where they can.
Reality: Unneutered male cats are much more territorial and will defend their patch if another cat wanders in. This can end up with them getting hurt in fights and they could catch a life-changing infection like FIV . However, there are a lot of other things that can also make your cat aggressive and which arent to do with their gender.
Any cat can get aggressive if they meet a stranger in their territory, or are scared or confused. Female cats will stand up for themselves just as much as males and neutered male cats can still get into the occasional scrap. It really depends on how many cats are in your local area, as well as on your cats personality and mood. It could also come down to the health of your cat theyre more likely to lash out if theyre frightened or in pain.
A Quick Guide To Male Cat Behavior: Traits And Personality
Cats make excellent pets and are suitable for all kinds of houses, however, before adopting a cat, you should know about the behavioral pattern of your furry friend. This is crucial, especially in case of tom cats, as they can be unpredictable at times in exhibiting affection and aggression. This article will make you aware of some interesting facts and traits about your tom cat.
Cats make excellent pets and are suitable for all kinds of houses, however, before adopting a cat, you should know about the behavioral pattern of your furry friend. This is crucial, especially in case of tom cats, as they can be unpredictable at times in exhibiting affection and aggression. This article will make you aware of some interesting facts and traits about your tom cat.
Contrary to popular belief, it has been observed that male cats are more affectionate and cuddlier than female cats. Male cats are seen as being more friendlier than the rather aloof and independent female cats. While their competitive behavior can make male cats more aggressive than their female counterparts, these are generalizations and there can be exceptions. It is generally believed that a cats behavior depends on its personality. Following is a list of unique traits which are particularly found in male cats.
Male Cats Like Hunting And Feeding
Feral cats spend around 25 percent of their day hunting for food, with an average daily kill being four mice. Male cats tend to eat more than females, however, they spend less time hunting. In part, this is down to females providing food for their kittens.
Hunting provides important mental stimulation for a cat. A useful tip for pet owners is to use puzzle feeders, which make the cat work for their supper. This can reduce boredom and therefore unwanted behaviors that a male cat might adopt, such as spraying or clawing.
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Do Neutered Male Cats Kill Kittens
Do male cats eat kittens after theyre neutered? If your unsprayed female cat has a litter but they dont belong to your neutered male cat, should you worry?
While neutered cats dont have the same instincts as intact males, accidents can happen, although rarely. These felines wont kill kittens to ensure they are the only male source of genes, but other reasons remain. The most common one is their hunter instinct. If the male cat didnt get used to kittens being there, he might confuse them with prey.
Kittens look a lot like small rodents that cats love to catch and kill. Also, unfriendly adult cats will attack kittens they dont know, just like they would do with adult cats.
The only exception to this is if youve recently neutered your cat. It takes quite a few weeks, even months, for male hormones to settle down. Otherwise, he still might have his wild instincts to kill any kittens that arent his.
Still, most domestic male cats will co-parent, even if they arent the fathers. Cats are known to be social creatures, despite the myths. However, this highly depends on the cats behavior and attitude. An aggressive cat can kill kittens, no matter the occasion.
Why Spay/neuter Is So Important For Cats
While there might be some differing opinions about the proper age to spay or neuter your cat, theres no disputing that its one of the most responsible things a pet owner can do, not only for the life of a pet, but also to reduce pet overpopulation. Too often, we view spaying and neutering through our own eyes, and how it might affect us, and assume that our pets would look at it the same way. As Coates puts it, physiologically and behaviorally speaking, cats are made to reproduce as frequently as possible. Obviously, we have to put a stop to that. I think it is more humane to surgically eliminate the desire to mate than to block mating but leave the urge intact.
Of course no medical or surgical procedure is without risk, she adds. For instance, neutered male cats are at higher risk for developing urinary blockages, and cats who have been spayed or neutered do have a tendency to gain weight if their diets arent adjusted accordingly. Owners should always talk to their own veterinarian about what is best for their particular pet, but the benefits of spay/neuter almost always outweigh the risks.
It is our responsibility to take care of our pets to the best of our ability, Denish says. They live in our world, our homes and interact with our family and other pets. That means that if spaying/neutering is beneficial, it should be done at any safe time.
