Surgery for an Undescended Testicle in Male Cats

Getting male cats neutered is important for health factors and to prevent unwanted offspring. Unneutered cats often roam from home to breed. They may also have higher risks for illnesses such as sexually transmitted diseases and testicular cancer. However, some male cats have a condition known as cryptorchidism, or undescended testicle. Though the surgery to correct this abnormality can be invasive and costly, male felines benefit from the procedure.

  1. Characteristics of Feline Cryptorchidism

    • Cryptorchidism occurs in male cats at the time of birth and is often hereditary. Though it usually affects one testicle and is called unilateral cryptorchidism, bilateral cryptorchidism in which both testicles are undescended occurs in rare cases. At around two months of age, the testicles of a feline descend into the scrotum. When this fails to happen, one or both testicles remain in the abdominal cavity. An undescended testicle may be in the area of the cat's groin or in other locations throughout the abdominal cavity. An underdeveloped testicle that is not surgically removed can result in health issues such as twisting or torsion of the testicle or testicular cancer. Exploratory surgery to remove the undescended testicle is performed through an incision in the abdomen. The size of the incision and invasiveness of the surgery depends on how difficult locating the testicle is for the veterinarian.

    Diagnosis of an Undescended Testicle

    • An undescended testicle in a male cat is often discovered during a routine medical examination. Often it is discovered when the owner takes the feline to a vet to be neutered. By palpation of the scrotum, a vet can tell if one or both of the testicles are undescended. An ultrasound may sometimes be used to determine the location of the testicle or testicles, and blood tests to check testosterone levels may be needed if the owner is not sure if the cat was previously neutered. Surgery to locate the undescended testicle is performed in conjunction with neuter surgery.

    Feline Cryptorchidism Surgery

    • When feline cryptorchidism is surgically corrected, the veterinarian will also recommend neutering at the same time. The removal of the descended testicle is easily performed while locating the undescended testicle may be a challenge. General anesthesia is given to the cat, and an incision is made. If the undescended testicle is located in the groin area, the incision to remove it usually does not have to be very large or deep, and the testicle is usually fairly easy to find and remove. However, exploratory surgery is often necessary to find the undescended testicle because it could be located behind other organs in the abdomen. In such a case, a large incision, or several incisions, may be required in the search to find and remove the undescended testicle.

    Recovery From Undescended Testicle Surgery

    • Time and a clean, quiet environment is necessary for a feline to recover from surgery to remove an undescended testicle. The cat must be kept inside and not allowed to engage in extreme activity. The incision must be kept clean and dry and examined daily for excessive swelling, redness or discharge. These signs could indicate infection. The cat should not be allowed to lick or chew at the stitches or surgical staples. It should also be given any medications as prescribed by the vet. With proper care, the male feline will be back to normal in 10 to 14 days and be ready to live a long, healthy life.