Tomcat Behavior

With their big heads and confident swagger, there's no denying that tomcats have a certain charm. But there's also no denying that those male hormones cause unneutered males, or tomcats, to behave in ways that are distasteful to most humans. Any unneutered male is a tomcat, however unneutered purebred males used for breeding are referred to as stud cats.

  1. Territory

    • Instinct tells all cats, even house cats, to establish a safe territory that includes a food source. This is especially important to tomcats, that are driven to reproduce and also need a safe territory in order to mate.

    Behavior

    • Tomcats spray to mark their territory, fight to drive away competing males and may roam far from home in search of a mate.

    Appearance

    • The tomcat's thick neck and fleshy jowls are secondary sexual characteristics designed to protect him when fighting with competing males. They begin to appear when he reaches sexual maturity, between 6 and 9 months of age. Male cats neutered before they reach sexual maturity do not develop this distinctive tomcat look.

    Influence on Kittens

    • A study by animal behaviorist Sandra McCune shows that a friendly male, or tomcat, is likely to father friendly kittens. Shy, standoffish tomcats usually produce shy kittens. The father's genes also determine the gender of kittens.

    Fatherhood

    • Most tomcats leave the area as soon as they've mated with a female. But some stay around to help with kitten care. Occasionally, a tom will kill the kittens of another male or mistake his kittens for prey animals.

    Neutering

    • Neutering does not change a male cat's personality or temperament, but it does put an end to the spraying, fighting and roaming. Your neutered tom may even retain his big neck and fleshy cheeks.