Humping Cat

Question
QUESTION: I have two five year old calicos. They are brother and sister and have been together since birth. Both were fixed at about 6-8 months. In the past month our male has started acting strange.  In the evening when my husband or I are getting ready to go to sleep. He has started humping the blankets on the bed. He does this while we are trying to fall asleep and off and on in the middle of the night. Sometimes he will do it early in the morning before we get out of bed. If you touch him while he is doing this he lets out a loud meow and does not want touched.  He does not seem to do it any other time of the day.  Nothing has changed, he is eating well, and using the litter box. Any ideas would be appreciated.  


ANSWER: Emily,

Your cat is acting normal with his abnormal behavior. Many fixed male cats will start doing that, either with a littermate or a blanket/stuffed animal. There is not a known theory for it, but it is guessed to be either a dominance issue, or it is possible that there is a new unfixed female in the neighborhood that he 'smells'. He doesn't have the physical ability to mate but he still has the mental desire.

Carol

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

QUESTION: Will thsi behavior eventually stop or will he do it forever? Should I have him looked at by a vet?

Answer
It wouldn't hurt to give your vet a call to ask him. I can't give you an answer on when he will stop or IF he will. I would guess if it was because of a new female, that he would stop when she was no longer in heat, but I don't know for that for a fact. My neighbor has a fixed male who has his favorite stuffed animal that he has been 'romantic' with for 3 years! He isn't interested in any other stuffed animal, just that one. Go figure!

If you talk to the vet and he has a magic cure, let me know.

Thanks,
Carol