And the funny thing is this morning he was lying at my feet as I sat on the floor grooming him with a brush and he seemed very content.

Typical young kitty behavior! Yes, his surgery can alter his behavior, but because he was just neutered I think that maybe he has just gotten all the drugs out of his system and he has a boost of energy. My cats get dopey if they haven't been feeling well or went through surgery, when they feel better they act like silly kittens, chasing their tails and running around like crazy.

As for the biting, get that habit broken immediately. When he bites, pull back from him and give a signal, we sternly say "NO BITE!" and they back off. At that point I ignore the cat, so they associate biting with rejection. Sometimes I do a deep growl like a mama cat does with a bad kitten, they back down. I will usually get a headbutt as an apology a few seconds later, and we go on with slow, gentle petting so not to rile them up again.

Act normal around him now, and if he behaves badly respond in a negative way, and be consistent with your response. I think he is just going through a phase, he sounds like a normal, healthy, happy boy, he is testing Mom now to see how much he can get away with. Remember, you are his mom now and you need to teach him good behavior.

You are really doing great with Dustin, it is so refreshing to read your posts when I know there are so many unwanted and abused animals out there who wish they had a home like yours. Keep it up!

Thank you so much Michelle! When he's feeling frisky I try to provide a ball (which gets lost very easily) or wand toy he can focus on. I knew puppies biting was part of how they play with other pups/dogs (mom had a biter with Jessie) but I assumed with kittens/cats it was scratching or batting that was playful behaviour. He seems to like play with plastic bags but I watch him carefully and remove them when I'm not going to be watching or playing with him and the bag.

He seemed fearful of toys at first so I don't think he played with any as a kitten but he's warming up to them and I'm getting a feel for which ones he likes. He tries to chew on a mouse made of rope or is that sisal? I would like to get him a ball like that on an elastic string.

I was/am worried about how being neutered might affect his personality but he seems his old self and I wasn't sure how long after I could see changes. He was affectionate and sleeping with me last night (he's taking to grooming me a bit so I take that as a good sign). I just didn't want to worry too much and upset him if he could sense I was upset. I feel silly with some of the questions I post here but its been a long time since I've had a cat of my own and he is all my responsibility and just having someone take the time to tell me what he's doing is normal and what I'm doing is right or if its wrong what I should do is relieving especially when I hear it from actual owners rather than information I watch and read on sites. Thanks again!

What you are describing sounds a lot to me like how my cats behave when they are being bitten by a flea - sudden, jerky movements and wild running around, followed by extreme agitation and/or aggression. Some cats are extremely sensitive to flea bites. Even indoor cats can get fleas. All it takes is a flea hitching a ride into your apartment on your clothes.

It'd be a good idea to pick up some Advantage or Frontline from your vet and treat Dustin for fleas, just in case. Do NOT, however, buy any flea products (spot-on, powder, dip, spray, collar, shampoo, etc.) from a retail store. Many of those retail brands are highly toxic and have been implicated in the serious illness or death of many cats and dogs.

Laurie

Laurie makes a good point, ask your vet for either product she suggested, it is only a few bucks more than the stuff you can buy anywhere, but these are much better and safer options and easy to use. Just squeeze the applicator to deposit the product between Dustin's shoulderblades, it will work itself all around his body. Even if he doesn't have fleas, it is a good precaution. Your grooming him regularly helps too.

Don't ever worry about asking questions here, that is what the forum is for!

BTW, the best toys are homemade ones: crumpled up paper or aluminum foil ball, paper sacks, and sheets of newspaper to hide under. Don't bother spending much money, it is usually the cheap toys they like! My cats do love the fur mice though, and toss them in the air and bat them around. Look on eBay for cheap ones, they usually get lost under furniture.

Here is a link that might be useful: eBay mice for cheaps!

I'm sorry, I respectfully disagree with Laurief. I think the behavior is classic young cat behavior. He's got plenty of energy. Excess energy actually. He needs a playmate, someone who will chase him, and whom he can chase. I know you've said in other threads that you are on a tight budget so you are unlikely to want to get Dustin a companion kitty. So YOU will have to act as his companion kitty. The BEST toy I have found to help them release excess energy is the Cat Dancer (Original version). It's about $3 at Petco. I have never ever met a cat who didn't go crazy for this toy. I will wave it around while sitting and watching TV, and my cats will chase it, do backflips, and exhaust themselves very nicely.

Neutering a cat will not affect behavior. Any cats I have ever had who were neutered (or spayed) were exactly the same after the neutering. They remained as playful and as active and as loving as ever. Please do not promote that myth.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Cat Dancer -the Orignal version

Thank you for the posts and insight.

I'm not sure about the fleas, I gave him a dose of Frontline on August 23rd and its good for one month. Plus he behaviour seems more like he's sniffed some catnip and lasts longer. He was playing for quite a bit before he got up on the back of my chair. It was more towards the end of his playful spree. But I will definitely keep an eye out and try looking for fleas as I groom him.

I'm sorry akchicago about making an assumption regarding male cats and their behaviour post-neuter. I've often heard/read that some of the pros to having a male neutered are that they are less likely to spray (marking their territory), less likely to roam and get into fights with other male cats and that they can become more mellow.