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Male Cats Have Wanderlust
Of course, one of the most infamous behaviors toms are known for is their propensity for wandering. This wanderlust can sometimes lead them miles from home, and you may not see your pet again for days. More often than not, your tom will nonchalantly return home looking for his dinner, but that doesn’t keep you from worrying in the meantime. Factors that drive this behavior include:
- A desire to increase a male’s territory
- Seeking out a female in heat that he has caught scent of more than a mile away
- Hunting behavior especially if you live in an area with lots of prey opportunities
- Curiosity the male wanders because he can if given the opportunity
Although opinions will vary, it’s safest to keep your pet indoors only and eliminate their ability to wander. Male cats that roam can get into fights with other animals, be run over by cars, stolen, or contract deadly diseases. They also can contribute to pet overpopulation if they’re not neutered and encounter females.
Is It Good To Feed Stray And Feral Cats
On the other hand, many cat websites such as Catster claim that feeding strays and ferals is not a good idea. The cats will not be as hungry and skinny. Their health will improve. Youll save a lot of birds, mice, and other wild animals that those kitties hunt. The cats will gather around the food source and a kitty colony might form.
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Is It Normal For Male Cats To Take Care Of Their Kittens
Yes! It is usual for male cats to take care of their kittens. However, this only happens sometimes, not always. How affectionate your tom will depend on how you raised them and their personality. Some toms are completely distant and cold with their kittens, while others are less distant and cold.
Male cats only have limited interest in their kittens. However, when kittens start to grow up and old enough to leave their mommy cat, the relationship changes. The kittens before will often hang out with their dad. Why?
Because the male cats are the ones that will teach the kittens how to hunt prey and how to act properly in the feline society.
In the feral cat community, male cats are more aggressive from their kittens than domesticated male cats. Some domesticated male cats are neutered. That is why they tend to act less aggressive towards their kittens.
Because there are unlimited resources inside your house and its a safe place to live, male cats are more relaxed and open around kittens. Domesticated male cats are more playful and caring with their kittens than feral male cats.
Common Behaviors In Unaltered Cats Include:
- Urine spraying/marking
- Aggression toward people and other cats
- Roaming
- Attempting to escape
- Territorial aggression
If your cat has been neutered or spayed , they are not as prone to these problematic behaviors. With that being said, lets look at some specific personality differences in spayed and neutered cats.
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If I Already Have A Single Cat Should I Consider Getting Another Cat To Keep It Company
If your cat is an adult and is established within your home as the only cat, then you should think carefully before introducing another feline. With time it should be possible to introduce a new cat into an existing household, but this may take days, weeks, or months for a successful gradual introduction. Even with great care some adult cats never accept another adult cat into the home.
All of this being said, each individual cats personality and genetic tendency toward or away from sociability with other cats will ultimately dictate whether they enjoy living with other cats in a home environment, or if they prefer to be an only cat. Therefore, the decision needs to be made on a case-by-case basis. If your cat has been seen in the company of other cats without excessive fear or aggression, it may be possible to integrate a new cat into the household. However, if your cat shows hostility to other cats, or hisses, growls, or marks territory if they enter your yard or garden, then obtaining another cat is probably not a good idea.
I Have Decided To Adopt Another Cat I Would Like To Know What Age And What Sex Might Be Most Acceptable To My Resident Adult Cat
We do not really know! Although it is generally accepted that related cats make the most compatible housemates, there is a distinct lack of information and research about how unrelated cats get along in homes. Some guidelines which may be helpful are to choose a younger kitten to join an adult cat, and to choose cats with compatible personalities. For example, pairing a very timid cat with a very outgoing cat might be too stressful for the timid cat. Pairing two highly outgoing, highly active or territorial cats may lead to fights.
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How Do I Get My Cat To Stop Eating Her Kittens
When considering some of the factors that may cause a queen to eat her kittens, we need to tackle this problem from a preventative angle first as much as possible. This includes providing a calm, relaxing environment for your feline during pregnancy, birth, and afterward. Try to avoid contact with the kittens in the first week. Ensure that you are diligently monitoring your cat and her new babies so that you will notice any unusual behavior.
If you notice that the mother seems to be ignoring the babies or not caring for them properly, or if she is unusually rough with them, then the safest option may be to remove the kittens from their mother. Once you remove the kittens from their mother, you will have to care for them as their mother would. Your vet can help you determine the best way to care for your kittens.
If your cat exhibits a lack of maternal behavior, she may not be fit to be a parent. In which case, you may want to have her spayed so that she cannot have any more kittens.
Do Kittens Recognize Their Father
Cats rely heavily on their sense of smell which is much stronger than ours and they also have a special organ called Jacobsons organ, that can pick up chemical substances that have no odor. According to Ryan Llera, DVM, this organ enhances the sense of smell that newborn kittens need to find their mothers milk source.
