Why do you need to castrate cats?
When choosing between who to take into the house - a “boy” or a “girl”, many prefer male kittens. But by six months the cute kitten begins to show sexual activity. The result affects the furniture, carpets, and shoes of the owners. A cat living at home instinctively leaves odorous marks that cannot be eliminated.
Often, a cat’s natural instincts lead to tragedy. An animal can jump out of a window or from a balcony, or slip out of a slightly open door. If a cat has never been outside, he will not be able to withstand a fight with tailed street fighters. And the cat is unlikely to find his way home. Another "lost" one. Even if the cat was found and returned home, it is not a fact that he did not manage to become infected with the infection from street animals.
The other “side of the coin”: castration will help reduce the population of animals born on the streets. If a cat is free-range, he will definitely find a “girlfriend”. Weak and non-viable kittens are doomed to death or even more sickly offspring.
Castration of a cat changes not only its sexual habits, but also its character. The animal stops marking its territory and calmly treats the females living in the house. Owners note the gentler and calmer disposition of a neutered cat - he does not show aggression towards people or “rivals”.
How to distinguish a cat from a neutered cat?
The most effective method of distinguishing females from males is careful visual inspection. Of course, if the cats are smooth-haired, then by external examination of the genitals it is easier to determine whether the cat is in front of you or a neutered cat.
So, pet an animal that is in a good mood, talk to it, and gently lift its tail. In females, the genitals resemble an exclamation mark, that is, a vertical line up to 1 centimeter long, and a dot under it. In males, under the tail you will rather find a “colon” - the anus and urethra. The distance between them is also approximately 1 cm. You will not see the scrotum in castrated individuals. The penis is located below the place where she was. It looks like a small bump between the cat's thighs. If the cat was neutered recently, less than 3 months ago, then the mark from the surgical intervention (scar) can, if desired, be found even in pets with semi-long and long hair. In addition to a visual inspection, you can determine whether you really have a cat without male genital organs by its behavior. He is too calm, behaves phlegmatically, and shows no interest at all in members of the opposite sex. The natural curiosity of castrated males is often replaced by a decrease in attention to what is happening and an increase in interest in food. They can sleep calmly and serenely, absolutely not reacting to sharp and loud sounds, but unneutered cats can get scared and hide from them.
Cat lovers with extensive experience can, without even looking under the animal’s tail, determine how females differ from males. They even recognize by their faces where the cat is and where the male is, with 99% accuracy. Males have a wider muzzle, while females are narrower and more elongated. Cats also have a wider nose. Girls' gait is more graceful, graceful and quiet. They are also more inquisitive, cunning, and gentle. Only females can be tortoiseshell. Cats sleep longer and are less likely to be held by their owners.
For many animal lovers, the question of how to distinguish a cat from a cat is quite simple. And experienced breeders can do this almost immediately. But for ordinary people who are planning to take a new four-legged friend into their home, such a task is often not so easy. Indeed, in each case, you need to be fully prepared for some difficulties. So, in the future, a cat, if released outside, will return pregnant, but the cat may mark its territory and will also ask to go for a walk.
Therefore, before taking a small pet into your home, be sure to distinguish the sex of this animal. Of course, it's easiest if you buy or adopt an animal from a nursery. But what to do if a baby appears at your door by chance, by the will of fate. In this case, our tips will help you distinguish a cat from a cat.
How is castration performed?
Any operation has positive and negative consequences. After castration, the cat will become more obedient and calm. Neutered cats live longer. However, owners will have to carefully monitor the cat's diet and maintain the health of the urinary system.
Positive aspects of castration:
- aggression and nervousness are reduced;
- the risk of injury and escaping from home is reduced;
- the cat stops marking its territory.
The negative aspects of the operation include:
- risk of obesity and development of urolithiasis;
- risk (minimal) of complications after surgery;
- allergy to anesthesia (and the danger of its effects on weakened animals, cats suffering from cardiovascular diseases).
Character of cats
So, let's imagine that you decide to buy a cat. A cat is an absolutely independent animal that will subconsciously influence its owner to pet it, play with it, or feed it.
In the case of a cat, your apartment will simply become a training ground for him, where it will be difficult to find him, since he will constantly hide from his owner, and then unexpectedly attack his legs and so on. In addition, the cat will think that your apartment is a common territory for both the cat and its owner, and therefore he needs to know everything that happens in it.
