Question:
I have a huge tricolored male cat that insists on mounting my 2-year-old spayed female cat and, in the process, removes hair from her belly. My local vet has no ideas and just mentions one medication that he hesitates to prescribe. I am an 80-year-old grandmother, and I want the lovable, aggressive male (named Ben) and his partner (named Rachel) to have the best life possible.
M.M.B., Virginia Beach, Va Jul 10, 2011
Answer:
Cats engage in attack, prey-killing and sexual behaviors as part of their often elaborate playful interactions. This can include boxing, wrestling, inhibited biting and mounting, which may have elements of dominance as well as sex play.
Clapping your hands, squirting a jet of water from a bottle or tossing a towel, preceded by a loud yell, should break things up, and the larger male cat should soon learn to "cool his jets."
After disciplining, get the male cat to chase a toy, perhaps a furry toy mouse or a bunch of feathers tied on the end of a string attached to a short stick. This is a good distraction and re-motivation strategy.
You didn't mention whether Ben has been neutered; if not, he should be. I presume he has been since the veterinarian mentions one medication, most likely a calming female sex hormone injection such as progesterone -- that's worth trying if disciplining efforts fail. If the animal doctor is considering a psychotropic drug, he should sign up for a Cat Behavior 101 seminar!
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