How to Understand Sexual Maturity in Male Cats

You have a male cat and you are curious about the signs that will tell you that he is becoming sexually mature. Do not fear. You will have no problem identifying this in your male cat. He will be prancing around in his macho glory by his first birthday.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Signs that your male cat is becoming sexually mature generally include random howling, having a puffed up tail, flat ears and an arched back. This is known as “posturing.”

2. Your indoor male cat may try to escape through every window and door that is available to him in an attempt to find a way to sow his oats.

3. His appetite may increase, and he may become more aggressive in his playtime.

4. Sexually mature male cats have strong urine. They may go around spraying or marking their environment. The odor that comes along with spraying is terrible to put it mildly. A sexually mature male cat that is kept indoors should be neutered, unless you are planning on breeding your male cat. Living with an “unaltered” male cat who has high sexual energy can turn your house into a stinky place fast. No matter the attempts you may take to rid your home of the odor, cats do not care. They will go behind you and rechristen the areas.

5. Outdoor male cats should also be neutered, unless they are meant to breed. Male cats that are not neutered contribute to the homeless pet problem. They can wander from home for days on end looking for females. In addition, if your outdoor male cat is not neutered, he will probably get into a lot of fights with other male cats. This may not bother you, but you should know that as your male cat ages and loses his strength he will probably end up on the bad end of a fight. Neutered male cats generally hang out at home, and they are able to defend themselves without any problems against other male cats.

Tips & Warnings

• To avoid the problems that come along with having a sexually mature male cat, you should have your male cat neutered early. Male cats can be neutered as early as their three or four months. Older male cats can also be neutered even if they have already started spraying.
• Many people are surprised to see that their neutered cats will still “mount” a female cat. It is common for some male cats to mimic mating with a female cat that is in heat. Granted, both the male and female cat will walk away from the act with unrequited passion, but the male gave it a good try!
• It is important to note that it is possible for male cats that have been neutered to spray too. Many people think that neutered cats cannot spray. That is not true. If your neutered cat becomes over-stimulated, stressed or feels his territory is being invaded he may spray. However, spraying is less likely to happen if your cat has been neutered at a very early age.
• Whether you have your cat neutered is up to you. However, if you are not planning on breeding your cat it is probably best that you go ahead and have him neutered. Not only will it make your cat calmer, but it can save him from having physical problems later than often plague unneutered male cats such as cystitis and obstructed bladders.

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