Having your cat neutered or spayed helps your feline friend become a calmer and better behaved pet. However, that does not guarantee instant results or erase already ingrained habits totally. One of such behaviours is humping, which is natural amongst cats. As such, even after your tom has been neutered, he may still engage in humping.
However, neutered cats that hump do so for different reasons. Knowing what triggered feline humping even after sterilisation will help you curb such behaviour. They are as follows.
Sex Hormones
Even days after your cat has been neutered, his sex hormones are still coursing through his body. In fact, all those hormones will remain for 6–12 weeks after sterilisation. As such, your furry companion can still be expected to hump within that period. This is especially if the neutering is done when your cat is already a full-grown adult.
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You can either wait for the 12 weeks to pass for the humping to subside, or initiate activities that can eliminate it. Playing with your feline pet more or giving him more lap time can help correct the behaviour.
Stress
When adult cats are in a stressful situation, they may likely hump. They will do so even if they have not been observed to indulge in thrusting before.
- Moving to a new home or having a new human housemate can induce irrational humping.
- A lack of playtime or attention can also stress out a cat enough to indulge in humping. Giving enough of both can help resolve the animal’s undesirable behaviour.
- Usually, a new cat or dog can trigger a bout of humping from the original cat. In the case of a second feline pet, both cats will be expected to compete for attention. The first cat will also likely dominate the second cat, especially if the new addition is younger.
In the case of having a second cat, you need to reinforce the higher ranking of the original pet. Mounting is a way for felines to assert their social rank. Affirming your cat’s ranking will help reduce the need for him to assert himself irrationally by humping or engaging in other undesirable behaviours. You can do this by paying attention to him first, feeding him first, and playing with him first. When the resident cat is assured of your affection, he will be more likely to share you with the new pet.
RELATED: Introducing Your Cat to a New Kitten
Consider giving the first cat a stuffed toy if he still continues to assert his dominance. You can also put a bit of bitter apple on the second pet’s neck area to deter the first cat.
Ingrained Behaviour
Was your cat neutered more than a year after he was born? If yes, the humping behaviour has rather become a permanent aspect of their nature already. He already knows very well how good it makes him feel. Although at this point mounting may be harder to eliminate, it can be done through consistent and patient training.
One way to reduce the humping behaviour is using positive reinforcement. When the cat begins the habit, pick him up or move away and use a command word (e.g., no). When he approaches or attempts to do it again, repeat the same action. If he does stop, praise him or give him a treat. More playtime with him or grooming him also helps reduce the mounting.
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Repressed Physical Energy or Boredom
Does your cat have a lot of idle time on his paws? He is likely to indulge in humping to amuse or relieve himself of the doldrums. Not enough exercise and playtime typically lead feline pets to engage in such undesirable behaviour.
RELATED: Keeping Your Indoor Cat Happy
Discipline
Spayed mollies or queens may mount kittens as a way to discipline the younger felines. They could take a kitten by the neck and pin them down, which look as if they are mounting. This is usually done when the kitten is being bothersome or too frisky in their presence.
Dealing with Neutered Cat Humping
Once you see your cat humping or about to do so, distract him with sound or pick him up. If he is doing it to you, put him down or distance yourself from him. You should never strike him as your pet will not be able to link his behaviour to the punishment. That is because he sees nothing wrong with the mounting. You only risk compromising your bond with your cat. As mentioned, playing or grooming your cat helps curb feline humping.
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