Features of the castration procedure
Castration of cats is carried out for various reasons. This could be a very restless behavior of the animal, or excessive efforts to mark the territory, or even medical indications. Castration is the only way to rid a cat of the reproductive instinct.
The operation involves removing the male's testes after puberty. Before 9-12 months, the corresponding instinct does not manifest itself, so there is no point in castration, and besides, the procedure can harm the health of a young cat.
After the operation, males experience sexual desire, but this takes some time. As a rule, the animal does not strive to mate after 7-20 days, but the period depends on the characteristics of the organism.
The behavior of a castrated cat changes slightly:
- the animal becomes more balanced and calm;
- Marks territory less or stops doing so altogether;
- does not try to run outside at every opportunity;
- does not meow at night, demanding a cat.
Causes of sexual desire after castration
The castration procedure is one of the most common types of surgical intervention that is applied to “apartment” cats.
In modern living conditions in an apartment, a sexually mature male can cause significant discomfort to the owner. During the mating season, the animal can become aggressive, damage furniture, floor or wall coverings, and “mark” the territory. It is also a great stress for an animal to have unsatisfied sexual instincts that it cannot control. The most humane solution in this situation is castration of the cat. The essence of the procedure is the surgical removal of the sex glands - the testes (testes), which are located in the scrotum. As a result, the level of sex hormones (in particular, testosterone) in the body drops and the pet will lose sexual desire. And with it there are unpleasant consequences.
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The most optimal age for castration of a cat is the period from 7 to 9 months, when the body is already fully formed, but sexual activity has not yet occurred.
However, a neutered cat may still want a cat. This may be due to several reasons:
- high concentration of androgens (male sex hormones) in the cat’s body before surgery, which can delay the expected effect;
- excessive synthesis of androgens by the adrenal glands;
- presence of sexual intercourse before surgery;
- cryptorchidism and the associated poor quality of surgical manipulation.
After removal of the testes from an adult cat, a high concentration of male sex hormones may still remain in his body for a certain period, which causes sexual desire. Androgen levels will gradually decrease, which may take a little longer than expected.
If you have adrenal overactivity, you should contact your veterinarian for further advice. The doctor will assess the pet’s health, determine the pathology (if any) and prescribe appropriate treatment.
If a cat has previously mated with females, then these memories may remain with him and provoke the work of instincts. This condition is considered physiological and does not require medical intervention.
If cryptorchidism is present, poor castration may be performed as a result of the veterinarian's inexperience or carelessness. Cryptorchidism is a congenital disorder in which one or both testicles do not descend into the scrotum and remain in the abdominal cavity or under the skin. The non-removed testis continues to perform its function, so no changes in the animal’s behavior should be expected. Cryptorchidism in any case requires surgical intervention, even if the owner does not plan to castrate the cat.
Almost all owners are sure that after castration the cat should not be interested in cats. To some extent this is true, after the operation the male does not feel sexual desire, but there are exceptions.
Some males remain the same as they were before castration. They also meow and behave aggressively. There are several reasons why a cat wants a cat after castration. The owner is recommended to understand them in more detail.
It is best to bring males who are already 8-10 months old for castration. If the cat tried sexual activity before the operation and had contact with females, then his body is already actively producing sex hormones. It is important to consider that not only the testicles, but also the pituitary gland and adrenal glands are responsible for their production.
There is another reason for the development of this situation - a mistake by the veterinarian and too early castration. If the operation was performed ahead of schedule, or the doctor made a mistake, then some part of the testes that can produce sex hormones may be preserved.
An inattentive veterinarian, due to his inexperience, may not tell the cat’s owners that he has cryptorchidism, that is, one testicle remains in the peritoneum. That is why the veterinarian who will perform the operation must be chosen very responsibly, paying attention to his experience and patient reviews.
Why does a neutered cat want a cat?
If after the procedure a neutered cat wants a cat, there is a high probability of an untimely or incorrectly performed operation. But there are other reasons:
- The adrenal glands produce excess amounts of testosterone, the male hormone responsible for sexual desire. When there is an excess of the hormone, the castrated cat becomes excited and demands mating with the cat.
- If the animal had contact with a female before castration, he may try to repeat this experience. This is especially true for cats castrated in adulthood. They simply reflect habitual behavior, although hormones no longer have any effect on them.