Cats are very curious animals that need to carefully examine all new things or those that have been moved from one place to another. They will definitely want to sniff everything, and if possible, then climb into a new object, if it is a bag or a box.
Cats are able to monitor and control all the actions of their owner. If you are busy with something, then your cat will definitely follow absolutely all your actions. For example, in your pet's field of vision there may be:
- wash;
- cleaning the house;
- meeting with guests and so on.
At what age is it better to castrate a cat?
Veterinarians recommend castration of kittens at the age of 6-9 months. By this age, the animal has already formed, and the removal of the genital organs - the testes - will not affect the hormonal background of the body.
If the operation is performed on an adult animal, the animal’s sexual habits are often preserved - it can still mark its territory and fight with “rivals.” Sometimes castration is prescribed for adult animals and even elderly animals with certain diseases of the genitourinary system.
Changes in behavior
Cats also change dramatically during this time. Firstly, they simply begin to harass everyone around them with heartbreaking meows (it’s very easy to distinguish, you can hear them far away!). Moreover, they shout without paying attention to the time of day. Although, during this same period, they become surprisingly affectionate, especially with men: they allow themselves to be stroked, picked up, scratched on their tummy, and rubbed against their legs. When desire generally gets out of control, the female sex begins to raise its tail, arch its back invitingly, making it clear what it needs.
There are only two ways out of such situations. First, distinguish who is who and allow you to walk freely and satisfy your sexual desires. Second, pay a visit to the veterinarian to deprive your pets of the opportunity to continue their race. Which of these methods is more correct is up to you to decide.
But in any situation, no matter what gender your pet is: male or female, he needs attention and love.
You will see that being responsible for those we are lucky enough to tame can be not only very troublesome, but also pleasant. Such care for our little brothers can bring a sincere smile to your face and bring a lot of positive emotions.
If you are thinking about getting a kitten, then you have probably already started to think about who to choose: a male cat or a female cat?
Of course, boy kittens and girl kittens are almost the same in childhood. But with age, the character and behavior of a cat begins to change and the difference increases.
Who is better to choose so that in the future your life will be joyful and hassle-free?
Types of castration
There are different surgical and chemical methods of castration of cats. The most popular and safest is surgery. Castration of a cat will prevent uncontrolled reproduction and uncontrollable behavior of the animal.
Surgical methods include:
- sterilization (palliative method consisting in ligation of the spermatic cords);
- Castration is a radical method in which the gonads are completely removed.
In the first case, the cat’s sexual desire does not decrease, sexual functions are not impaired, which does not cause changes in the animal’s behavior. The cat will mark its territory and scream to attract females. The character of the cat does not change either - he will defend his “male rights” to the bitter end. It is because of this that this method is unpopular.
A radical method is to remove the testes. It is carried out in two ways - open or closed. How is castration of cats carried out ?
- With the open method, the cat is given general anesthesia, the doctor cuts the skin of the scrotum and opens the membrane of the testicle. The testis is removed, the vessels are tied into a knot. There are no stitches.
- With the closed method, the tunica vaginalis of the testicle is not opened, and the testis along with it is removed from the scrotum. The whole operation takes no more than 5 minutes.
Chemical castration of a cat is a method of radiation exposure to the genitals of an animal.
It has not yet become widespread, but specialists at the Lucky veterinary clinic in St. Petersburg recommend it as a safe, painless and reliable method.
How much does castration of a cat cost - when to castrate a cat and where to castrate a cat?
- Keeping pets can be challenging in a variety of ways.
- For example, at some point your male cat may need to reproduce, which is not always pleasant for the breeder.
- Veterinary hospitals recommend surgery to castrate or sterilize your pet. This procedure will eliminate the animal’s attraction to the opposite sex, as well as make life easier for their owners.
What is the essence of the operation
Sterilization is an operation in which the surgeon removes either the uterus and ovaries, or only the ovaries, as the owner wishes.
The first option is better, as it guarantees the absence of health problems in this area in the future.
If only the ovaries are removed during surgery, the cat may develop a disease in the future, which will require the procedure to be repeated.
Also, with the second version of the operation, there is no guarantee that the pet will not become pregnant or lose sexual desire. If the owner decides to sterilize his pet, it is better to completely remove the internal reproductive organs, which will protect the animal from diseases and the owners from unexpected feline offspring.
