Castration of cats is a surgical procedure during which the animal is completely deprived of the possibility of procreation. Thanks to her, the cat becomes calmer and more affectionate. In a number of countries, this procedure is mandatory when keeping cats at home.
Before deciding to undergo castration surgery on a cat, it is worth finding out whether it is necessary to castrate a cat when keeping it at home, why this operation is required and what it gives.
What is castration
Veterinarians distinguish between two types of surgical intervention:
- The sterilization operation involves ligating the seminal ducts; the procedure is considered less traumatic for the animal’s body. The recovery period takes only a couple of days. A sterilized animal is not capable of reproducing offspring, but it fully retains the habit of marking its territory and screaming loudly, demanding a cat.
- Castration by veterinarians is the operation to remove the testes. The procedure is as follows: the cat is given anesthesia, an incision is made in the scrotum, and then both testes are removed. Castration permanently rids your pet of the desire to leave marks. However, the risk of complications is quite high. Surgery is not recommended if:
- diseases of the cardiovascular system have been diagnosed, in which case anesthesia is fatal to health;
- the cat has reached an advanced age, the animal may not survive the operation;
- the animal is purebred, acquired for procreation.
Like any intervention, the procedure for complete removal of the testes has a number of positive aspects and disadvantages:
Be sure to read:
Is it possible to sterilize a cat during heat: when is it better than dangerous, after what time can it be done?
Advantages of castration:
- The cat stops asking to go outside, leaving marks, and screaming loudly at night.
- The character of the pet changes: aggression and anger disappear.
- The risk of contracting dangerous diseases from mating with street cats is eliminated.
- Life expectancy increases.
Flaws:
- A pet can suddenly gain excess weight, the fact is that the animal’s hormonal levels are disrupted.
- The cat becomes less active and playful.
- The risk of developing diseases of the genitourinary system increases (with incorrectly selected food).
- Inflammatory processes and bleeding from the sutures may occur.
Pros and cons of the operation
Is it necessary to neuter a cat? This issue raises doubts among animal owners. Some people are afraid of surgical and postoperative risks; others are against interference in natural processes; Still others believe that castrating a domestic cat is inhumane. However, sexually mature animals, deprived by humans of the opportunity to satisfy their instincts, suffer: they scream, show aggression, mark their territory, and try to escape from the apartment. And then the owner comes to the decision to go to the veterinary clinic.
The choice is not easy to make, but the advantages of castration are much greater than the disadvantages.
- The reproductive instinct disappears. Animals that have the opportunity to walk begin to spend more time at home. Apartment cats stop worrying and screaming, become more affectionate, and are better trained.
- The level of cleanliness increases. Uncastrated individuals mark the territory of “their” apartment for various reasons: in an effort to prove superiority, to attract a female, to take revenge on the owner, because of stress or boredom. As soon as the production of hormones stops, cats no longer need to leave their scent on walls, furniture and clothes.
- Aggression decreases. If several cats live in an apartment or the pet goes for walks outside, then castration is a great way to create a calm atmosphere. Animals do not need to share a female or territory, the likelihood of fighting and injury is minimized.
- The risk of disease is reduced. An infected cat can transmit herpesvirus infections, parvovirus enteritis (colloquially called feline distemper), calicivirosis, etc. to the cat. In addition, a neutered cat will not suffer from testicular cancer or diseases of the testes and prostate.
- Life expectancy increases. With proper nutrition and regular visits to the veterinarian, neutered cats live longer than their unoperated counterparts, by 3-5 years.
The disadvantages of castration are the inability to get offspring from a pet and the risk of rapid weight gain after the procedure. The first point is relevant for owners of rare breed cats: the operation is irreversible, so you should think carefully before visiting the veterinarian. The weight of a cat depends entirely on the behavior of the owner: a thoughtful diet and an active lifestyle allow a neutered cat to be in shape for many years.
Is it necessary to sterilize a domestic cat?
It is recommended to sterilize an animal if it:
- Lives at home constantly, never leaving the apartment for a minute.
- The male is not a purebred animal intended for procreation.
- The pet was diagnosed with congenital diseases of the genital organs.
For animals that periodically visit the street, surgery is not necessary. Males are able to satisfy their instincts on their own; castration can negatively affect health and general well-being.
What is special about castration of an adult cat?
Removing the testicles at a young age (before 1 year) is safer. The animal does not experience severe stress after surgery. The kitten has not yet had time to walk with the females. He doesn't know what mating is. He lacks the reproductive instinct.
