Veterinary practice shows that at least 60% of all cat owners today immediately consult a veterinarian about castration of their pets. And this is very good, since a reasonable approach to keeping pets can reduce the number of stray cats. The only difficulty that many breeders face is the best age to castrate a cat. The fact is that this nuance still causes a lot of controversy among both veterinarians and animal owners themselves. In this article we will try to describe all the periods that are most suitable for castration of an animal.
Is it worth castrating a cat or all the pros and cons of the operation
Cat owners can be divided into two camps: some are supporters of castration of cats, while others call this procedure abuse of the animal. The final decision whether to deprive your pet of his testes or not to impair his ability to reproduce is up to you. It is worth knowing what advantages and disadvantages the operation has. The positive aspects of the procedure are the following points:
- castrated cats have a longer belly for about 2 years;
- having lost his testes, your ward will become less aggressive and will show friendliness towards people and other pets;
- castrated animals are easier to train;
- After castration, a cat stops marking its territory, which will prevent the appearance of an unpleasant odor in the house.
The operation also has negative aspects:
- it is performed under general anesthesia, which may pose a risk to the animal, especially if adult or old cats are subject to the procedure;
- There is always a risk that your patient will develop complications: bleeding, suture dehiscence and infection;
- After castration, a cat has an increased likelihood of developing urolithiasis and obesity, especially if the animal is not provided with proper care.
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.
At what age is it recommended to castrate a cat?
When determining the optimal age of an animal for surgery to remove the testes, it is worth considering the breed of the animal. This is why many owners are wondering when to castrate a Scottish cat, British cat or a representative of another breed. The body of each animal has physiological characteristics, taking into account which the optimal age of a cat for castration is determined.
- Burmese, Abyssinian and Siamese cats are recommended to be neutered between 5 and 6 months of age as they develop quickly.
- When deciding when to castrate a Scottish or British cat, it is worth remembering that representatives of this breed develop slowly. If they undergo surgery before 8 months, this is fraught with disproportion of the head to other parts of the body. The optimal age for removing the testes in this case is from 8 to 12 months.
- Representatives of other breeds and outbred cats are recommended to be neutered at 6–9 months.
It is not recommended to perform surgery on animals earlier than the above deadlines. Before this period, the cat’s organs are still forming, so removal of the testes can cause disruption of the urethra, which in turn will lead to the rapid development of urolithiasis or the appearance of adhesions in the ureter. In addition, at a very early age, a special, more complex operation will be required, since the testes are located in the abdominal cavity.
Owners should also know how to determine that a cat whose age is not precisely known needs castration. This is the problem faced by people who adopt an animal from the street. There are signs that indicate that it is time for the patient to undergo surgery:
- loss of appetite or complete refusal to eat;
- display of aggression towards owners or other pets;
- weight loss;
- restless sleep;
- frequent "singing";
- constant attempts to run away from home;
- the appearance of a strong odor after urination.
Features of manipulation
In females, this procedure should be understood as removal of the ovaries.
Some Bengal owners mistakenly believe that sterilization is carried out only for cats, and castration is prescribed for cats. This opinion is not true, since both females and males can be castrated and sterilized. Sterilization involves removing the cat's gonads, while leaving the uterus untouched. During castration, all organs are completely removed, including the ovaries and uterus. According to many veterinarians, the second method is more acceptable.
Preparation and performance of the operation
Before your Bengal can be neutered, your pet will need to be vaccinated. Vaccinations are given one month before surgery. 14 days after vaccination, deworming is carried out. A few days before the operation, the cat is sent for a specialized medical examination. Sometimes blood donation, cardiography and ultrasound examination are required. If there are no contraindications to sterilization of a Bengal cat, the owner will need to trim its claws to prevent the animal from scratching the operated area. It is forbidden to give your Bengal cat food 12 hours before surgery. 2-3 hours before the manipulation, liquid is also excluded.