Such operations are carried out using two methods. The first is an incision in the abdominal area along the lateral muscle, removing one ovary in this place, since the approach to the other side is difficult. Surgeons prefer to cut along the linea alba. This reduces bleeding, which makes it possible to immediately remove the uterus and reproductive organs.
Castration is an operation for male animals during which the testes are removed. The procedure lasts about ten minutes and is performed under general anesthesia. Cats require three weeks of care after surgery, but the cat should be kept away from various heights until the anesthesia wears off.
How much does castration and sterilization cost?
Depending on the type of operation, the reputation of the hospital and the place where the procedure is performed, the cost ranges from 1500-2000 rubles in standard budget organizations and within 7000 rubles in private clinics. Some veterinarians perform castration at home, and this already increases the price of the service.
Postoperative period
Usually the animal quickly recovers from anesthesia, and the postoperative period passes without complications. During the first 24 hours, you should look after your pet and limit its mobility. The first hours after waking up the cat will stagger. After 3-4 hours you can give him water. Do not allow the operation site to be licked; monitor the hygiene of the tray. It is better not to use the filler for a few days.
After the operation, the wound will cause discomfort to your pet for several days. It may itch, then the cat will try to lick it. It is recommended to treat the wound with an antiseptic and put a protective collar on the cat.
You can feed the cat only the next day after surgery. The diet will have to be reconsidered - castrated cats are at risk of developing urolithiasis and kidney problems.
Some owners ask the veterinarian why the cat loses weight after castration . Short-term weight loss is the norm; after suffering stress, the body needs some time to recover. With the right food and proper nutrition management, appetite will return and metabolism will normalize.
If after a few weeks the weight has not returned to normal, you should contact a veterinarian. Reasons for losing weight may be:
- the presence of worms;
- disruption of internal organs.
Castration of cats
The question of castration is perhaps faced by every owner. It is usually difficult to make a decision: some people think about the humaneness and ethics of the procedure in relation to a pet, some are afraid of operational risks, some do not want to interfere with nature. In order to dispel doubts, it is worth weighing the pros and cons of the operation.
First, let's figure out what castration is. In general, male castration refers to the complete cessation of sexual desire and the inability to impregnate a female . Most often this is a surgical operation, but currently cats are also castrated with medication (temporary castration, chemical sterilization). We talked about medical castration in this article, but here we will talk about the surgical method.
The essence of the operation to castrate a cat is to remove the testes (testicles), thereby stopping or significantly reducing the production of the male sex hormone testosterone by the testes. As a result, there is a decrease in libido and the cat’s ability to fertilize is lost, the character and metabolism changes - the cat becomes more “domestic”, does not ask, does not run outside, stops marking the territory, aggression towards other animals and towards humans decreases.
As a rule, castration is performed by making a small incision in the skin of the scrotum previously prepared for surgery, extracting the testicle and its complete removal. Removal of testes is carried out in several ways:
- applying a ligature to the spermatic cord;
- application of biological node
Photo of cat castration “for biological node” and “for ligature”
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Both methods of castration of cats are used by veterinarians all over the world and have proven themselves to be excellent, however, the surgeons of our clinic prefer castration “for a biological node” - this method guarantees that the animal will not have any foreign objects (ligature thread) in the scrotum and will never have problems in the future. complications in the form of fistulas, inflammation of the spermatic cord stump, etc.
Another way to “sterilize” a cat is sterilization. Sterilization of males means the cessation of the ability to fertilize. Libido remains at the same level. In other words, a cat can mate a cat, but is not able to fertilize her. During the operation, the vas deferens are ligated (ligated), through which the cat's sperm enters the urethra. This method is used quite rarely, only if the owners insist.
Cat after castration:
- Does not feel the need to walk outside, does not run away or fight with other cats. This reduces the risk of getting one of the slow, deadly infections - infectious peritonitis (FIP), viral leukemia and feline infectious immunodeficiency. You are also less likely to get common viral infections such as panleukopenia or calicivirus.
- Doesn't mark territory, doesn't have the typical cat smell. The owner will not have to go after the cat every day and eliminate the consequences of his sexual behavior.
- Castration provides peace of mind to both the animal and its owners. After all, cats behave very restlessly during the heat period, scream, and become more aggressive.
- Lives longer. It has been proven that the life expectancy of sterilized animals is on average 1.5-2 years longer.
