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Sexual maturity in male kittens?
Home › The Daily Kitten Cat Chat Forum › General Chat › Sexual maturity in male kittens?
Tagged: Kitten, male, sexual maturity
- This topic has 20 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 8 months ago by
Emma.
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AuthorPosts
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13 August, 2008 at 3:26 pm #19327
astrid
ParticipantBack with yet another question! My kitten was sleeping last night on his back (Ragdoll–often sleeps on his back on the floor right by my feet)and I noticed a little “lipstick” action. It sort of freaked me out, since I thought that was purely a male doggie thing. So . . . does it mean that my 4 1/2 month old kitten is going through sexual maturity a bit earlier than expected or is this a normal aspect of cathood that I just(having had only female cats–and no cats since childhood)never considered? The plan was to neuter him at 5-6 months, but I’ll take him in early if this is an indication of quickly advancing sexual maturity!
13 August, 2008 at 3:28 pm #2679502bpurring
ParticipantI’m not an expert, but I don’t think it could hurt to take him in sooner…
13 August, 2008 at 3:36 pm #267951anncetera2
ParticipantCats can mature as early as 20 weeks. I’d recommend contacting your vet to get an opinion as to how soon his day at the “spa” can be scheduled. (We call it going to the spa instead of going to the dreaded V.E.T…)
13 August, 2008 at 3:49 pm #267952KYKAT 12 23
ParticipantHe is old enoug, I would get him in before he figures out what spraying is all about.
13 August, 2008 at 8:50 pm #267953ParticipantThank you, all! I’ll contact his, um, “spa coordinator” right away.
13 August, 2008 at 8:53 pm #267954WillowandWindismom
ParticipantAstrid, my kitty, Skimbleshanks, started that behavior when he was only around four months old. And then he discovered spraying. Even though we took him to the spa about a month after because we thought that he should be at least five months old, he sprayed his whole life. It was really awful. You name a product for that and I have bought it. All it ever took was for him to even catch a glimpse of another kitty and he would spray.
In hindsight, we should have taken him as soon as he began showing those signs.
13 August, 2008 at 9:02 pm #267955ParticipantYikes! That’s really horrible, Willow! I just sent email to his vet–I’ll really push for a super early date! I’ve heard that once cats start spraying, they’re not likely to stop. I’ve also heard from friends that their male cats became much more docile after neutering. Recently, he’s been very play aggressive (bitten me twice on the nose in the middle of the night hard enough to snag a tooth and give me cuts) and has been less cuddly than he was a month ago. Very glad I asked you all–having him start spraying would be disastrous in my little place!
13 August, 2008 at 9:06 pm #267956ParticipantIt was awful! And he was such a good kitty otherwise. I tried Feliway, Calm Down (over the counter stuff), and owned every bottle of spot and odor remover that you can imagine. Arg!
My girls aren’t as cuddly as they were as tiny kittens, but they are starting to move back in that direction. I think they just have so many things that they need to do that cuddling falls behind. Funny kitties!
13 August, 2008 at 9:19 pm #267957ParticipantYour girls are adorable–and sooo teeny! I’m sure Marzipan already outweighs Willow . . . he might even be closing in on Windi’s size! Hope they become cuddlers again soon–for me, that’s definitely the best part of being a cat mom.
13 August, 2008 at 9:24 pm #267958Sheba's Mom in Phoenix, AZ 10/8
ParticipantHe definitely needs to go to the spa. The Humane Society does it as soon as they are 2 months old and 2 1/2 lbs.
13 August, 2008 at 9:27 pm #267959Leeny
ParticipantAstrid, Susie’s Hopper is a great example of an increase in docility after neutering. He was an aggressive and elusive 13-year-old TNR who, after being T’ed and N’ed, has refused to be R’ed. He’s decided he wants to live in Susie’s laundry room, even though she’s given him plenty of opportunity to return to the great outdoors.
13 August, 2008 at 9:42 pm #267960ParticipantLeeny, that’s the dolce vita, right? No more hormones making you feel all cranky and crazed and a nice, warm spot full of fresh towels?! Who’d turn that down. 🙂
It is really good to have people verify the docility thing–he’s had to be locked out of my bedroom for the past week due to middle-of-the-night attacks, and I miss the snuggly parts.
13 August, 2008 at 10:39 pm #267961TheKnittingNinja
Participantastrid, feel his testicle area to see if they have decended. As soon as you can feel the two little lumps there it is time to neuter. That is how I have done things with all my boys and I have 4 males in my house with no problems
13 August, 2008 at 11:12 pm #267962Karenopa
ParticipantHi astrid! I’m sorry..I believe I missed welcoming you when you joined a month ago so let me say it now…Welcome to TDK..you little Marzipan is soooo beautiful! My kitties are sending him a furriend invite! My boys were both taken to the spa at 4 mos. and the procedure went flawlessly. I’m glad I didn’t wait because WWM describes an awful nightmare with the spraying! Yikes! 😀
14 August, 2008 at 3:17 am #267963ParticipantKnittingNinja–Seriously? I’ve been able to see his testicles for about a month (well, not see, but he had a little bout of stomach upset and had to be seriously bathed and they were visible when he was soaking wet from the waist down). I that that was normal . . . You all are a life saver! I’m going to see if I can schedule the spa visit in the next week.
Karenopa–thank you! This group is great–and your kitties are adorable! Marzipan would love to be their friend–though he is a little feisty currently. (As I write this, he has located a Pepperidge Farms goldfish on the floor and is chasing it FURIOUSLY around the kitchen).
14 August, 2008 at 3:19 am #267964Kitten Whisperer in Oregon (8/27)
ParticipantWelcome to TDK, Astrid! I’m looking forward to hearing more about Marzipan. i love his name!! He sounds delightful!
14 August, 2008 at 3:28 am #267965artistabobbi TX 1/17
ParticipantWelcome to TDK astrid. You kitten is beautiful.
BTW, 2 lbs and they can be neutered…..
14 August, 2008 at 4:06 pm #267966Emma
ParticipantRuggles was neutered at 3 months when they were able to capture him, his mother and his 2 siblings. Rotley was neutered when he was 8 weeks old.
No problems with spraying or aggression to humans — just to each other, like two little boys who tease and fight and couldn’t live without each other.
Astrid, it would be a good idea, as the others said first, to get him to the “spa” — well before he starts any subscriptions.
14 August, 2008 at 6:38 pm #267967ParticipantI have email in to his vet (also his breeder)about scheduling his spa day. When I first got him, she recommended that I wait until 5 or 6 months because she said a little testosterone in his system would be good for him (improve his coat is all I can remember right now). So, I knew that his neutering *could* be done much earlier, but I was planning to hold out for another month or so before doing it. But after all of your advice I’m DEFINITELY going as soon as she can schedule it.
Thank you all for the kind words about little Marzipan. I think he’s adorable–but don’t we all think our cats are the greatest? I am starting to alienate my family with all the pictures of him I keep sending . . .my father told me the other day that I send more pictures of my kitten than my brothers send of their babies.
14 August, 2008 at 6:45 pm #267968miu
ParticipantAstrid: I bet Marzipan is cuter than your brothers babies. 😉
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