What Happens When a Cat is Neutered?

Neutering your male cat is one of the wisest choices you will make as a pet owner. Neutering refers to the procedure that castrates a male cat. It is a safe and effective operation that will make your pet more enjoyable, live longer, and will also benefit the overall health of the cat population, which sees thousands euthanized every year because of over breeding.

  1. Significance

    • By choosing to neuter, you will improve the quality of life for you and your pet. You male cat will no longer wish to spray urine to mark his territory (unless you have waited until he is older and has already been sexually active). He will no longer want to wander away from home, and so is much less likely to be killed. And he will live longer, because he will take fewer risks and be exposed to less disease and danger.

    Function

    • The function of the procedure is to remove the testicles through the scrotum and sever the spermatic cords--crushing the blood vessels and eliminating any hormone producing sex glands.

    Effects

    • Effects of the procedure are temporary swelling and pain, which are rapidly recovered from. No sutures are needed as the vet will use the cat's own tissues to tie off the cords. The incisions are small, and heal quickly. Once the testicles are gone, testosterone production is eliminated and the cat will either no longer show male sexual urges or instincts, or they will be significantly reduced.

    Considerations

    • Cats can be neutered as early as six weeks, although standard procedure usually has you wait until they are six months old. Neuter as young as possible in order to avoid any more testosterone exposure than necessary. Once a male cat has begun spraying, it is more difficult to get him to stop.

    Benefits

    • Benefits of neutering are manifold. The cat population, which is already overburdened, will not be added to by your cat. He will not have the instinct to fight, spray, or mate, so his expsure to violence will be greatly reduced. His health will benefit, as he will more easily maintain weight and immunity. And he will not have the urge to wander, greatly extending his life span. Tomcats live short, violent lives.