Possible problems after castration and solutions:
- As a result of changes in hormonal balance, cats often begin to gain weight, which leads to obesity and additional stress on the cardiovascular system and ligamentous system. Castrated cats become more phlegmatic, their physical activity decreases, which leads to a sharp weight gain, but a properly selected diet can avoid these problems.
- Surgical risks associated with anesthesia. Young cats usually tolerate anesthesia well, but there is a risk if the cat is neutered at an older age (over 7 years), or if the animal has congenital diseases (for example, HCM, kidney or liver failure). In these cases, a preliminary examination of the animal is indicated (clinical examination, biochemical blood test, cardiac echo).
- The risk of urethral obstruction increases with the development of urolithiasis. The disease itself occurs in all cats. However, in a castrated cat, the lumen of the urethra may narrow, which leads to difficulties in removing stones, causing blockage of the urinary tract. Mandatory prevention of the formation of sand and stones in the bladder is required by prescribing a special diet. For this, veterinarians recommend industrial food intended for castrated cats. For example, Royal Canin Neutered Young Male, Hill's Feline Sterilized Cat Young Adult, etc.
Frequently asked questions from owners:
At what age is it better to castrate a cat? The optimal age for castration of a cat is from 7-8 months to 7 years. During this period, the body is already fully formed, and the animal tolerates anesthesia well. If you castrate a cat before 7 months, complications may arise in the form of retarded growth and development, especially in the genitourinary system. If you decide to castrate an older cat (over 7 years old), the anesthetic risks of the operation increase.
The cat had never marked before, but at the age of 3 he started. Will castration help? Yes, it will help. The cat could mark in the litter box and you wouldn’t notice it. Perhaps another cat has appeared nearby, and now your pet is marking “its” territory. Castration reduces sexual behavior to zero. In rare cases, the functions of the testes in the production of male sex hormones are taken over by the adrenal glands and pituitary gland. In this case, you will have to try on special drugs (medical castration).
How long does it take for a cat to recover from anesthesia after castration? The time of deep sleep during anesthesia is about 1.5-2 hours, then for several more hours a characteristic post-anesthesia state is observed - lethargy, an unsteady gait, a tendency to lie down more than to move. The final recovery from anesthesia occurs within 24 hours.
How to care for a cat after castration? Post-operative care does not require any effort. Place the cat in a warm place, provide him with peace, try to limit communication with other animals and young family members on the first day. A castration wound heals quickly, within 3-4 days. During this period, make sure that the animal does not lick the wound. If necessary, you may need to wear a protective collar. It is also advisable to remove loose filler from the tray or reduce its layer to a minimum.
How to prepare an animal for surgery? It is necessary to provide a fasting diet for at least 6-8 hours. It is enough to remove the water 1-2 hours before surgery. These measures will help prevent vomiting when the cat is put under anesthesia. In addition, recovery from anesthesia will be much easier.
Is it necessary to vaccinate a cat before castration? Preferably. A veterinary clinic is a place where sick animals are brought, including those with infectious diseases. Of course, all surfaces that sick animals come into contact with undergo mandatory disinfection. But there is still a small risk of infection. Therefore, if possible, first vaccinate your cat, and after two weeks, sign up for castration. If castration is required urgently, we can make a hyperimmune serum that provides protection against infections for two to three weeks.
When can a cat be given food? Water can be given 2-3 hours after surgery. I eat only after I have completely recovered from anesthesia (about 10-12 hours). It is not advisable to feed before, because... food can trigger vomiting, which can lead to aspiration of the lungs and the development of pneumonia. In addition, the cat may choke.
Will the cat get fat after surgery? Probably. If you do not follow the veterinarian's recommendations, this is very likely. Special foods for neutered cats are designed to take this risk into account. If the owner feeds the pet in the daily doses recommended by the manufacturer, the cat will not gain excess weight.
They say that the cat will stop catching mice. Is it so? It's a delusion. Castration does not in any way affect the hunting instincts of the animal. If a cat caught mice, then even after castration he will not stop hunting.
Is it possible to castrate a cat at home? This simple operation is performed in such a way that the risk of infection in the wound is practically reduced to zero. Therefore, yes, you can perform the operation at home. Moreover, for residents of Balashikha we have a special offer for castration of cats at home :).
Doctor of the veterinary clinic "Agata", Ph.D., Khafizov M.D.