The marking, roaming and fighting seems, IMO, to be natural male behaviours related to protecting his home and mating rights with females. I assumed that behaviour would be linked to the male hormone testosterone and with neutering I thought the levels of testosterone would drop and may cause some behavioural changes in the first while after his surgery. I am probably thinking of cat anatomy as human since women going through menopause react to the changing hormone levels differently and sometimes difficultly. I think any animal who's hormone levels would change suddenly could experience some behavioural changes as their bodies adapt to the new levels.

The Cat Dancer reminds me of a cheap plastic toy I bought years ago for a roommate's cat that was curled and had feathers on the end and when I twisted it the curl in the plastic made the feathers twist around wildly. He absolutely loved that toy. I'm looking for a similar one for Dustin.

I do try to engage Dustin in some playtime everyday because I want him to be active and healthy. The kitty condo he doesn't use is now fun for him when I take the ball on a want and play on one end so he can see through the condo and run through to attack the ball. I can tell he enjoys this because he'll swat at the ball a bit but then go back to the other side and wait and we'll repeat this with him running through the small circular condo with a tube end to chase the ball. I have been thinking of a companion for him but my apartment is small and I would probably prepare ahead of time, putting money aside, before I adopted again.

Do you know how old Dustin was when he was neutered? Although certainly every cat has his individual personality and behavior patterns, it has been my experience that males who are neutered before they reach sexual maturity (around 6 mos) tend to mature into more mellow boys than the ones who are neutered as fully mature adults. My family currently includes nine male felines, eight of whom were neutered after reaching adulthood. The one who was neutered at between 5-6 mos is a very mellow dude. He's no pushover, though. In fact, he is the undisputed king of my pride. He rules peacefully unless one of the other cats really pushes his buttons. It takes quite a bit to get Noddy riled.

Such is not the case with the late-neutered boys. They tend to retain an obnoxious level of "testosterone memory" in their behavior patterns. They are quick-tempered with each other and often ready to rumble. My household would be a lot more peaceful if they had all shown up here as kittens who could have been neutered early. Instead, I sometimes feel as though I live in a mine field, just waiting for the next explosive device to require defusing.

It's not likely that neutering would be responsible for an escalation of aggressive behavior in Dustin, but boredom surely could. Lots of interactive playtime will help wear him out and mellow his mood. A laser pointer is a great toy for many cats. They love to chase that little red beam. You just have to take care not to shine it directly in his eyes.

If Dustin continues to bite, blow HARD directly into his face. That stops most cats in their tracks.

Laurie

Laurie, that's what I was thinking. I was thinking that he may have been overstimulated, and responding with aggressive affection? You know, the way cats swat/bite if overstimulated?

I am curious to know your thoughts on this.

Dustin is a stray so he's been estimated to be between 3 and 4 years old. I was concerned about neutering him because I thought he was perfect the way he was and is. He seems himself but when I spoke to one of the staff at the pet store where I adopted him from, they said not to worry about toys, that they felt Dustin would need time to develop his personality again. Dustin been at the pet store for over a month. I don't know if he spent all his time in that small cage when he wasn't being shown to potential parents or if staff can play with the animals or how they are cared for there. I do know that the sales clerk was absolutely beaming and talking to Dustin and telling him he was going to a good home. Everyone I spoke to was so happy to see him going home with me and one mentioned that he was a favorite of theirs. So I'm glad to hear he's likely to just be his normal, adorable self.

It sounds like typical cat behavior to me, too. Some cats never swat, or will only if really "annoyed" past a certain point, while others can go from playful to overstimulated in mere seconds. You'll get to know Dustin's break point, triggers, etc., over time.

For example, some cats can not only handle, but actually enjoy (and seek out) belly rubs or being petted near the base of their tails for X amount of minutes, but once those minutes are up, watch out! LOL

Oh, absolutely. Some cats are very easily overstimulated and will resort to physical outbursts (biting, scratching) in response. If that's the case, one just has to learn to read a cat's body language to determine when you are reaching that point. Watch the ears, the eyes, and feel for changes in muscle tension. Some cats give very little or very subtle warning when they are on the verge of overstimulation, but most cats do give some type of warning before they strike. If Dustin is being overstimulated, the trick is to STOP interacting with him and give him a chance to cool down before he responds in a physically painful manner.

One more point to always bear in mind - Sudden changes in behavior can be signs of pain and/or illnes in animals. It's always wise to keep a vigilant eye on an animal who is exhibiting behavioral changes and to take him to the vet for a checkup if the problem escalates or doesn't resolve with normal behavior modification techniques.

Laurie

Wait. Do you mean he is not neutered?

elly_nj,

Dustin was just neutered recently.

sweetchastity,

We call that behavior Wild Thang (complete with song), or I'm-a-tough-panther-and-don't-you-forget-it mode.

He was not neutered when I adopted him from the shelter/pet store but they had arrangements with vets in the area and he was neutered on September 3rd.

How possible would it be for you to get another cat? A female kitten, perhaps, would help Dustin out immensely if he is seeking companionship. Two of my cats tussle and chase each other all over the house.

The saying goes, two is twice the fun and no extra work!

Not impossible but I would definitely need a couple of months to save up money for another cat. It would probably be a younger cat/kitten and female because I think Dustin would have an easier time adjusting to a younger female than another male. But I also live in a bachelor which is roomy enough for Dustin and I but I'm not sure about 2 cats. The attic is part of my home but its unfinished and I have it blocked off so he can't get up there. I've considered using it as living space but being unfinished and lined with plastic I'm not sure its a healthy idea for either Dustin or I. The house will eventually be torn down otherwise I'd look at ways to make part of it safe for living.