A castrated cat marks - the main reasons and how to stop it

1. Why do cats continue to mark even after surgery?
2. What should I do if my cat continues to mark his territory after castration?
3. Should cats be neutered?

Do cats mark in the house where they live after castration?
This question interests many pet owners who want to forget once and for all about the problem associated with an unpleasant odor from a cat in a living room. During castration, the cat's testes, which produce sex hormones, are removed, as a result of which he ceases to mark the territory in which he lives. But there are isolated incidents when an animal, even after surgery, continues to misbehave in the house, which greatly upsets its owners. So will a cat stop marking after castration ?

A castrated cat marks: the main reasons

Before the operation, the owners, tired of the marks, ignore the fact that such a phenomenon is inherent in animals by nature: this is how they limit their territory, announcing to strangers that their arrival is undesirable.

The cat marks the territory

Pets are no different from their wild counterparts: a house, the furniture in it, a person - all fall under the concept of property on which it is necessary to leave an odorous trace.

Important! If a cat started marking before castration, then it is difficult for him to understand why he should stop guarding his possessions. The operation performed on mature cats practically does not give the expected result.

Remaining hormones in the animal's body

Veterinarians believe that the best time for castration is before 8 months of age. During this period, the animal does not have time to become closely acquainted with the opposite sex, to learn all the delights of “adult” life (it does not know how to yell in the spring and demand contact). Immediately after surgery, you should not expect an immediate result - the reaction will appear no earlier than 1-6 months from the date of surgery.

If the specified deadlines have passed and the situation has not changed, then you should show your pet to a veterinarian. There is a possibility that the source of the problem is complications that have arisen in the form of hormonal imbalances.

Important! The balance of hormones does not stabilize in one day - all the time until normalization, the animal will persistently renew urine on furniture, carpets, and beds.

The cat lacks the attention of its owners

Independent and graceful animals constantly need affection and communication. The greatest attention should be paid to the pet in the postoperative period - defenseless and confused, he poorly understands the reasons for the intervention and only over time realizes his new and unusual condition.

Cat without attention from owners

Excessive stress

Global changes in the lives of cats disrupt the usual stability. Every major change leads to a stressful state and interferes with their existence. Regardless of the source, the resulting depression makes the animal feel lonely and abandoned. In this case, leaving marks can be considered a way of attracting attention to your modest feline persona.

Important! The solution to the problem is attention. Evening games with a ball or a wind-up mouse, combing behind the ear will convince the cat of his need for all family members, will bring him out of a depressive state, and will not allow the psychological shock to worsen.

Another animal in the house

Why does a castrated cat continue to mark: constant living with healthy, uncastrated pets or the arrival of a new animal can provoke an instinct to divide the sphere of influence and a struggle for leadership.

The cat will not give up these habits of his own free will, and castration does not play any role. Attempts to wean your pet from polluting the entire apartment will end in nothing - until time passes, the hormonal balance in the body changes and the animals share ownership, marks will be found in all accessible and secluded corners of the home.

Rivalry

The birth of a child or the arrival of guests

Guests, a newborn or a visit to the house by relatives leads to the perception of them as competitors for the attention of their beloved owner. If the cat gets used to the child over time, then the other visitors will always feel like invaders and enemies.

Dirty tray

If the owner ignores the requirements for daily cleaning of the box, it leads to the appearance of puddles with a pungent, repulsive aroma throughout the house. Dirt in a cat's litter box is unpleasant for the animal, and in this way he explains his dissatisfaction to the dirty ones.

Important! If there are several pets and a shared toilet, cat marks will be constantly present - as a sign of a struggle for the right to use an individual means for burying waste.

Possible diseases

If after castration the cat continues to actively mark, then there is a risk of developing various diseases of the genitourinary tract. Cystitis, urethritis and urolithiasis cause discomfort during emptying of the bladder. Fear of pain forces the pet to look for places where it will disappear. Corners, upholstered furniture, carpets, clothes of the owners are “attacked” - everything where the cat can reach.

Secondary signs of pathologies are:

• state of general lethargy,
• poor appetite
• anxiety.

Important! The occurrence of symptoms of the inflammatory process requires consultation with a veterinarian and a full diagnostic examination. After a course of treatment, the deviation disappears on its own.

