Male Cat Behavior

Typical male cat behavior tends to lead some people to believe that Toms really only make second choice pets. What do you think?

Let's face it. Many cats offer certain challenges when kept as pets. They are never as blindly obedient as some dogs, nor do we really want them to be. Isn't that why we prefer them in the first place?

Still, the question begs; is male cat behavior less tolerable than female behavior? Do males honestly make lesser pets? Obviously, there are exceptions to every rule, and some males actually make quite care free pets, but some of their actions have earned them a bit of a bad rap in the pet department. Let's take a closer look at a few of the most problematic behaviors we're likely to encounter with this gender.

When you examine both genders closely, there really isn't a great deal of difference between the way both sexes behave. It just seems that some of the behaviors are a little more pronounced in the average Tom.

Probably the worst offense attributed to male cats is the habit of urine spraying. Males sometimes spray their territory as a warning of the boundaries to other cats. Toms also spray as an advertisement of their sexual prowess when seeking females to mate with.

That said, urine spraying is not always behavioral by nature. A case of kidney stones can drive a cat to spray in an effort to pass the blockage and gain a little relief. Likewise, a urinary tract infection can also lead to disturbing urinary behaviors.

Of course, one of the most infamous behaviors Toms are known for is their propensity for wandering. This wander lust 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.

What drives this behavior? Sometimes it's a desire to increase a male's territory. Other times, a male is seeking out a female in estrus that he has caught scent of more than a mile away. And let's not forget about good old curiosity. The male wanders because he can if given the opportunity, and this is good enough reason for him.

Fighting is not strictly a male behavior, but males do seem to receive the most attention for getting into scrapes with other Toms they encounter, typically while wandering. This is mainly due to a desire to defend or gain territory, but breeding behavior also drives males to spar with each other.

Sometimes these fights are more about posturing, but on many occasions these boys will do some significant damage to each other.

Here we come to what is perhaps the one male behavior that is markedly different than feminine felines -- the way Toms act toward kittens.

As we stated in the beginning, there are exceptions to every rule, and there is plenty of anecdotal evidence about male cats that are gentle and seemingly nurturing with kittens. However, this truly is the exception rather than the rule.

Bottom line, cats are hunters and this behavior is almost impossible to eliminate. Young kittens can draw a Tom's interest, but that initial curiosity often brings those hunting instincts to the surface. After a few moments, that squirming little kitten begins to look remarkably similar to other prey animals like mice and chipmunks. It doesn't take long before what began as innocent interest and a little play behavior turns into something ugly, and without intervention, kittens sometime fall victim to adult males.

There are degrees to the dangers kitten face from adult Toms. Some male cats are willing to tolerate kittens they sense to be their own offspring, but most attempt to kill or drive off kittens that belong to another Tom. However, papa cat's tolerance is usually limited to the next time the queen comes into heat. At this point, the Tom wants those kittens out of the way so he can breed the female again.

So, does a Tom cat's behavior make him a less desirable pet? Not necessarily. If you have an honest respect for these boys' instinctual behaviors and you're willing to have them neutered and/or work with them, male cats can be just as loving and interesting companions as their female counterparts. The key is to put extra time into training in order to keep unwanted behaviors to a minimum.

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