Why is my Freakin" Cat Humping Another Male Cat? Is He Gay?
I just noticed the other day some new sexual behavior between my two oldest cats, Jaspurr and Joey, who are littermate brothers. Although Joey was the first born of their litter in February of 2002, and Jaspurr was the last, Jaspurr has always been the dominant cat of the two.
His libido seems to be more pronounced, he's sometimes moody, and sometimes physically aggressive toward both Joey and the younger cats, Sage and Gaither.
Previously, he was violently aggressive toward my Jennifur, sending her to our veterinarian on two different occasions with deep bite wounds in her tail. But this was not sexual aggression. It is more likely that it was a dominance issue, as Jenny exhibits typical "tortitude" regularly in her interactions with our male cats.
On the day in question, I was sitting at my computer, and I happened to see Jaspurr mounting Joey from behind, both front paws on Joey's sides, humping away. Joey just stood there with a resigned expression on his face. I couldn't see if Jaspurr's penis was extended, but Jaspurr was not making bodily contact with Joey except for his front paws. In any case, the interaction was quickly over.
A few minutes later, Joey was doing the same thing to Gaither, who seemed somewhat nonchalant about it.
Sexual aggression among younger housemates is common once their hormones start to develop. It is recommended that cats be neutered before six months, and the surgery can be safely performed as early as six weeks in most cases.
I no longer have the records for Jaspurr's and Joey's neuters, but I think it was closer to five months than six weeks. Therefore both of them could have had plenty of time for testosterone to develop.
There are two explanations for this phenomenon:
1) Residual Testosterone
This is more common in younger cats. Cats who have already reached sexual maturity prior to neutering may retain that mating instinct for several months after the surgery, sometimes even years.
Sexual aggression among younger housemates is common once their hormones start to develop. It is recommended that cats be neutered before six months, and the surgery can be safely performed as early as six weeks in most cases.
I no longer have the records for Jaspurr's and Joey's neuters, but I think it was closer to five months than six weeks. Therefore both of them could have had plenty of time for testosterone to develop. However, when he and Joey were neutered, Bubba was still the alpha cat in our household, as he inherited the title from Shannon before him.
Jaspurr was a somewhat needy youngster, as he and Joey had been taken away from their mother at an early age - about six and a half weeks. He soon started that habit of "nursing" his own left front foot, and has continued it to this day, at thirteen years old.
In any case, I'm sure either Bubba or Arthur would have smacked him silly if he had tried to hump any of the felines in our household, excess testosterone, or not.
2) Dominance Issues
Jaspurr is a large-boned cat, and though he had lost a lot of weight due to hyperthyroidism, he still outweighed Joey by three to four pounds. Recently, he has gained back a pound or two of that weight, and was apparently "feeling his oats" with that little display of "humping" his older brother.
Other Ways Cats Demonstrate Their Dominance:
I've seen Jaspurr as a kitten lying in front of the food dish with both front legs around it, as if proclaiming, "It's mine, all mine."
A cat doesn't actually have to commit any acts of aggression to intimidate other cats. All Jaspurr has to do is to stroll up to another cat with that look in his eyes, and most other cats will cower. He also could "puff up his size," as some cats do. He does have his favorites, though, Joey, Sage, and Billy. When scrawny little Billy was adopted ten years ago, he became Jaspurr's cat, and Billy has never challenged his role as alpha cat.
I had that happen in high school. One of the "popular girls" would stop in the hall and talk to me a few minutes, then when she saw one of the "in crowd," she'd yell at her and run in her direction. That sort of thing can be a real ego downer, even to a cat.
A clever alpha cat will gain, not only the respect of other cats in the household, but also from the Mom and Dad who feed them and care for them. If we are not careful to spread our personal attention to all our cats, especially those who are particularly needy, hurt feelings are sure to happen.
