Unneutered male kitten behaviour

[RaisinRainbow]

The boy wonder (not settled on a name yet - suggestions welcome!)

Is a british short hair, 7 1/2 months old, adopted a couple of weeks ago. His breeder said he would become sexually mature around 11 months.

To me that's a little long to wait and he's booked in for the snip this coming Monday (14/11).

He's been exhibiting certain behaviours that I suspect to be puberty related. Notably grabbing younger male kitten (5 months moggy runt) by the neck with his jaws, and yowling for periods throughout the day.

How likely is it that these particular behaviours are puberty related - and might they cease after neutering?

Are they play fighting? But the smaller one is coming off worse?
I have 2 sibling female cats and they still play fight aged over 3 years. Often involves looking like they are biting the neck (never breaks skin).
Yowling sounds more like attention seeking. Or calling you/other cat maybe? Some cats never grow out of that...

He's so cute! I suspect he will calm down a lot after neutering.

All kittens should be neutered ASAP. Breeder sounds suspect.

Thanks, they are bonding through play and this boy being the larger and older naturally dominates.

I wondered if the biting of the neck could be a prelude to mounting! In which case it could fall away post-neuter.

I guess we'll find out.

The caterwauling is partly cute, partly annoying. It's as though he's railing against the world! He approaches the window and let's rip!

Possibly he's interested in the outside world, but again, I wondered if it could be sexual behaviour.

I quite agree that cats should be neutered ASAP, both boys are being 'done' in the next 10 days.

You can get you kitten neutered within the time frame you are happy with providing he's not getting outside yet. It could be a sort of dominance behaviour, it may or may not settle after neutering. One of mine was neutered at 6.5months and he still mounted his sister now and again. My boys were 7months old when they were neutered. I currently have two kittens (males different breeds) who will be neutered shortly also. One of mine is displaying this behaviour also.

You have a handsome young man there!

He’s adorable. Yowling = talking; find out what he wants and deliver it. He is too sweet to refuse anything.

I have two BSH boys - both absolute gobshites, but only really to me. Cats don’t meaow in the wild. It’s how they talk to humans.

They scrap with each other too, but no-one gets hurt. Is your little kitten getting injured in these biting incidents or are they just messing around?

Most calm down a bit when they are neutered but boys will be boys I’m afraid.

Yes he's old enough to be feeling sexual frustration. Cats are fertile pretty young.

Thanks. I guess the proof will be in the snipping! Will see if these specific behaviours abate in a couple of weeks.

Both of my male cats play bite/fight and yowl for my attention - they're 7 and 2 and were both neutered as little kittens.

So, yes, get them neutered but it may not make any difference!