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CONTRIBUTOR(S): Vetstream Ltd, Beckie Mossor, Fear Free,

Spaying/Neutering your cat

Spaying/Neutering your cat

It is a sad truth that the number of kittens born every year is far greater than the number of good homes found for them. As a result, thousands of healthy animals are destroyed and many more unwanted cats are left to fend for themselves. Having your cat neutered will not only help to reduce these numbers, but it is also one of the simplest, safest and most practical ways of safeguarding your cat’s health and welfare.

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What does spaying/neutering involve?

Both castrations in the male cat and spaying in the female are significant operations that require a general anesthetic. While this is a very safe and common procedure, a few precautions should be taken to decrease the risk of complications. Your cat must be fasted for a specified amount of time before the operation to reduce the risk of complications due to vomiting food contents. Bloodwork should be performed before the procedure to ensure your pet is healthy before anesthesia.

Both castration and spaying involve a single cut into the female’s belly to remove ovaries and uterus (womb) or into the scrotum of the male cat to remove the testicles. Most cats will come home on the same day as surgery, as soon as the anesthetic has worn off. If there are any complications, your veterinarian might want to keep your cat in hospital overnight to keep an eye on them. The fur where your cat was shaved for its operation may re-grow slightly darker than the rest of its body, but the contrast often disappears after the next time your cat molts its fur.

What are the benefits of neutering?

  • Females – unless she is neutered, a female cat will come into season three or four times a year, and she could be having litters of kittens almost constantly throughout her life (they are induced ovulators and will ovulate any time they copulate, so it is not required they are in estrus to reproduce). Motherhood takes a lot out of a cat, and having several litters could shorten her life expectancy. A female cat’s behavior in season changes markedly – she may appear nervous, she may either hide away or seek your constant attention. She will also advertise her availability to potential mates by spraying, and she is likely to roll around on the floor on her back, demonstrating a behavior known as lordosis. Additionally, one female cat can produce up to 4 948 kittens in seven years. Unless you want a female to have a litter of kittens, she must be kept away from tomcats as cats are induced ovulators and can produce a litter of kittens regardless of the stage of the heat cycle. Neutering will prevent unwelcome changes in behavior and prevent unwanted kitten births.
  • Males – uncastrated tomcats can detect a female in season over long distances. A tomcat who wanders is more likely to be involved in a car accident or become involved in fights with other males. This increases the risk of physical injury and infection with dangerous viruses such as the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, spread mainly by biting. At home, Tomcats also mark their territory – including parts of your house – with their urine. This has a powerful and highly unpleasant smell which is often difficult to get rid of. Early castration of male cats reduces the risk of wandering, aggressive behaviors with other male cats, and unwanted litters of kittens.

When should my cat be neutered?

Traditionally, female and male cats have usually been neutered at about six months old. Before developing of safe anesthetics and surgical methods it was believed that a nearly fully grown animal would cope better with the operation. However, increasing numbers of veterinarians now like to neuter animals much earlier, from about eight weeks. This eliminates the risk that a particularly advanced female cat may get pregnant before the operation. There is no evidence that such early neutering harms a cat’s later health and physical development. Your veterinarian will be happy to discuss with you the best time for neutering your cat.

Is it ever too late to have my cat neutered?

There is no upper age limit for neutering your cat. You may wish to have your cat neutered if you acquire it as an adult or you may want to have a litter or two before your cat is retired as a breeding animal. Tomcats can also be neutered later in life which may reduce certain types of behaviors such as spraying. But the older the male is, the more likely he will carry on showing the less desirable behavior traits of a tomcat such as urine marking, although the frequency may reduce significantly.

Is neutering dangerous?

All operations requiring a general anesthetic involve a certain amount of risk and on rare occasions there may be complications after the procedure. However, these dangers are far smaller than those the cat is likely to run into if it stays sexually active. If you are concerned about your cat after the operation, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Will neutering make my cat fat and lazy?

Neutering will not have any significant effect on your cat’s lifestyle apart from eliminating its sexual behavior. Because it is not wandering off in search of a mate your cat may need less food but you should be able to prevent it from becoming overweight by giving it slightly smaller meals. Most owners find that any changes in their cat’s personality are better as many neutered cats become more affectionate and playful.

Is it fair to let a female cat have just one litter of kittens?

It is an old wives’ tale that a cat needs to have a litter of kittens. What your cat doesn’t know it won’t miss, and neutering will save you the trouble and anxiety of finding good homes for the kittens.

Is neutering expensive?

Different veterinarians will charge different prices for neutering; costs may vary according to the location of the practice and the quality of the facilities there. If you are concerned about the cost of neutering, talk to your veterinarian. On the whole, vets want to see as few unwanted kittens as possible, and their neutering charges reflect the cost of the procedure. People on low or fixed incomes may be able to get help with the costs of the procedure from one of the animal shelters. However, it is wise to balance the costs of neutering against the expense of having unwanted litter. A pregnant female will need more food to support herself and her offspring, the litter will need veterinary attention, and you may have to find them good homes.

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