Definition of disease

Optimal age

In fact, everything is individual. Therefore, in order to answer the question of whether cats mark after castration, you will have to observe a specific pet. Until about six months, the kitten’s reproductive system has not fully formed, so it is absolutely impossible to operate on it. The best age for this is considered to be from 7-8 months to a year. If you managed to complete it before the first signs of a crime or mating appeared, then the question of whether cats mark after castration will be clearly negative. There is a 99% chance that you will never have to deal with such a phenomenon in your life.

Solution

It begins with cleansing the marked areas - the pungent aroma will attract the pet and force it to carry out periodic renewal. To get rid of them, use special products purchased at a pet store.

Removing the remaining testis

How to stop a cat from shitting on the bed: the main reasons and methods of influence

The deviation implies a congenital defect in which one of the testicles does not descend into the scrotum, but remains in the abdominal area. Such an anomaly is enough for the animal to continue marking the home. During surgery, it remains in place and requires abdominal surgery.

Important! The problem is rare and occurs due to medical error - when an inexperienced specialist failed to recognize cryptorchidism. It will not be possible to solve it on your own; you will need to consult a veterinarian and undergo repeated surgery.

Use of drugs

Pet stores and veterinary hospitals sell special aerosols - they are applied to places that the cat likes to mark. Before spraying the aerosol, the problem area is washed with detergent, then Antigadin is used.

The effect occurs after a few hours, provided the animal is castrated. Otherwise, the benefit of the drug is questionable.

Antigadin

Animal psychologist intervention

If all the recommendations for dealing with the problem are followed, and the cat continues to actively demarcate possessions, then a psychology specialist comes to the rescue. He will be able to analyze the animal’s behavior and find the source of its discontent.

Change of permanent residence

In some cases, moving to a new home comes to the rescue. To avoid a repeat of the situation, you need to evaluate the changes from the pet’s point of view. Cats react poorly to innovations and sudden changes in environment. The new home is incomprehensible and unfamiliar to them - this leads to attempts to settle in using the familiar smell.

To eliminate marks in a new home, you need to gradually accustom the cat: carefully arrange his bowls, toys, litter box and house. Familiar things will help your furry pet get comfortable faster and forget about the intention to “master” every centimeter.

Important! It is better to place scratching posts in obviously dangerous places, where the cat can mark the property. The animal will begin to leave traces in an alternative way, forgetting about everyone else.

To improve the effect, you can sprinkle them with catnip - it will 100% distract a cat who is unhappy with the move after castration.

What do you need to do?

You need to catch the cat at the scene of the crime, take it by the scruff of the neck, raise it to your eye level, growl menacingly at it and even hiss. The cat can’t even imagine anything more humiliating. After that, you can let him go, but not just like that, to consolidate the effect of education, growl after him, and even throw him with a slipper.

The next step is to remove the applied marks; there should be no trace left of them, not only visible, but felt. Tags must be removed using special means; just a soap solution will not remove the smell.

Veterinarian advice

Why does a cat walk past the litter box: the main reasons and what to do

Experts recommend focusing on the toilet - dissatisfaction with the litter box is one of the most common sources of marks throughout the house. Proper organization of a secluded place for natural needs will help reduce the risk of damaged things by 50%.

• Match the crate to the size of the animal - small cups for kittens cause rage in adults who do not fit comfortably in them. It is better to purchase a deep and wide enough tray, about one and a half cats in volume.
• The toilet should not be within walking distance from the feeding area - combining the two zones will lead to attempts to empty into bowls instead of the box.
• Secluded location - animals prefer to visit the corner of reverie without unnecessary witnesses. The constant movement of family members near the box forces them to look for quieter places.
• Frequency of washing - cats are characterized by increased cleanliness and disgust. Sanitation of the pot should be carried out daily, using detergents.
• Filler - its presence or absence plays an important role. Each pet prefers something different: one requires clean granules, the second hates them with all his cat soul.

The cat is happy with the toilet

Important! If, after fulfilling all the above conditions, the marks continue to appear with enviable consistency, then you need to look for another source of the problem and fight it. Correction of the animal's behavior is carried out in accordance with the prerequisites for the deviation.

Will a cat stop marking after castration?

Veterinarians cannot guarantee that an animal will stop marking after surgery. To increase the effect of the operation, the owner will have to create ideal conditions in the postoperative period. This approach will speed up the cat’s adaptation to changes.

Eliminating habits takes time. Over the course of several months or six months, the owner will have to silently remove traces of vital activity, waiting for the end of hormonal storms.

How long after castration does a cat begin to mark?

