How do Cats’ Personalities Change After They are Neutered?
I have a two-year-old male cat that I had neutered two
weeks ago. Since that time he has been eating and
drinking fine. But, before he was neutered he was
very very active and meowing all the time to get
outside. (He is an indoor only cat.) Since he
came home from the vet he has not been the same
cat. He doesn’t cry to go outside, he sits in the
window and is content.
Before the procedure you
could touch his belly and he would attack you now
he doesn’t seem to mind. He is not as active as
he was. Is this normal this soon after being neutered or could he
be depressed? I have been checking the area for
infection and there doesn’t to be a problem.
Thanks for any advice you can give.
Teresa
Florence, AL
Intact adult male cats have large amounts of testosterone flowing in their blood. The hormone has many effects on the body. It promotes increased muscle mass. It promotes activity. It is linked to aggression. And it creates a strong urge to mate.
Many intact male cats make challenging pets. They may be obsessed with getting outdoors to engage in trysts. They may be very territorial, and they may fight with other cats and develop abscesses or catch FIV/feine AIDS. They may spray urine to mark their territory. When this happens indoors, it is quite intolerable for the people living with the cat.
When male cats are neutered, testosterone levels in their bloodstream steadily decrease. In many instances this causes their behavior to change. One of the most consistent changes is a decreased desire to go outside to look for fights and mates. Many, but not all cats become less active and less aggressive after they are neutered. Spraying of urine usually, but not always, diminishes.
Based on your description, I think your cat’s behavior is changing normally in response to decreased testosterone in his system. However, if you are worried about his condition, I’d recommend that you have your vet take a look at him.
The vet should be able to rule out complications such as infection that might be impacting your cat’s behavior (these sorts of complications are rare). And your vet will be able to help you devise a plan to ensure that you continue to enjoy your bond with your cat.
Hat tip to Mr. Gato — great photo!
You have questions. 
both of our male cats kept their personalities. they were neutered at almost exactly 6 months old. the older one is still very territorial, while the other is still a sweety. it seems odd that the older (5 yrs.) should stay “mean”. but he’s been picked on from the beginning by the other cats in the neighborhood (his shots are up-to-date, he goes in March for his next round and has check-ups when he seems sick.) could the intact neighbor cats influence his sometimes vicious behavior?
In cats, I have found in my own experience that there is a huge difference in personality and behavior (particularly in female cats) when they are altered than altering dogs. The most recent stray cat my fiance and I found and took in is the perfect example of why I will have spayed female cats from now on (I intended to have her spayed anyway, but health issues postponed it for several months); when she would go into heat it wasn’t simply a bunch of noise, she was also extremely hostile and I (along with the dogs and a couple of others here) would sustain several scratches every other day and she was very stressed over any kind of change, very skittish. Since being spayed, her temperament did a 360 turn-around, she became affectionate the majority of the time and now scratches only happen by accident and during play, but they aren’t nearly as severe as they were, she’s a lot more predictable. Even her health issues have cleared up since being altered, she rarely ever acts or shows signs of stress and has not had any interest in escaping outdoors since being so.