- Congenital defect - one testicle did not descend, remaining in the abdominal cavity. Due to inexperience or carelessness, the veterinarian may not cut it out. The testicle continues to produce hormones, under the influence of which the cat climbs on the cat. This phenomenon is called cryptorchidism.
- A stressful situation or a hormonal surge - this condition goes away quite quickly on its own.
Interestingly, the smell of even a sterile female can induce a cat to attempt mating.
Situations when a neutered cat tramples a soft toy or shows mounting on a person’s legs or arms cause a lot of anxiety for owners. This is a clear sign of a lack of attention and accumulation of excess energy in the animal.
Recommendations for owners
If a cat asks for a cat after castration and continues to actively mark its territory, the owner should consult a veterinarian. Most likely, the doctor will recommend sedatives and possibly hormonal medications. This will help calm the pet and correct its behavior. You cannot select medications on your own.
You can try to distract a cat that is interested in the neighbor cats with a favorite treat, an interesting activity or a toy. A neutered cat who continues to trample cats should be given the opportunity to sharpen his claws. This is an important point that helps the animal mark its territory, maintain its high status and simply relieve stress.
In general, an undesirable style of behavior can manifest itself not only in setting on things, but sometimes on other cats. Animals often rub too hard against their owner’s hands or objects. It is better to stop such manifestations at the very beginning, but not by punishment, but by providing an alternative to get rid of accumulated energy. Interactive toys, such as a soft mouse or a ball, will help here.
When petting a cat, you should avoid overstimulating it. It is worth choosing those areas on the body that promote relaxation, stopping caresses when signs of arousal appear.
Pregnancy of a cat from a castrated cat
Regarding the question of whether a cat can become pregnant from a neutered male, we must take into account that the castration procedure itself is performed in two ways. The first involves cutting the scrotum and removing the testes, the second involves ligating or cutting the spermatic cords. With the first option, the cat’s sexual desire disappears, but with the second, it remains a full-fledged male.
Obviously, in the absence of semen production and its entry into the testicles, a cat cannot become pregnant from a castrated cat. But it should be remembered that it is the testicles that are removed, and not the pituitary gland, which is located in the brain and is responsible for reproductive function. If a cat has mated before surgery, the memory of this process remains in the brain. A cat can breed cats, but this will not produce offspring.
True, due to illiterate operation, a seed can still form. This happens when the spermatic cords are not completely clamped. As a rule, this seed is not viable, there is practically no chance of fertilization, but a negligible chance still exists.
As a rule, after surgery the animal needs to lie down and recover. However, it also happens that a cat mates with a cat immediately after castration. In this case, pregnancy is possible, although with a low probability. The new seed is no longer coming, but the old one still remains. The risk of fertilization remains for about a week after the procedure.
In cats, after sexual contact with a neutered person, a false pregnancy may develop. In this case, all external signs are present. This condition goes away on its own within 3-4 weeks, but sometimes lasts longer. It happens that even milk appears, and instead of kittens, the cat tries to care for toys. In such situations, it is worth consulting with a veterinarian; such conditions have an impact on the animal’s psyche.
Is a cat able to mate with a female after castration?
In rare cases, a neutered cat can mate with a cat, all that remains is to lie and be sad!
Many owners of a neutered cat are interested in whether their pet is able to have full sexual intercourse with the cat and satisfy its natural needs.
In rare cases, a neutered cat is able to mate with a female cat. Some breeders even keep such males in the cattery so that they mate with females that the owners, for some reason, do not want to breed with a cat at the moment. Sexual contact between a cat and a castrated cat has a calming effect on her and does not entail any unpleasant consequences.
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During sterilization, mechanical blocking of the patency of the fallopian tubes is performed (tubal ligation). That is, the egg will no longer be able to enter the uterus for subsequent fertilization. At the same time, the ovaries are preserved, that is, the production of sex hormones continues to operate as normal. In this case, the cat may retain sexual desire, and she is able to “go on a spree” and mate without subsequent pregnancy.
Castration involves the complete removal of the ovaries. As a result, the level of sex hormones in the body decreases significantly, and sexual instincts cease to manifest themselves. In this situation, a neutered cat will not ask for a male cat. An exception is hyperfunction of the adrenal glands, which synthesize excessive amounts of estrogen, which can maintain sexual desire. In any case, the cat will no longer be able to give birth.
