You may be embarrassed at the thought of discussing your cat’s erectile dysfunction and penile problems, but it’s important to contact your vet if you’re concerned. This guide covers sexual behaviour and common cat penis conditions, so you know what to keep an eye out for.

Why Does My Cat Get an Erection?

When a male cat gets sexually aroused, their penis and surrounding glands fill with extra blood causing them to swell. Cat’s have a preputial cavity that their penis sits inside when it’s not erect. As it starts to swell, the penis comes out of the cavity and becomes visible externally. An erect cat penis is bright pink or red, moist and has barbs/spikes.

A cat’s barbed penis is needed to stimulate the female cat into ovulation. The penis returns inside the cavity as the erection subsides. This can take between a few minutes and an hour.

You may have noticed your cat get an erection while kneading. This is because mounting, kneading, licking, and biting are all involved in the mating process. By carrying out these actions, your cat will be getting aroused.

Common Cat Penis Conditions

Paraphimosis in cats, also known as penile entrapment, refers to an inability to fully retract the penis after an erection. The most common cause is hair that has become entangled around the penis. Other possible causes include a foreign body, nerve problems, a mass, or sexual stimulation.

An exposed penis can quickly become swollen, dry, and painful, so it’s important to get it seen by a vet immediately. Your cat may show signs of distress or excessively lick their penis. Paraphimosis is easily treated if recognised early on, but advanced cases may require surgery.

Phimosis is when the cat’s penis can’t get through the preputial opening (the hole in the body wall, that the penis comes out of) due to it being abnormally small. In some cases, the penis is able to get through the opening, but the cat has difficulty retracting it. The problem can be present at birth or acquired from a bacterial infection, inflammation, or trauma. Your vet will be able to determine whether your cat needs surgery to correct the problem.

Cat priapism is a persistent erection without sexual stimulation. It’s an uncommon disease in cats that can be caused by neurologic dysfunction (nerve problems), drugs, trauma, masses on the penis, blood vessel abnormalities, or an unknown cause. Long-term constriction of the penis can also lead to the formation of blood clots.

Symptoms of priapism include excessive licking of the penis and difficulty going for a wee. There may also be a little bloody fluid coming from the penis or bloody urine. Your cat will need to see your vet immediately for treatment.

Aside from cat erection problems, the penis is a sensitive organ that can get suffer from injuries when playing, fighting, climbing, and jumping. Speak to your vet if you notice any swelling, bruising, bleeding, or excessive licking as this could be a medical emergency. Blood can also be a sign of infection or cancer, so it’s best to get it checked by a vet who can perform a physical examination to reduce the risk of any life-threatening symptoms developing.

Cats, regardless of age, can experience issues with their lower urinary tracts. Some felines may be prone to bladder infections, a type of urinary tract infection (UTI), which can typically be resolved with a course of antibiotics. However, others may develop urethral obstructions and bladder stones, requiring surgical intervention, and potentially a urinary catheter.

Common signs of urinary tract infections in cats include difficulty or straining when urinating, reduced urine output, presence of blood in the flow of urine, and inappropriate urination outside the litter tray or litter box. These symptoms are however very similar to feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) symptoms, which are also more common, so it's important to check with your vet if you notice any of these signs.

What Is Cat Hypersexuality?

Cat hypersexuality is when a cat displays excessive or obsessive sexual behaviours like mounting, humping, spraying, erections and licking their genitals. It’s most common in entire male cats due to the testosterone hormone, but there are several causes, including:

• Adrenal hyperplasia or neoplasia.
• Cryptorchidism (retained testicles).
• Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).
• Neurological disorders.
• Primary behavioural disorders.
• Poor socialisation.
• Social dominance.
• Stress.
• Temporal lobe epilepsy.

Speak to your vet if you’re concerned about your cat’s humping behaviour. They’ll be able to determine the cause and discuss treatment options with you.

Can a Neutered Cat Get an Erection?

When castrated, a male cat's testes are removed, which is where nearly all testosterone hormone is produced. It can take a long time for hormones to leave a cat’s body following a castration, so you may not notice any changes to their sexual behaviour to start off with. Their urge to mate will eventually decrease. Even after this time, your cat can still get sexually aroused and get an erection, but it will be less frequent and won’t last for as long.

Cat erections are caused by sexual stimulation. They’re most common in entire male cats but it’s not uncommon for neutered cats to get aroused. Paraphimosis, phimosis and priapism are common cat penis problems that cause erectile dysfunction or persistent erections. Take your cat to see your vet if your male cat’s penis has been erect for more than an hour, or if there’s any swelling, bruising, or bleeding.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis - www.vetlexicon.com/felis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.