Changes in the animal’s habitual behavior can be noticed a week after the operation. Most owners note that behavioral reactions change immediately after castration. The cat stops marking the area and begins to behave like a completely asexual creature.

In some cases, the problem cannot be solved by intervention: an adult pet is not going to give up its usual way of life and continues to persistently leave puddles in all available places. Some individuals manage to “remember their youth” several years after castration - when certain conditions arise (a new pet, moving, a baby).

Very often, the problem of marking is worsened by cat owners themselves - they sincerely believe that a castrated pet is taking revenge on them for its ruined life. People are trying to take out their anger on the unfortunate animal, because they sincerely believed those who convinced them of the ideal behavior of cats after surgery.

Important! Constant screaming and beatings lead to a cold war: the cat defends itself from aggression by protecting its land from evil ill-wishers.

To avoid such trouble, you need to properly care for your pet. He should be fed on time and happy with everything, with a clean tray. Veterinarians advise bringing cats quarterly for preventive examinations in order to timely identify hidden diseases, especially those related to the urinary tract. The ideal keeping of a neutered cat involves the absence of other animals in the house - then he will not have to attract attention with the help of bad-smelling puddles.

Why does he stop going to the litter box?

No, that's not true at all. He still urinates in his toilet. The secret released during sexual heat is a completely different composition, and it is sprayed in minimal quantities. That's why it can be so difficult to find. Will all cats start marking their territory? It’s difficult to answer, but most of them are prone to similar actions. If you live in a private house and he has the opportunity to walk around the garden, then the problem will be solved by itself; apple trees and fences will be enough for him to declare his masculinity. But in an apartment this is just a problem.

You have only two options: endure it or decide to have surgery. And again we return to whether cats mark after castration. This largely depends on the age at which the procedure will be performed. If you leave her until she fully matures and reinforces unnecessary behavior, then nothing can be done about these habits. Therefore, it is best to catch it before he even makes the first marks.

How to remove odor

In an apartment with limited space, the terrible smell of tags is felt quite strongly. It is useless to interrupt it with perfumes or simple air fresheners; this will spoil the air even more.

Special means and precisely selected methods should be used. It is best to seek help from professional medications that include enzymes.

• If you don’t have an effective drug on hand, you can remove the mark with alcohol, but then the room will need to be ventilated to remove its aroma.
• It is not difficult to make a solution of soda and hydrogen peroxide; it will need to be left in place of the mark for several hours. This solution gives off the smell of ammonia, but it disappears in a couple of minutes.
• A strong solution of potassium permanganate will also help, but it can stain the surface.
• Vinegar works well and also removes the smell of cat urine.

Traces of marks must be removed immediately, the area must be washed thoroughly, without leaving a drop of odor. The cat should not get used to the fact that this is his zone and he can safely leave traces of his presence there.

IMPORTANT! Castration is the best way to solve problems with marks, although it does not provide a complete guarantee.

In 95 cases out of 100, according to experts, the cat gets rid of the unpleasant habit, but the owner’s help is also of great importance.

What could be the downsides?

In fact, there is only one that can be singled out. This is the inability to reproduce. If you have a breeding cat who is a winner of exhibitions and championships, then you should look for another solution to the problem. For example, you can move to a private house, where he will have a walking area. Frequent matings can be a solution to the problem, but usually the owners cannot find him as many partners as required. As an option, some owners sew an artificial mug, which will serve as an object for excessive sexual activity.

Time cures

This is some consolation for owners who are tired of dealing with a similar problem. Not immediately, after a certain time, but castration of the cat should still bring a positive result. Reviews from doctors indicate that hormonal changes in adult animals take quite a lot of time. Therefore, for several months the body will work in its usual mode, slowly moving onto new tracks.

No, he will not be oppressed and tormented by the thought that he will no longer be able to have offspring. In animals this issue is much easier to solve. Since there is no longer a need, the individual does not experience any worries about this. By the way, if you ask a veterinarian about why to castrate a cat, he will answer you that way. So that he lives in peace and gives to you.

Stress factor

Your cat is sterilized and marks corners in the apartment. How is that? The indignation of the owners is understandable; it is simply impossible to tolerate the disgusting smell. Do you really have to get rid of the animal if nothing helps?

Wait. Let's try to understand the problem. Remember, was there a situation at home that could affect the cat? Maybe friends with a dog came to visit? Or did little guests come to the children who wanted to meet the beautiful purr? Or did your pet’s food suddenly change?