More importantly, he adds, Kittens can identify their mother from other nursing dams via their sense of smell. If a kitten is placed between two nursing mothers, she will move to the one that gave birth to her.
This means that kittens can recognize their mothers, and since their sense of smell is awesome they most likely can also recognize their littermates due to close proximity. When it comes to their fathers this can prove difficult. As Ive mentioned earlier, male cats in feral colonies are all about territory and not so much fatherhood.
Female cats according to researchers can recognize their male relatives, including their father, in order to avoid mating with them. So basically, a kitten can only recognize their father if theyre female or if the tomcat was involved, otherwise, they might simply sense that their scent is somewhat familiar or completely unfamiliar.
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Allowing Cats To Reach Their Full Size:
Although both male and female cats are ready to breed during the early months of their age. However, you should not think of breeding your cat until it reaches 18 months. Both male and female cat needs to reach their full size. Otherwise, it can hinder their growth and may affect the females cat health as well.
Typical Male Kitten And Cat Behavior
When you examine both genders closely, there really isn’t a great deal of difference between the way the sexes behave, especially in neutered cats. However, an entire tomcat has strong natural urges to protect his territory and find a mate, which can result in behaviors considered anti-social by some.
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Why Do Male Cats Run Away
Why Do Male Cats Run Away? Mating. Cats that havent been spayed or neutered may wander away from home to mate. Male cats, especially, are prone to roaming in search of a mate. To prevent wandering related to mating, have your cats spayed or neutered.
Cats are very independent animals, they can take care of themselves for long stretches of time and as a result, cat owners are quite happy to allow their cat to freely roam in and out of the house as s/he pleases. Cats disappear for days at a time with little explanation, giving some very anxious owners some long and sleepless nights. This article will explain different theories as to why cats disappear for several days at a time without a trace and then reappear several days later as if nothing happened. If your cat is currently missing, then remember that the chances are in your favor and so many cat owners spend days fretting, only for the cat to saunter back in through the door without a care in the world. If your cat isnt neutered or spayed, then theyre much more likely to wander off and disappear for longer periods of time. Prevents unwanted cat behavior, such as male cats spraying or female cats calling. Kitten owners generally get their cats chipped at the same time as neutering.
Do Cats Make Good Fathers To Their Litter Of Kittens
This post has been written by Behaviour Manager, Nicky Trevorrow.
At a time when many of us are celebrating Fathers Day, curious cat lovers may be wondering about feline fathers. Do male cats make doting fathers or are they absent? Certainly it is not something you commonly hear about. This blog post aims to shed light on this little known topic.
The first thing to note about cats is that they are one of the few domesticated animals that have retained a large degree of control over breeding and mate choice. As such, this means that we often do not know who the father is. Generally, it is only pedigree cats whereby a female or queen is taken to a male stud cat and therefore both parents can be identified. Of course, even pedigree cats can have accidental litters!
One study in Southampton which looked at paternity in kittens discovered some interesting results. One of the households with a litter of kittens in the study had a male and female cat which were both unneutered. However, when the paternity test results came in, none of the kittens were fathered by the male cat living in the house. In fact, the kittens were all fathered by a feral tom cat from a farm a few miles away and this feral cat had actually fathered many of the kittens in the study! Clearly this virulent male cat needed to be neutered in order to prevent the many unwanted litters. Kittens can get pregnant as young as four months of age, which is why Cats Protection recommends neutering at four months.
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Do Male Cats Help Female Cats Take Care Of Kittens
Domestic male cats and their cousins in the wild are not known for their fathering skills, which means that they usually dont act as fathers around their cubs and kittens.
These male cats are siring as many kittens as possible to continue their lineage. Male cats usually never get involved in the raising of their kittens. Mother cats are the ones who do all of that.
However, not all male cats have a distant and cold attitude. Some are sweet and loving. Some male cats are known to participate a little in caring for their kittens by cleaning, playing, and teaching them to hunt.
Male cats are not a big help caring for the kittens, even though they might sometimes show affection to their kittens. Female cats are the ones that naturally raise the kittens.
Sometimes, other female cats might also help their friends by taking care of the little kittens of their friends. Some female cats will act as midwives and baby sitters of their female friends. Female cats are known to nurse other cats kittens and even the babies of an entirely different species, like squirrels and rabbits.