Question for cat owners about neutered male cats

[bolido2000]

We've been catching mice everyday at my gf's house lately, so we've been thinking of adopting a cat. Besides, her mom loves cats so this would be a good excuse to get one (her dad doesn't like cats much). If we get a male kitten and neuter it, will it develop the hunter instints? I read on a website that its better to neuter male cats before the hormones kick in.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

I don't see why it would make any difference. It's not a hormonal thing, it's an innate instinct, although not all cats care about catching mice.

 

[CrackRabbit]

All cats have some hunter instincts, nutering just keeps them from spraying to mark their territory.

 

[bolido2000]

I thought hormones play a role in developing aggresiveness. Woulnd't that be somehow related with hunting instints?

 

[HomeAppraiser]

I had a nutered male cat that was very non-agressive to other cats and people, but would still go out into the wheat fields to catch a mouse a day and leave it our doorstep.

 

[Kwaipie]

My neutered kitten (7 mos) hunts and plays fetch. It's instinct.

 

[DrPizza]

We recently had a big mouse problem in our barn. We got the cutest most affectionate female cat. She hasn't harmed a single one of the barn animals, including baby chicks. But, I saw her in action getting a mouse - no mercy. I'm pretty certain that there are no more mice in the barn.

 

[BoomerD]

Our 10 yr old nuetered male is a great bird catcher. He was cut at about 6 months old, as was our female cat, who in spite of her size (about 15 lbs) is a very good hunter. She brought us a parakeet last summer...all chewed up of course...

 

[Phoenix86]

Isn't the killer cat that's owned by one of the members here both neutered and de-clawed?

 

[notfred]

I've had both neutered male and spayed female cats that catch plenty of rodents/birds/etc.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

It depends on the cat. My current cats don't catch anything. But in the past my other cats would bring home birds and mice at least once a week.

 

[Vegitto]

It depends on the cat, but it probably will. Although I've heard someone say that they are guaranteed to hunt if they catch their first pray while still 'intact', if you know what I mean .

Great that you're thinking about getting a cat, though. Although, I can tell you, females hunt just as fierce and often as males do.

 

[Horus]

I've had 3 cats. All spayed/neutered. All are very, very good hunters. Even the fat one.

 

[mugs]

I have a neutered male and a spayed female. We don't have mice, but when they see a bug they go nuts chasing it. They usually have a tough time completing the kill though - they like to catch them and play with them. Not sure how they'd do with mice.

 

[zephyrprime]

If you want the best mouse catcher, you have to get one that learned how to hunt from it's mom. Some cats that don't learn never figure it out well on their own.

 

[torpid]

You wait to neuter a cat until a certain age so that it develops properly. After that it makes no difference. Any hormones in the system will be gone really quickly. You just want a young cat. Young cats have more energy. But not too young, like a kitten, because it may not be able to handle itself in a fight too well and might get its eye gouged or something. I'd shoot for 1 year olds.