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Cat "humping"
I have asked multiple veterinarians about this behavior, but no one is certain what the issue is. My 3.5 year old male neutered cat has been "humping" people, blankets, and pillows for a little over a year now. We also have a male dog, who does not try to hump anything, but the cat leaves him alone. He will usually get up one someone's lap as if he wants to cuddle, but then begins to knead at the person's legs and makes a thrusting motion with his hips. If you move him off of your lap, he'll then usually begin to hump a pillow or blanket nearby. I've tried to push him away or redirect his attention by holding and petting him, but he keeps coming back for more. I have noticed some spots of fluid, possibly ejaculate, on the blankets/pillows afterwards (which I then clean obviously).
I know this is such a strange topic and I'm sorry I can't find a better word for his actions, but it is the best descriptor. If you have any ideas on why he might be doing this or how to make him stop, please let me know. Thank you!
I know this is such a strange topic and I'm sorry I can't find a better word for his actions, but it is the best descriptor. If you have any ideas on why he might be doing this or how to make him stop, please let me know. Thank you!
Apparently the humping isn't sexual. It's to do with dominance! I have only been experiencing this lately..it seems to be related to how the pet owners feel!
My cat squirt gun can be held in one hand. Maybe you'll need to upgrade to a Super Soaker. :)
LOL,Annie. I've got a ex boyfriend that I'm thinking of taking back getting on my nerves. =)
worth ad try ZQ..let us know okay....:))
I've learned with Nemo just a loud NO stops him in his tracks too....
I've learned with Nemo just a loud NO stops him in his tracks too....
Interesting stuff. I've had a dog who was a humper, but never a cat. I tend to wonder also if there is some way testicular material could be left behind in neutering, but that does seem unlikely...I watched my own cat be neutered, and the vet fished out the (obvious and very separate from anything) little gonad and tied it off on its own cord, and snipped. The testicle was in his hand and the cord zipped back into the kitty's body. It is not like they cut the testical with a lance or anything. (On the other hand, I guess if a very busy vet that gets distracted by an urgent request or something in the middle of the operation, he or she could theoretically leave one of the two behind, thinking they were on their second when they were only on their first.)
Anyway, main point -- if a cat is doing something you don't want him to do, you can treat it the same way you would with any other undesired behavior. There is no reason to treat it with more delicacy or respectful hesitation because of it being masturbation. We humans tend to anthropomorphize -- just because you wouldn't want someone interrupting *you* during your "happy moment" doesn't mean you cannot interrupt your cat, any more than you should treat with particular respect Kitty clawing the sofa.
When my cats were getting onto the kitchen counters, I bought a loud (batteries required to make the noise) squirt gun. Filled it with water, and tested it -- it makes a whack-whack-whack noise as the water pulses out. In fact, it would be very satisfactory just to play with if you didn't want to use it for cat training. Anyway, cat gets on the counter, I pull out the squirt gun, and whack-whack-whack, and cat leaps off the counter. We trained all the cats with this, in about three days. It obviously doesn't *hurt* the cat, they just learn that if they get on the counter an unpleasant cold-water douche is forthcoming, and their mind is changed very quickly about the desirability of being on the counter. (In fact, once they knew the rules, when the gun ran out of water I didn't bother to refill it. They got to the point where the noise enough would get them off the counter.)
Try something like that with Mr. Happy Place. If he associates masturbating with getting splashed unpleasantly in the face while also having to hear a noise that grates on his ear, he is less likely to do it. This would be particularly true if he is doing it for dominance reasons, but also probably true if he is doing it for sexual reasons. I see no reason to let someone masturbate in the living room even if we respect sex.
:)
Anyway, main point -- if a cat is doing something you don't want him to do, you can treat it the same way you would with any other undesired behavior. There is no reason to treat it with more delicacy or respectful hesitation because of it being masturbation. We humans tend to anthropomorphize -- just because you wouldn't want someone interrupting *you* during your "happy moment" doesn't mean you cannot interrupt your cat, any more than you should treat with particular respect Kitty clawing the sofa.
When my cats were getting onto the kitchen counters, I bought a loud (batteries required to make the noise) squirt gun. Filled it with water, and tested it -- it makes a whack-whack-whack noise as the water pulses out. In fact, it would be very satisfactory just to play with if you didn't want to use it for cat training. Anyway, cat gets on the counter, I pull out the squirt gun, and whack-whack-whack, and cat leaps off the counter. We trained all the cats with this, in about three days. It obviously doesn't *hurt* the cat, they just learn that if they get on the counter an unpleasant cold-water douche is forthcoming, and their mind is changed very quickly about the desirability of being on the counter. (In fact, once they knew the rules, when the gun ran out of water I didn't bother to refill it. They got to the point where the noise enough would get them off the counter.)
