Benefits of Cat Neutering

Neutering male cats has many benefits for the cat, the pet owner and the animal population as a whole. Neutering---removing a male animal's testicles so he cannot breed---is a simple procedure that a veterinarian can perform on cats as young as six weeks. Older pets, if they are healthy, can still receive benefits from neutering.

  1. Better Behavior

    • Neutering helps reduce three undesirable character traits in male cats: spraying, aggression and roaming. Spraying is the cat's instinct to mark his territory with urine, which has a strong and unpleasant smell. Neutered cats are less likely to spray, and their urine does not smell as strong. Aggression is fueled by the male sex hormone testosterone; without his testicles, your neutered cat will be less aggressive toward other cats. Finally, unneutered male cats will follow the scent of females in heat, reacting strongly to female pheromones. If you neuter your cat young, he will not respond to females in heat.

    Better Health

    • Because neutering reduces aggression in male cats, it removes one of the biggest threats to your cat's health and life. Unneutered male cats fight each other over territory. These fights can lead to serious injuries, including torn ears, missing tails and scars. Bite wounds can develop into infected, pus-filled abscesses. Because a cat's skin heals quickly, it closes over puncture wounds, sealing in bacteria. Not only are these wounds painful for your cat, but the infection can enter the bloodstream and become fatal. Neutered cats live longer, healthier lives; according to SpayUSA, neutered cats live three to five years longer.

    Decreased Pet Populations

    • The Humane Society of the United States reports that 6 million to 8 million pets enter animal shelters each year, and half of them are euthanized. Many of these animals are unwanted puppies and kittens, the offspring of pets who weren't spayed or neutered. In addition, reputable breeders carefully select cats for particular traits; allowing your male cat to breed randomly can introduce genetic diseases or aggressive personalities into the pet population. Neutering your male cat will help prevent unwanted cats from being euthanized and keep the pet population decreased and healthy.