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 NEUTERING:
What does neutering involve?
Neutering is the overall term given to surgical procedures which
render a male or female cat incapable of reproducing. Under
a general anaesthetic, male cats have the fur "plucked" from
their scrotum. Two small incisions are made in the skin of the
scrotum and the cat is castrated, i.e. has both testicles removed.
Female cats undergo the equivalent of a full hysterectomy. An
area on the flank or the stomach is shaved. Both ovaries and
the uterus can usually be removed through a neat little incision.
Males are usually back to normal the day after their operation,
while females may take a day or too longer. Any concerns about
any postoperative discomfort are allayed by the use of painkilling
drugs.
Why should I have my cat neutered?
The most important reason is to control the cat population.
You may be a responsible cat owner who can find homes for your
cat's kittens, but a quick look at the statistics sadly show
that there are too many people who aren't. There are also definite
health benefits for your cat. Entire male cats will wander and
get into fights with other cats. The lifestyle induced by their
hormones makes them more likely to have accidents, and more
likely to be exposed to potentially fatal infectious diseases
(FeLV, FIV). Entire female cats will also be exposed to these
diseases. Additionally, if females are allowed to breed repeatedly,
they may become very rundown, and can also suffer from womb
infections later in life. Most cats reach sexual maturity when
they are around 8 or 9 months of age. We usually carry out the
operation when they are six months old. This is an age when
they are quite robust and wellgrown, but before there is any
chance of a mishap! Some rescue organizations are now performing
the operation on very young kittens before they are rehomed,
but it's too early to say if this will become common practice.
Isn't there a risk with the anaesthetic and surgery?
It is certainly true that every anaesthetic and surgical procedure
carries some risk, but these are minimized as much as possible
by modern anaesthetics and surgical techniques. Your cat is
at greater risk from the problems it encounters if left entire.
Will my cat's personality change after the operation?
Most cats are neutered before they reach puberty, so the personality
they have at that point is one devoid of any hormones. This
means that no change is likely. If older cats are neutered,
they tend to calm down a little and stay nearer home, so any
changes are invariably for the better.
Will neutering prevent my cat from spraying?
Spraying is an activity where a cat squirts a small amount of
urine to act as a scent mark. The behaviour is strongly linked
to sex hormones, so if we neuter we see a significant reduction
in spraying. However, it doesn't prevent the behaviour altogether.
Spraying is not uncommon in neutered cats (male and female),
and is usually a sign that something has unsettled the cat.
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