It takes an exceptionally perceptive cat caregiver to assure that all the cats in the household receive the same kind of loving care and attention. Even the shyest cats appreciate our spending quality time with them.
His libido seems to be more pronounced, he's sometimes moody, and sometimes physically aggressive toward both Joey and the younger cats, Sage and Gaither.
Previously, he was violently aggressive toward my Jennifur, sending her to our veterinarian on two different occasions with deep bite wounds in her tail. But this was not sexual aggression. It is more likely that it was a dominance issue, as Jenny exhibits typical "tortitude" regularly in her interactions with our male cats.
On the day in question, I was sitting at my computer, and I happened to see Jaspurr mounting Joey from behind, both front paws on Joey's sides, humping away. Joey just stood there with a resigned expression on his face. I couldn't see if Jaspurr's penis was extended, but Jaspurr was not making bodily contact with Joey except for his front paws. In any case, the interaction was quickly over.
A few minutes later, Joey was doing the same thing to Gaither, who seemed somewhat nonchalant about it.
Sexual aggression among younger housemates is common once their hormones start to develop. It is recommended that cats be neutered before six months, and the surgery can be safely performed as early as six weeks in most cases.
I no longer have the records for Jaspurr's and Joey's neuters, but I think it was closer to five months than six weeks. Therefore both of them could have had plenty of time for testosterone to develop.
There are two explanations for this phenomenon:
1) Residual Testosterone
This is more common in younger cats. Cats who have already reached sexual maturity prior to neutering may retain that mating instinct for several months after the surgery, sometimes even years.
Sexual aggression among younger housemates is common once their hormones start to develop. It is recommended that cats be neutered before six months, and the surgery can be safely performed as early as six weeks in most cases.
I no longer have the records for Jaspurr's and Joey's neuters, but I think it was closer to five months than six weeks. Therefore both of them could have had plenty of time for testosterone to develop. However, when he and Joey were neutered, Bubba was still the alpha cat in our household, as he inherited the title from Shannon before him.
Jaspurr was a somewhat needy youngster, as he and Joey had been taken away from their mother at an early age - about six and a half weeks. He soon started that habit of "nursing" his own left front foot, and has continued it to this day, at thirteen years old.
In any case, I'm sure either Bubba or Arthur would have smacked him silly if he had tried to hump any of the felines in our household, excess testosterone, or not.
2) Dominance Issues
Jaspurr is a large-boned cat, and though he had lost a lot of weight due to hyperthyroidism, he still outweighed Joey by three to four pounds. Recently, he has gained back a pound or two of that weight, and was apparently "feeling his oats" with that little display of "humping" his older brother.
Other Ways Cats Demonstrate Their Dominance:
- Hoarding Food and Treats
I've seen Jaspurr as a kitten lying in front of the food dish with both front legs around it, as if proclaiming, "It's mine, all mine."
- Intimidation
A cat doesn't actually have to commit any acts of aggression to intimidate other cats. All Jaspurr has to do is to stroll up to another cat with that look in his eyes, and most other cats will cower. He also could "puff up his size," as some cats do. He does have his favorites, though, Joey, Sage, and Billy. When scrawny little Billy was adopted ten years ago, he became Jaspurr's cat, and Billy has never challenged his role as alpha cat.
- Displays of Attention, Then Walking Away
I had that happen in high school. One of the "popular girls" would stop in the hall and talk to me a few minutes, then when she saw one of the "in crowd," she'd yell at her and run in her direction. That sort of thing can be a real ego downer, even to a cat.
- Garnering Personal Attention from the Humans
A clever alpha cat will gain, not only the respect of other cats in the household, but also from the Mom and Dad who feed them and care for them. If we are not careful to spread our personal attention to all our cats, especially those who are particularly needy, hurt feelings are sure to happen.
It takes an exceptionally perceptive cat caregiver to assure that all the cats in the household receive the same kind of loving care and attention. Even the shyest cats appreciate our spending quality time with them.
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