older cat has started humping stuffed animals

[Anonymous]

Our older, neutered male cat has started humping my child's stuffed animals all of a sudden. He's also been chasing and fighting with our other cat more than used to.

We don't have an established vet (yet) since we moved recently, so I am looking for any thoughts with the plan to also get our cats in for a check-up soon too. (Note, it has been a few months since the move. The humping behavior didn't start until well after.)

Anyone had this happen?

[Anonymous]

I take it "No humpin my friends, Roosty" has not been an effective deterrent. No advice, just thinking of you guys!

[Anonymous]

One of my cats humps my dog. He tries to hump the other cat but that doesn't go over too well. I think he does it more when he's bored. Maybe your cat has less to entertain him in the new place?

[Anonymous]

One of my male cats humps my smaller female cat . The vet has told me that it's a dominance thing, not a sexual thing. (They are all neutered/spayed.) Since you said he is neutered, do you think that now, bc of age (and confusion, b/c you said you recently moved), he is confused and thinks the stuffed animals are other real animals, and he is trying to establish his dominance over them? Sounds like he is a little senile and confused, esp. with the move. Poor fella.

[Anonymous]

OP here: The cats seem to have taken well to the move, and this isn't their first. The humping started later, within the last month or so, and we moved in the summer.

He may think the stuffed animals are other animals, but he's also humped blankets piled up on the couch too. I hope he's not getting old and senile...we don't know much about his background, as we adopted him as a few-years-old stray.