Reasons for a Male Cat to Wander

If you have a male cat that wanders, you are probably concerned that your pet may get lost and not come home. A male cat̵7;s health and surroundings could be the reasons behind its sudden wanderlust. Medical issues should be discussed with your veterinarian, while changes to its surroundings could relieve stress-related wandering. If you are worried about the safety of your male cat, consider keeping it indoors.

  1. Neutering

    • Male cats that are not neutered may have cause to wander from home. In male cats, neutering effectively reduces roaming and other problem behaviors by as much as 90 percent, according to the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine Behavior Service. When a male cat is neutered, its testicles are removed as a way to prevent reproduction. Urine-spraying and aggression with other male cats in and out of the house are other behaviors that are diminished after neutering.

    Stress

    • When your male cat is stressed, it may feel the urge to roam. Besides hiding, signs of stress in a cat include litter-box accidents, aggression toward people or other animals, marking and excessive grooming. To relieve stress in your cat, make time to play with it every day. Use fishing-pole toys that challenge the cat. Avoid dominance issues with other male cats in the household by giving each cat its own litter box.

    Predatory Behavior

    • Predatory behavior could be at the root of your cat's roaming. Cats are natural hunters that like to chase small animals; their favorite targets include birds, mice and rats. If your male cat is on the hunt, it may end up miles away from home before it is able to capture its prey.

    Mating

    • When your male cat wanders from home, it could be looking for a mate. Outdoor cats patrol areas searching for female cats for company. Since male cats are very territorial, it may be looking for a fight as well. During its roaming, it could claim a territory and fight off other cats that dare entry to the area.