Are Neutered Male Cats Attracted to Females in Heat?

The effects of neutering are not always instant.
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If you are the owner of an unfixed tomcat, then you probably know all too well how disruptive his mating behavior can be. From lying awake all night listening to persistent yowling to dealing with a yucky spraying habit, you can get fed up. Thankfully, neutering usually fixes the matter.

Neutering

When a male cat is neutered, his reproductive organs are removed via surgical procedure. This surgery aims to eliminate hormonal influence in a male cat's behavior. Apart from reducing hormonally driven behavioral patterns, neutering is also associated with enhancing the overall health of a cat. The ASPCA indicates that early neutering stops testicular cancer from occurring in male felines -- a serious bonus.

Time

The effects of neutering don't show up overnight. It may take a couple of weeks or even up to a couple of months for a male cat's mating behaviors to cease. As a result, during this brief time span you may observe that your male cat indeed still seems attracted to cats in heat. If you notice this, do your best to keep your recently neutered fluff ball indoors -- far, far away from any potentially distracting cats of the fairer sex.

Female Cats in Heat

In general, once a male cat has been fixed and some time has passed, he will no longer be attracted to female cats in heat. When a female cat is in season, she will make it known to all around her. Thankfully, even if your male cat does indeed come into contact with a queen in heat, he will not be able to get her pregnant -- which will help fend against feline overpopulation.

Mounting

If your neutered male cat continues making conspicuous "mounting" positions long after being fixed, do not be alarmed. Even long after your precious pet's hormones have faded away, he may continue partaking in these stances out of habit, especially if he was neutered at a later age -- say any time after approximately 6 months. Instead of feeling embarrassed or annoyed about mounting behavior, just accept it as being not that rare and not that big of a deal.

Spaying

If your household hosts a neutered male cat and an unfixed female cat, instead of worrying about any potential future attraction, consider getting your girl spayed. If your female cat is spayed, she no longer will go into heat. You won't have to worry about your male cat being attracted to her, and she won't have to endure the restless frustration of frequent heat cycles -- it's a win-win for everyone involved.

Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet, medication, or physical activity routines. This information is not a substitute for a vet’s opinion.

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