Will neutering keep my tomcat from getting into trouble with the neighbours?

[Kitrianna]

About 2 years ago, my sister inlaw was out visiting us over the holidays, when she found a beautiful tomcat that had been abandoned by his owners. For as much as we love him and spoil him, Coonbear has absolutely no interest in remaining indoors and seems to have no idea what a litter box is used for (obviously he won't even try as he prefers to spend his time outside). Recently we have heard a number of our neighbours complaining about him spraying in their yards and some have gone as far as to threaten to kill him if we don't find a way to stop him. The only thing that I can think of to do is to get him neutered or to take him to a shelter and give him up, but I am very attached tohim and that is a course of last resort to keep him safe. So will neutering him keep him from spraying? I'm sorry but I cannot give you an exact age on him, but I would guess that he is at least 3 to 4 years old already as he was full grown when we first met him.

[marissposa]

I adopted my cat after she'd been abandoned to a life on the streets. At first she howled constantly to get out and was a general menace.  But I experimented with taking her out on a leash and after the first week of dedicated leash work she figured out that if she just chills for awhile I'll take her out and let her explore and she can come in eat and be warm whenever she wants.  Now she's pretty relaxed and even allows cuddling.   It took sometime and I still have to be diligent with playing with her (as mentioned above) and taking her out,  but If I keep her stimulated during the day,  she now goes to bed with me and sleeps until at least 8.  It's possible. Hang in there, you'll be glad you did :)

[Savas]

Ghilly's right. When you neuter him, it's a prime opportunity to train him as an indoor cat. I've only once run into a cat who was obsessively dead set on going outdoors (after weeks of mutual misery, we gave him to a farm. A lesson for those who want to take kitty out to the park. We did this as a treat, and woe was everyone!!!)

We have an indoor/outdoor situation here, and I cannot stress enough, there are risks and responsibilities no matter what precautions you take. You have to be aware of them.

[Ghilly]

Have him neutered immediately.  Neutering him will not just stop the urge to roam, it will also stop a lot of fighting with other male cats over any females in season and will keep him healthier in general because of it.

As far as him going outside, I'm going to be blunt here.  You are the human, therefore you are the one who control whether or not he goes out.  Cats are trainable, just as dogs are.  If you work with him and give him the attention and stimulation that he needs indoors, he will eventually get used to it inside and won't ask to go out.  Cats are thought to be independent, but they require just as much human interaction as dogs do, and they are better off for it.  They need to be groomed, even the shorthaired ones, and they need for their humans to play with them.  They need toys to play with and things to stimulate their minds.  If they don't have this indoors, they are going to want to get outdoors where they know they can find it for themselves.

A toy on a string is an excellent way to interact with your cat.  There are cat toys available that consist of a stick that is about three feet long, a string, and a doodad with two feathers on it that twirl when you swing it around.  It looks for all the world like a bird flying through your house and cats just go NUTS over it!  If you got him one of these and spent time each day playing with him, he would soon get used to the fact that it's fun for him to be inside.

Try clicker training.  When he goes to the door to go outside, ignore him.  As soon as he walks away from the door, click the clicker, give him a treat that he really adores.  Get him used to the idea that when he ignores the door, good things come to him.  You'll have to be diligent, but it can be done.  And the neutering will help immensely, because it will remove those urges to go looking for the ladies.

Ghilly

[Savas]

I hope so. I've dealt with neighbors who had fairly silly ideas about cats. :)

[Kitrianna]

Thanks alot for the info. The last thing that I wanted was to have to get rid of him. While I think he's a beautiful cat and has a great (if not somewhat insane) personality, he is rather fickle about what humans he chooses to associate with. Finding a new home that he was happy in would not have been an easy project for anyone. Now I know that there is a very good chance that I can keep him and keep the neighbours happy too.

[Savas]

It probably would. Neutering a male cat usually cuts down on its aggression, as well as other related activities.

however, VERY rarely will a male cat spayed late in life will continue to spay. I would say definitely get kitty fixed.

Regardless, one he's fixed, you can tell the neighbors when they complain;

"Sorry, Coonbear's fixed now, his days of sexual adventures and marking territory are over. Look for another cat to blame."