Fin is either sick or...

a girl.

I never did get a definite answer on gender. I couldn't tell so well, and my friend thought neutered male. Seriously, there's alot of hair down there. He's an all black long haired cat. Today, he started meowing loudly. He was in the bathroom where his litterbox and food are (small house). I had just fed him, and made sure he knew food was in there. He had eaten recently, so wasn't hungry. That progressed to loud meowing, almost yowling at the door (to outside). He also kept cleaning himself down there. He settled down when I brought him onto my bed. He was being very affectionate, but he always is.

So I've either got a sick cat (or one acting weird), or a female in heat. I have had him for 6 months, almost exactly. So it could be possible. He is and always will be an indoor cat, but I don't love the thought of a cat in heat. Especially my sweet little boy cat who never does anything obnoxious.

If he keeps it up another day, I'll bring him to the vet to have the tech check his gender. If he's male, I'll make an appointment to figure out what's going on.

Why don't you have Fin spayed or neutered, whichever applies? You won't have to worry about more heat cycles or spraying in the future and he will be more content living inside and much less likely to run away. You will also prevent several health problems as well as any more unwanted kittens that your cat may produce.

I'm well aware of the reasons to spay/neuter. I work with the shelter. You're preaching to the choir.

I checked again, and he is definitely male. I was 90% positive he was an altered male. Just with the meowing, he had me wondering.

He is neutered.

If it had turned out he was female, I would have had her spayed after the heat cycle was over.

Anyway, I've figured out the meowing. He is begging. I got him some canned iams a few days back, then ran out for a couple days, now he's begging. He's never cared whether I gave him canned or dry food, I've been trying to find a canned that agrees with his tummy (some give him diarrhea). Might stick to iams for a while.