In adult animals, adaptation is more difficult. Most likely, such a pet walked with cats, so the desire to mate may remain even after the removal of the testes. In addition, in 30% of cases, adult cats continue to mark after surgery, but with urine.
The peculiarity of castration of older pets is the need for the correct selection of anesthesia. Anesthesia increases the load on the heart, which is fraught with complications in the postoperative period.
Before prescribing anesthesia, the veterinarian conducts a comprehensive examination of the animal:
- performs an ultrasound of the heart and abdominal organs;
- takes blood for analysis;
- examines urine and feces;
- does a cardiogram;
- Conducts a drug allergy test.
Otherwise, surgical intervention is no different from that performed in cats under 1 year of age.
Elderly pets (over 7 years old) can only be operated on if there are medical indications. They may include the following disorders and pathologies:
- benign tumors;
- testicular diseases;
- genital trauma;
- oncology;
- prostate hyperplasia;
- hormonal imbalances;
- urinary incontinence.
During the operation, not only the testes, but also the scrotum, as well as dangerous and life-threatening neoplasms of the pet can be removed.
Optimal age for surgery
Veterinarians recommend surgery within a period of eight months to one and a half years.
The time period is the most optimal, because by this time the male:
- The skeleton and internal organs are fully formed.
- Puberty ends.
- A young body can tolerate anesthesia without problems.
- The risk of complications is minimized.
It is not worth castration earlier due to the fact that the animal’s body is intensively developing, and removal of the seminal glands will stop the development of internal organs and will negatively affect the overall development of the animal.
Post-operative care
Due to anesthesia, the cat will not be able to move for several hours. Therefore, first of all, prepare a place to rest. This should be a soft and clean bedding on the floor in a quiet room with a comfortable temperature.
Further care for the cat after castration does not require much effort.
- Coming out of anesthesia. During deep, medicated sleep, which can last up to two hours, cats do not blink. To prevent the cornea from drying out, it is recommended to drop saline solution or lens liquid into the eyes every few minutes.
- Nutrition. Even if the pet quickly comes to its senses and asks to eat or drink, you can give it water no earlier than 4-6 hours after the operation, and food no earlier than 24 hours later. If the cat does not express a desire to eat for more than a day or eats reluctantly, this is normal. In any case, he must have access to food and water on an ongoing basis.
- Hygiene. The tray should be washed and filled with an absorbent diaper, toilet paper or napkins.
- Wound healing. If the cat licks the incision, it’s okay, but if it’s too zealous, it’s better to wear a veterinary collar. Minor swelling or redness does not require immediate medical attention. For several days, you should be careful when interacting with the cat and not touch the wound.
What happens if the gonads are not removed?
If the animal's reproductive glands are not removed at a young age, the owner will face a not very happy future. After puberty, an adult cat will begin to mark its territory; the unbearable stench and sticky puddles will become a permanent “decoration” of the apartment.
At the beginning of spring, the owner will be forced to listen to loud cat “arias” in the evenings, as the animals search for a female for mating. The male will become aggressive, begin to attack the owners, shit in inappropriate places, and ask to go outside.
Be sure to read:
Is it necessary to sterilize a cat: at what age is it better, surgery for a nulliparous cat, pros and cons
The pet will try to leave the apartment to go in search of its “other half,” and finding it on the street will not be so easy. A pet, accustomed to constant care from people, may die on the street.
Contraindications to castration
Anesthesia is always stressful for the body. The heart, kidneys and liver begin to work hard to remove toxins and get rid of the effects of anesthesia. The condition of these organs determines whether adult cats can be castrated.
Contraindications for testicular removal are:
- heart failure;
- vascular diseases;
- the presence of infection and inflammatory process;
- epilepsy;
- severe pathologies of internal organs;
- diabetes;
- underweight;
- urolithiasis disease;
- allergy to anesthetics.
If the animal has one or more of the above contraindications, you will have to look for an alternative to castration. Otherwise, the possible consequences may be fatal.
After examining the cat, performing diagnostic procedures and taking all the necessary tests, the veterinarian will tell you whether the operation can be performed. The animal owner’s task is to listen carefully to the doctor and do as he says. This is the key to a healthy and long life for your pet.
Is surgery necessary if the cat does not go outside?
Sterilization of non-outdoor animals is mandatory in many countries. It is domestic cats that most often cause the maximum amount of trouble to their owners. The male, who periodically visits the street, marks the territory there, mates, and returns to the house to eat and sleep.
The pet is deprived of such “joys”, which means it will create all the disgrace in the apartment. Removal of the gonads is the only option for owners of adult cats.
