Factors relating to urine spraying and fighting in prepubertally gonadectomized cats

Abstract

The fact that male cats are routinely castrated prior to full sexual maturity for behavioral reasons prompted a survey of the prevalence of these behaviors in prepubertally gonadectomized male and female cats. About 10% of the 134 male and 5% of the 152 female cats studied engaged in spraying on a frequent basis later in adult life. Problem spraying and fighting in males was of the same order of magnitude as in males castrated in adulthood after the problem behaviors had appeared. The age of prepubertal castration, ranging from 6 to 10 months, had no influence on spraying or fighting later in life. It was found that male cats are more likely to spray and fight if they are in households with female cats than with other male cats. With regard to female cats, spraying or fighting was less than that of male cats. Age at the time of gonadectomy was not a factor in their tendency to spray or fight. Possible prenatal masculinization of female fetuses by male fetuses, as revealed by littermate composition, was not a factor in the predisposition of female cats to spray or fight.