It would seem that these are very minor factors. This is real stress for you and me, but for the cat. Imagine, she lies there, not bothering anyone. And then a dog’s face came out of nowhere. And he smiles from the top of his dog’s mouth. Naturally, the cat’s eyes will widen, as they say, and it will start looking for the fifth corner in the apartment, just to escape from the monster. And then the body “discharges” in such a non-standard way as marking the territory. Because he was stressed.

Let's summarize

We talked about why a cat marks. Main conclusions of the article:

• The reasons for this phenomenon are different. These include: bladder problems, estrus, stress, change of environment, the arrival of a new family member.
• How to deal with hooliganism? First of all, find out the reason, and if it is not associated with diseases, then there are several options: sterilizing the cat, cleaning with special products that wean the pet off from marking, cleaning the area using available disinfectants. They kill the smell and repel the cat with their own scent.

The relationship between diseases of the genitourinary system and “marks”

You shouldn’t definitely consider all cats that mark walls to be prisoners of their instincts and “inadequate.” It is quite possible that the animal is simply sick. Owners of cats castrated by adults should be especially attentive to the behavior of their pet.

In such cases, the risk of stones in the kidneys and bladder (urolithiasis) is very high. Be sure to take your pet to the vet if he is constantly marking, and small puddles of urine are often found in the house. Such symptoms are typical for ICD. If you identify it in the early stages, there is every chance of maintaining an acceptable quality of life for your cat.

In addition, infectious diseases of the genitourinary organs often lead to similar problems. It happens that after a short course of antibiotics, an adult cat completely returns to normal and stops marking. So don't scold your pet. It is quite possible that behind its transformation into a “pulverizer” there is some serious illness that poses a considerable danger to the life and health of the pet.

Be sure to take him to the vet. The specialist will take urine and blood tests and take scrapings from the walls of the urethra. This will help determine what your cat is sick with and how you can help him.

If the habit of leaving marks has already been formed

This is the lot of those who consider the castration procedure inhumane. Based on these considerations, the owner postpones the operation, believing that he does not have the right to rob a living creature of its natural essence. As a result, if you decide to take an already experienced animal to the clinic, whose habit of marking its territory with the beginning of the rutting period is firmly established, then castration of the cat will not give any results.

Reviews indicate that many people have had sad experiences. Indeed, it is impossible to stop making marks. The only success is that the smell becomes less intense because the testes are removed.

After operation

In the case of males, castration is considered the natural solution, although, as we have already understood, hormones are far from the only “culprits”. So, if the behavior does not change then, some cat owners suspect the doctor of the failure, while others are looking for other explanations. Yes, you need to look, but not on your own, but with a doctor!

Maybe:

- the operation was indeed of poor quality; this can happen in the case of a rare congenital pathology - cryptorchidism, when one undescended testicle remains forever inside the abdominal cavity, and due to inexperience the doctor did not notice this;

- if the animal is young - a little older than 1 year, then the “bad” habit will have to be tolerated for only 3-4 weeks;

- and if the cat has had contact with cats for several years in a row and the “model of male behavior” has long been firmly entrenched in his mind (show aggression, scream loudly and mark), then the reproductive instinct will persist for up to 6-12 months, but the typical caustic the “male” smell will decrease, and after the end of the restructuring of the hormonal system (over several months), the smell disappears and the previous behavior is forgotten;

- due to infections of the genitourinary system;

- due to urolithiasis; it occurs more often in those who have undergone castration (urination is painful, so it is not done in the toilet in the hope that there will be no pain elsewhere), so a sudden change in the place of the toilet is an urgent reason to visit a doctor due to a suspicion of illness.

What you need to know

If you still doubt whether to deprive an animal of its male dignity, then let's look at the pros and cons of castration. This will allow you to avoid feeling guilty towards your pet. So let's start with the positives.

• Castrated individuals are less distracted by their sexual instincts. They are more playful even as adults.
• In this case, the cat forever forgets about searching for females, which means that his escapes from home will be forgotten forever. And with them illnesses, wounded sides and frostbitten ears.
• The operation performed does not lead to obesity. On the contrary, the animal’s hormonal background changes, and it begins to eat more moderately.
• The risk of diseases of the reproductive organs is reduced.
• Neutered people live much longer.

As you can see, there are enough reasons to dare to carry out the operation, even without taking into account the unpleasant odor from the tags. If you have found the answer to the question of why to castrate a cat, then all that remains is to choose a competent doctor who will perform the procedure.