A veterinarian carries out sterilization of a cat, observing the following algorithm of actions:
The intervention ends with suturing the damaged tissue.
- Injects anesthesia. The dosage of the medication is calculated based on the body weight of the pet.
- Removes fur from the area of the incision.
- An incision is made from the lower abdomen.
- Removes the ovaries.
- Places stitches.
Postoperative care and recovery
How long a cat that has been spayed will recover from anesthesia depends on its general health and age. Almost all pets experience weakness and apathy after the anesthesia wears off. Upon arrival from the veterinary clinic, it is important for the owner to closely monitor the animal. It is recommended to arrange a warm bed and cover the Bengal cat with a blanket, since anesthesia often helps to lower body temperature.
Veterinarians recommend not allowing cats to climb onto high surfaces, since after anesthesia, coordination of movements worsens, and the animal may fall and injure itself.
The animal becomes interested in food from the second day after the intervention.
The first few hours after surgery, a neutered Bengal cat may refuse to drink water or food. It is important not to force your pet to eat. On the contrary, you should drink. It is recommended to give the animal purified water using a syringe without a needle every 2 hours. On the 2nd day after surgery, the sterilized cat begins to show interest in food and toys. Mostly all animals recover completely from anesthesia 3 days after sterilization.
The pet should be provided with complete rest. Veterinarians recommend purchasing a special collar that is worn around the neck. It allows you to protect the operated area from licking. If the Bengal cat still managed to get to the stitches and they began to separate or a lump formed, it is important for the owner to take the pet to the veterinary clinic as soon as possible. When the postoperative period proceeds normally, the sutures are usually removed after 10 days. At this time, the owner needs to treat them with antiseptics prescribed by the veterinarian.
Weight problems
Often, after sterilization, the Bengal gains weight. This is why the owner will need to change his diet. It is acceptable to feed cats both natural food and industrial complementary foods that are sold in stores. If we talk about the latter, it is recommended to make a choice in favor of premium and super-premium segment foods, which are intended for sterilized pets. When it comes to natural food, cats should be given lean meats, eggs, vegetables and grains. It is permissible to diversify your diet several times a week with fish and fermented milk products with low fat content.
Features of castration of adult cats
Sometimes owners decide to castrate an adult or old pet. Often, the operation is carried out on the recommendation of veterinarians due to the threat of the development of various ailments (diseases of the testes, prostate hyperplasia, aggressiveness, etc.). The main danger of surgery is the need to administer anesthesia, which can be very difficult for the pet to tolerate. To minimize the negative consequences of castration, it is recommended to take the following actions before surgery:
- contact a veterinary clinic for a thorough veterinary examination of your ward;
- perform a chest x-ray;
- conduct a laboratory test of the animal’s urine and blood;
- do an ultrasound examination of internal organs;
- If the veterinarian deems it necessary, you will need to undergo an examination by a cardiologist.
The absence of diseases in the animal will confirm the possibility of performing the operation.
Why is it better to castrate young cats?
It is recommended to castrate cats before they reach puberty. If sex hormones begin to be released in your ward’s body, or he has at least one mating, it is possible that he will remember this and will show signs of attraction to females even after the testes are removed. Also, sometimes even after surgery the cat marks its territory. Castration helps to stop the production of sex hormones, but if even a small part of them has managed to enter the body, the animal can show signs of a full-fledged male.
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.
Preparing a cat for castration
Owners should make sure that their cat is in good condition before castrating a cat. If the animal is active and there are no changes in its usual behavior, then you can safely go to the veterinarian. Before the operation, you should not feed the cat for at least 12 hours, which will make it easier for the cat to recover from anesthesia after castration. 3 hours before the upcoming surgery, you should not give your pet anything to drink. It is recommended to take a blanket with you to the veterinary clinic. Under anesthesia, your patient's temperature may drop, and it is better to cover him during sleep.
Description of the stages of the operation
Castration of a cat is carried out in several stages:
- The veterinarian examines the animal to ensure it is in good condition. He takes temperature, checks heart function and breathing rate.
