male stud after neutering

Question
QUESTION: I have a male and a female Ragdoll. Wanted to raise a litter but my female had medical problems and couldn't conceive. (got her spayed 8 mo. ago) Kona, our male, has been average as far as marking (not too bad and never on the carpet) but has never been very much of a lap cat-maybe not much handling as a kitten?? And the last 1 1/2 yr of his life he's been in breeding mode since my female would be in heat 11 days out of 14 and then back again. He seemed to do the breeding fine but no kittens due to our female's problems, so he's unproven as a stud.
  He always pesters our other two spayed rescue females so we would like to sell him and go back to a 3 cat family since we don't need him for stud anymore.  We could leave him intact and try to sell as a stud (seal mitted, marked beautifully)or have him neutered and sell as a pet. He's 3 yr. old. I'm concerned, though how good of a pet he'd make since he's never been overly affectionate and most people expect Ragdolls to just "love" to be handled. How much of a personality change can I expect him to have after he's been neutered??  The last 2 weeks he's been more affectionate and has gotten in my lap a few times and let me love on him and he purrs??  He hasn't had a sexual outlet for 8 months now and he's getting pretty anxious. We need to do something one way or the other soon.  What's your thoughts?  Thanks, Sheila

ANSWER: Dear Sheila

I'm sorry to read that your breeding plans have not gone to plan.  

It is surprising what a personality change can take place after neutering.  Though there are no guarantees, I have found that boys become very affectionate a few weeks after neutering and once homed as an only cat become very attached to their new owners.  The type of home you choose for him will also need to be carefully selected with someone that will have the time to give to him - perhaps as an only cat?

By the sound of it, he would be better neutered sooner rather than later.  He obviously wants love from what you say, but his hormones still keep getting in they way.

Marcia.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So far I have 2 potential buyers for Kona as a pet. One has a 6 month old female Ragdoll which will soon be neutered and 2 young children.  The other has a schnauzer and Jack Russell terrier but no children. Do you think either of them might work with a "neutered" Kona?  If so, which one? In Feb. I had three 3 mo. old kittens here to socialize for 2 weeks from the Humane Society and Kona was extremely curious. Sometimes, would lick them on their heads.  When we first got Kona at 8 weeks we had 2 adult cats and our Ragdoll female, 7 months old at the time. He and the Ragdoll were immediate friends but he never liked the adult cats, probably because they didn't like him and would always hiss at him. He's never been around a dog.   Thanks, Sheila

Answer
Hi Sheila

I think if he hasn't liked adult cats, it might be better to try the home with the dogs, though to be honest neither home is idea.  Jack Russell's can be unpredictable dogs and might not give Kona a very peaceful life.  Is there any way you could find a home with a kitten for him?  That sounds more the ideal situation for him.

If he does go to the home with dogs then they need to make sure he has plenty of places he can escape to where the dogs cannot follow.  Having high objects that he can get onto would be good too, though I have a feeling the Jack Russell might just sit at the bottom barking at him which would put him through a lot of stress.

Marcia.