Sterilization and castration of cats
Often, cat owners confuse two inherently different concepts: “castration” and “sterilization,” naively believing that castration is “when the bells are cut off for cats,” and sterilization is the same as castration, only in cats. Both of these procedures can be performed on both male and female cats. Neutering a cat involves either ligating the ovaries or removing the uterus while leaving the ovaries. A cat can “flow”, experience urges and still make love to the cat, however, without the threat of becoming pregnant. Well, it’s just like with people.
Castration of a cat involves removing both the uterus and ovaries. After this procedure, cats do not go into heat, hormones do not fluctuate, the risk of cancer is reduced, and the function of the ovaries is transferred to the adrenal glands.
Should pets be neutered in old age?
An elderly cat is neutered for medical reasons.
During an examination at a veterinary clinic, your veterinarian may recommend intervention if your pet:
- suffers from urinary incontinence;
- irreversible changes in the testes were diagnosed;
- the onset of development of prostate inflammation has been identified;
- behavior changed dramatically, becoming overly aggressive.
Cats older than 7-10 years are more often at risk of complications during anesthesia and surgery, require more thorough postoperative care, and take a long time to recover.
Preparing for surgery
Before subjecting your pet to surgery, it is worth preparing him for this procedure. The success of the surgical intervention, as well as the further postoperative period, will depend on this.
First of all, you should decide how many months to have the operation. At the time of castration, the cat must be at least 8 months old, but not more than a year old. At this point, the animal has completed puberty, and the animal enters into heat for the first time.
Important! If you perform surgery on a cat less than 7 months old, this may negatively affect the functioning of the genitourinary system. Undeveloped internal genitalia can damage the urethra, which can lead to problems with urination.
If this procedure is performed at an older age, then it may not give the effect that is planned. After the operation, the cat may simply become infertile, but she may still have the desire to mate with cats. It has been established that in almost 8-10% of cases, many cats behave as if this manipulation had not been performed. However, they still stop marking their territory, and the smell of urine becomes not as strong as before castration.
But for representatives of the cat family over the age of 8 years, this type of operation may be contraindicated; it’s all about the unpredictable reaction to anesthesia. Therefore, older animals must undergo a blood test before planned castration. For this reason, the optimal age for castration is considered to be 8-9 months.
Before subjecting your pet to castration, it is necessary to properly prepare him for this procedure by following a number of mandatory recommendations:
- The pet must be vaccinated. Vaccination can be carried out within the prescribed period. If it was not possible to perform it earlier, then the vaccination can be done two weeks before the operation;
- 10 days before surgery, anthelmintic therapy is required;
- The cat should not eat 12 hours before surgery. This can cause unpleasant consequences after the pet recovers from anesthesia. But you can give him drinks in unlimited quantities;
- The animal must be carefully examined by a veterinarian. He must palpate the fur, skin, check the lymph nodes, mucous membranes, listen to the heart, lungs, check the stomach, and also measure the temperature;
- If necessary, an ultrasound examination may be prescribed, and blood and urine tests may be prescribed.
Where to castrate a cat? This procedure can be carried out in a veterinary clinic, where doctors will be able to carry out everything quickly and without complications. But recently, castration at home by specialists from an on-call veterinary service has been in increased demand. Castration of a cat at home is less traumatic for the pet’s psyche, and is also much easier.
Find out more about the features of castration of a cat at home.
Weight in the postoperative period
Neutered kittens may gain excess weight, which can lead to obesity. Therefore, owners need to switch their pet to food for sterilized kittens. If your pet eats natural food, then you need to make sure that fatty and high-calorie foods are not included in its diet. His usual meal can be divided into even parts and given, for example, not two, but three times a day.
Postoperative period
In principle, after castration, cats behave calmly. If such an event went without complications and the dose of anesthesia administered was not exaggerated, then after a couple of hours the kitten will begin to walk. Naturally, your coordination will be poor right away, but that’s not a big deal.
Cats that have undergone surgery usually become less aggressive. However, activity, hunting, curiosity and playfulness will remain in your pet.
Will a neutered cat's behavior change?
For owners who love their cat, this circumstance alone should become a powerful incentive to take the cat to the veterinarian without delay. Castration of a village cat greatly increases its chances of living to a respectable age.
In a sense, the animal's behavior does change after castration. He loses sexual desire, and the cat no longer goes on a spree for several days, risking being run over by a car or in the teeth of a vicious dog.
Often, owners do not castrate a cat, fearing that it will stop catching mice and will not be able to repel strange cats that accidentally wander into its territory. In fact, such “softness” of an animal after castration is very rare. Most animals after castration remain as active and vigorous as before.