- After making sure that the cat is in good condition, the specialist administers medications that will provide support to the body after the procedure.
- The animal is given anesthesia for artificial sleep.
- The scrotum and vaginal membrane are cut, and the testes are removed. The veterinarian applies a ligature to the spermatic cord, which will prevent bleeding, and removes the testes.
- At the last stage of the operation, suturing is performed. Some clinics practice a seamless method of performing the operation. In this case, you will not have to visit the veterinarian again to remove the stitches.
How much does it cost to castrate a cat?
It is impossible to indicate exactly how much it will cost to castrate a cat. The price depends on the location of the operation (in the clinic or at home), and the fees for the services of the selected veterinarian. The cost of services in veterinary clinics can range from 220 to 1600 hryvnia. Castration of a cat at home will be more expensive. In this case, you can select from the list provided the services that you think the veterinarian should provide:
- calling a specialist to your home;
- carrying out castration;
- recovery from anesthesia;
- use of a dropper;
- administration of antiviral serum.
Naturally, the more services you choose, the more expensive the procedure will be.
How to care for your pet after surgery
Special attention from owners is required when anesthesia wears off after castration of a cat. During this period, owners need to show love and care to their ward. You need to carefully ensure that the cat does not climb into high places (chair, table, bed, window sill, etc.). In a state of coma, he may fall, which is why the stitches often come apart. It is recommended to keep your pet in a special collar for a couple of days.
If a post-operative wound does not heal well or fluid begins to leak from it, you should immediately contact a veterinarian for an examination. Such symptoms may indicate the development of an infection that requires urgent treatment. You will need to visit the clinic if your pet continues to have a high fever, decreased appetite, or is lethargic.
Owners should also remember that after castration, their pet’s metabolism slows down. This can cause the animal to develop obesity. That is why it is worth knowing what to feed a neutered cat. A properly selected diet will also protect your pet from developing urolithiasis. It is very important to ensure that the animal always has free access to fresh water.
In this section we will talk about a very sensitive topic for many cat owners.
I’ll make a reservation right away that you cannot compare and transfer your feelings in this matter to a cat or cat, because in animals it is simply a powerful instinct for procreation, inherent in nature, and not just a desire to have fun. You will not buy or give your pet birth control products with the paternal admonition “Go for a walk, but be careful.” And of course, you entered into an agreement with the breeder that the kitten was purchased as a pet, and this implies that you do not have the right to engage in breeding work with the breed, much less simply allow the pet to uncontrolled matings. And therefore, in order to avoid such situations, breeders castrate kittens before transferring them to a new home; for medical reasons this is completely safe and harmless, and the healing and recovery process is much faster.
I very often hear from a potential buyer that they want to buy a cat because they feel sorry for having to castrate the cat, but he will mark.
I immediately understand that the person has not really delved into this difficult topic for many.
A cat, like a cat, equally has the instinct of procreation! She, just like a cat, upon reaching puberty, will persistently demand a date with the cat. And in a Bengal this happens very often (about once a month) if the cat is not fertilized. The cat will scream heart-rendingly day and night, and on peak days it will even howl with a growl, just as a Bengal cat can mark as well as a cat these days. And no one (bayun cats) will help with this, do not forget that the genes of wild ancestors give about know for yourself. And this is only the aspect that concerns the inconvenience caused to you. But the main problem is not this, but the fact that it is critically harmful to the cat’s health.
I think that a person who truly loves and feels sorry for his pet will never want to subject her to suffering.
The same situation applies to cats.
If a cat will mark only during the period of heat, then the Bengal cat will do this all year round. Are you ready for this? The smell is virtually impossible to remove, especially if it gets on upholstered furniture. And of course, cats, not getting what they want, usually behave more aggressively than castrated animals. Therefore, I believe that a reasonable person who weighs all the pros and cons cannot have any doubts!
