Millions of unwanted pets end up in shelters each year. Shelters do not adopt many of them; they euthanize some because of limited capacity and overpopulation.
Spaying and neutering help to reduce these problems & it also reduces stress for your pet. It eliminates the risk of pregnancy, which carries many health risks.
What Is Cat Neutering?
Neutering is a surgical operation performed to prevent cats from reproducing. It involves removing the male cat’s testicles, eliminating the male hormone testosterone source. The surgical procedure removes the ovaries in females, making them unable to produce eggs. Spaying or neutering your cat will prevent unwanted kittens, which is good for the local feline population and your community.
Unneutered male cats are much more likely to stray over a wide area, mark their territory with an intense spray (which can cause your house to smell), and fight with other males – which can lead to nasty injuries like abscesses. They also spread serious cat diseases such as FIV and Feline Leukemia Virus through saliva from bite wounds suffered during fights. Having your cat snipped will stop this behavior and reduce the risk of him developing prostate cancer, testicular cancer, or other health problems later in life.
When a female cat enters heat, her hormones and mating instinct are vital. She may become aggressive, mount furniture and people, or try to escape from home in search of a mate. Her wanderlust can also increase her risk of getting hit by cars if she attempts at crossroads and highways.
Neutering will remove this urge, so she can happily spend her time indoors in your company. It’s essential to keep her confined to a small room. At the same time, she recovers from the surgery and follows the discharge instructions provided by your vet carefully.
The Benefits of Neutering Your Cat
Having your male cat neutered can help reduce the pet overpopulation problem by stopping unwanted litter. Millions of kittens are born yearly, many not getting adopted and ending up in animal shelters or on the streets. Neutering can prevent these unwanted litters, which means fewer kittens will need to be placed in adoption centres or killed.
There are also health and behavioural benefits of having your male cat neutered. It can lower your pet’s aggression, which may cause fewer fights with other cats or dogs. It can also decrease urine spraying, a problem in the house or outdoors. It can also reduce the odour associated with urine spraying.
Female cats in heat can yowl and become aggressive, which is stressful for your family and other pets. It is because hormones and their mating instinct drive them to find a mate. Having her neutered can eliminate this behaviour and make your cat more comfortable in the home.
In addition to these benefits, a spayed cat will live longer than an intact female. Not spayed cats have a much higher risk of developing breast cancer, uterine infections, and other diseases in later life. They are also at greater risk of being hit by cars and other accidents.
Should You Spay or Neuter Your Pet?
In addition to preventing unwanted litters and reducing pet overpopulation, spaying and neutering your cat can help curb undesirable behaviors like excessive yowling/vocalizing and roaming. Having your pets spayed and neutered early can prevent them from displaying these behaviors and, most times, will efface them.
Spaying and neutering are routine surgeries that involve removing your cat’s reproductive organs. Female cats have their ovaries and uterus removed during spay surgery (ovariohysterectomy), and male cats have their testicles surgically removed during neutering (castration). I performed both procedures under anesthesia, so your pet will be completely comfortable during the operation.
The optimal age for spaying or neutering a cat is before her first heat cycle. With the evolution of veterinary medicine, vets now recommend spaying or neutering cats at 4 or 5 months of age or even younger ones in shelters.
Intact animals often use their energy to mate, which can burn many calories. It can cause your cat to gain weight, especially if they are not getting enough exercise. Having your cat spayed or neutered will remove their natural mating urge and help them lose weight if needed. It will also help them live a happier, healthier life!
How to Neuter Your Cat?
Male cats, the testicles descend into the scrotum when they reach sexual maturity. Depending on your cat’s age, this may happen around four months of age for four young kittens and after that for adult male cats. It’s essential to have your male cat neutered before the cat reaches sexual maturity so that you can avoid unwanted behaviors like spraying and fighting.
To neuter a cat, the veterinarian surgically removes his testicles. They can perform the procedure on young kitties as early as 8 weeks of age, and it is a standard surgical procedure for pet cats, dogs, and kittens. Most cats tolerate the surgery and recover quickly with minimal fuss. You will need to confine your male kitty while his scrotal incisions heal, and you should keep him away from grazing or eating raw meat while he is recovering.
Spaying or neutering is a safe and responsible decision that benefits pets, people, and the planet. It is also a critical step in controlling pet overpopulation, which helps shelters and rescues continue to find homes for the millions of cats and kittens that need them. As always, consult your veterinarian if you have questions about the spaying and neutering process or your pet’s health.
