Are Male Cats G!ts?

TripleH

I ask as I sit with our boy cuddled up on my lap having a wonderful cuddle.

Sometimes he is the most lovely little cat in the world (my opinion) but in the last 18 months (he will be 5 shortly) he had started being a little g!t to our girl cats especially his biological sister (same parents different litter).

Our girls are 16, 5 and 1.

I've never had cats until 8 years ago and my wife has only ever had girls, so I'm just wondering if it is him or a phase he's going through.

He might have been the oldest or second oldest in his litter (our older 2 girls were the runts) but here he is bottom of the pecking order since he arrived but always seemed happy with that.

I don't think this is a major behavioral issue I'm just curious.

tealady

I have had boy and girl cats.
In no particular order they were as follows
Male 1 - a "meet and greet" cat who loved all humans and was adored by one of my girls
Male 2 - described by the vet as "a bit of a bruiser" and had the nickname "tubby tabby"
Make 3 - a cuddly loving wuss
Male 4 - as thick as 2 short planks and was totally loved up with the girl he was adopted with.

The girls were a mix of personalities as well.

However it would be worth getting the vet to give your boy the once over

Pollycat

I've had 2 male cats who were alpha male of their respective litters.
It was one of the reasons we chose them.
They were both strong willed and determined to be the boss - not just of our other cats but all cats and of us too!
They were challenging.
One was quite friendly with neighbours, the other refused to acknowledge that anyone else was living in his world. Any visitors, he either yowled to go out or went upstairs until they had gone.

Another male - just one of 2 in the litter - was a total sweetheart who loved everyone and was loved by everyone.
Another male was the runt of his litter and had a lovely friendly personality.

It's odd that you say your cat's behaviour has changed over the last 18 months.
Maybe he's no longer happy with his place in the pecking order...

donnac2558

I always found male cats more loving than the girls over the girls.

But, they can have a dominant thing with females.   My Zanzi used to bully Delilah now and then, usually when they were grooming each other.  He would groom her, but when she started to groom him, he would suddenly try to hold her down and when she jumped up and got out of the way he would chase her.  She became prey by running away.  Poor Delilah actually had a small bit out of one ear after he went after her and cornered her.

I did have to step in now and then when it happened.

TripleH

Both my male and his biological sister love meeting people.

It's strange because he isn't whatcIcwould deem an alpha male (more a follower than a leader) whilst the girls are all more assertive than him.

I joke he is as thick as 2 short planks but its more he has simple tastes and is very good at getting them.

When play fighting his default is to identify the worst place to be in a fight against his opponent and choose that one.

MovingForwards

Has he had the snip and the girls been done too? Any other changes at home?

1st girl cat was top dog, even in the hours running up to her passing.
1st boy cat was 'special', chilled out and went with the flow, lap cat (brother of 1st girl, same litter).
2nd boy cat was loving, until he had steroid injections, then he was in a right mood to 2nd girl.
2nd girl cat is 'special'.
3rd boy cat picked up where 2nd boy left off with 2nd girl, but was also loving to the others.
4th boy was loving (brother of 3rd boy, same litter)
3rd and 4th girl were loving, playful, not lap cats.

Aside from 2nd boy due to the jabs, none of the others personally changed.

2nd girl is now coming out of her shell as a lone spoilt madam, very loving and a typical house cat.

TripleH

Yes, all of ours were neutered as soon as sensible.

Usually he is like '1st boy'.

It might be that the oldest is getting quite old (although she is more active and happier than she has been in a long while) she is 10 years older than the next oldest, and so a mini power struggle is going on to replace her.

He isn't a pain to his sister all the time, they can be incredibly loving and like nothing more than a curled up cuddle. It's just he has moments when his sister is curled up peacefully and he comes along wanting a fight.

MovingForwards

Is he an indoor or outdoor cat? 

If outdoor there could be a neighborhood struggle going on and he practices inside.

If indoor see if there's any particular times or events that trigger the 'manliness', try and head it off with distraction, playtime or something.

Pollycat

TripleH said:

Yes, all of ours were neutered as soon as sensible.

Usually he is like '1st boy'.

It might be that the oldest is getting quite old (although she is more active and happier than she has been in a long while) she is 10 years older than the next oldest, and so a mini power struggle is going on to replace her.

He isn't a pain to his sister all the time, they can be incredibly loving and like nothing more than a curled up cuddle. It's just he has moments when his sister is curled up peacefully and he comes along wanting a fight.

Pollycat said:

I've had 2 male cats who were alpha male of their respective litters.
It was one of the reasons we chose them.
They were both strong willed and determined to be the boss - not just of our other cats but all cats and of us too!
They were challenging.
One was quite friendly with neighbours, the other refused to acknowledge that anyone else was living in his world. Any visitors, he either yowled to go out or went upstairs until they had gone.

Another male - just one of 2 in the litter - was a total sweetheart who loved everyone and was loved by everyone.
Another male was the runt of his litter and had a lovely friendly personality.

It's odd that you say your cat's behaviour has changed over the last 18 months.
Maybe he's no longer happy with his place in the pecking order...

The 2 cats I've highlighted were from the same Mum, different litters.
There was about 5 months difference in ages.

The younger one idolised the eldest, wherever the eldest one was you'd find the other close by.
They groomed each other, slept curled up together.

Periodically, the youngest would try to become the boss.
It led to wild fighting throughout the house until the eldest had proved he was still the boss and then you'd find them curled up together again.
I once saw the oldest give the youngest an open-pawed thump to the side of his head, it must have rattled his brain.

TripleH

All are indoor cats. The middle 2 have no common sense at times. Pollycat you bold postings sound just like our boy and his sister except a 10 month gap.

As for the thumping, our oldest still gives skull rattlers at 16.

It probably might also be down to me, as I now work from home (when thinking about it).

Thanks, this has been reassuring, just in a hectic place at present.

Trina90

Not in my experience. But my male cats are Ragdoll cats, they are a notoriously laidback breed. They have brotherly playfights, but never bother each other in a bad way.