Try something like that with Mr. Happy Place. If he associates masturbating with getting splashed unpleasantly in the face while also having to hear a noise that grates on his ear, he is less likely to do it. This would be particularly true if he is doing it for dominance reasons, but also probably true if he is doing it for sexual reasons. I see no reason to let someone masturbate in the living room even if we respect sex.
:)
No problem. Now that you know it is normal, just be easy on him ok? Remember, he is just a kitty, and certainly not the only one who behaves this way. There is so much to these little creatures we don't know! Enjoy your cat, no matter how "weird" he may seem he probably loves you tons! :-)
Thank you so much! That is super helpful and glad to know that my cat isn't the only one. I think his issue is probably related to social ranking and dominance. After 1 and 1/2 years of wondering, it only took a couple hours to get a reasonable answer. Thanks again!
awww you have a 'humper' too......my Nemo is a humper he loves to rub himself on my arm at night when he cuddles me, he whines and cries as he rubs....
this has been going on since he was 2, he is now 10:)) it has gotten less as he ages... at first my Vet thought it could be a urinary tract infection...all that tested fine.
Interesting article Dande, another I read in the past said it could also be due to having them neutered when they were into the early adult stage, and this would prove true for my Nemo....I got him when he was abt 7 months old and this is no longer 'kitten' age, he wasn't neutered until abt 8 months.
I have also read other posts that indicate this could become a problem if a teeny small piece of tissue was left behind during their surgery....my Vet denies this...but possible IMO.
just don't scold kitty for his behavior...he is only acting on impulse
this has been going on since he was 2, he is now 10:)) it has gotten less as he ages... at first my Vet thought it could be a urinary tract infection...all that tested fine.
Interesting article Dande, another I read in the past said it could also be due to having them neutered when they were into the early adult stage, and this would prove true for my Nemo....I got him when he was abt 7 months old and this is no longer 'kitten' age, he wasn't neutered until abt 8 months.
I have also read other posts that indicate this could become a problem if a teeny small piece of tissue was left behind during their surgery....my Vet denies this...but possible IMO.
just don't scold kitty for his behavior...he is only acting on impulse
I found this article for you. It may help you some. I understand how frustrating this could be, and trust me, if I were in your shoes I'd be a little disgusted at my cat's humping behavior. Please read the below and let me know what you think.
Humping behavior (mounting) is normal for sexually intact male cats. Even after neuter surgery, hormones take time to leave the body and mounting (grasping with forepaws, gripping the neck with teeth, and thrusting) can prompt the behavior to continue for a few weeks.
Neutered kitties sometimes continue this behavior. They may target other cats—it doesn’t seem to matter if the partner is neutered or spayed—and sometimes cats simply become “special friends” with a certain pillow or stuffed toy. Although the hormones are gone, these cats continue to masturbate and that’s well within the range of normal behaviors. Usually the activity upsets owners more than it does the other pets.
However, cats also use mounting behavior as a way to reinforce social ranking. Cats reach social maturity between the ages of two and four years of age. Prior to that time, they may get along famously, and then suddenly the cats’ social standing starts to matter. Your boy’s stalking and mounting, and then chasing the smaller girl cat away from important resources (you!) appears to reflect territorial issues and pushy behavior.
I would just keep asking him to stop and try to get him distracted, since it seems to be a completely normal behavior. You aren't the only one. See this link, and laugh a little!
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/pets/msg0606310815639.html?18
Humping behavior (mounting) is normal for sexually intact male cats. Even after neuter surgery, hormones take time to leave the body and mounting (grasping with forepaws, gripping the neck with teeth, and thrusting) can prompt the behavior to continue for a few weeks.
Neutered kitties sometimes continue this behavior. They may target other cats—it doesn’t seem to matter if the partner is neutered or spayed—and sometimes cats simply become “special friends” with a certain pillow or stuffed toy. Although the hormones are gone, these cats continue to masturbate and that’s well within the range of normal behaviors. Usually the activity upsets owners more than it does the other pets.
However, cats also use mounting behavior as a way to reinforce social ranking. Cats reach social maturity between the ages of two and four years of age. Prior to that time, they may get along famously, and then suddenly the cats’ social standing starts to matter. Your boy’s stalking and mounting, and then chasing the smaller girl cat away from important resources (you!) appears to reflect territorial issues and pushy behavior.
I would just keep asking him to stop and try to get him distracted, since it seems to be a completely normal behavior. You aren't the only one. See this link, and laugh a little!
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/pets/msg0606310815639.html?18
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