WHY YOU SHOULD NEUTER YOUR MALE CAT.
Every new cat owner hopes their little kitten will grow into a well adjusted, healthy companion and most of them take steps to help ensure this by vaccinating and sterilizing. However, we still occasionally come across an owner who is reluctant to neuter a young male cat. Below we will discuss the reasons why this procedure is beneficial to your cat.
When a cat is neutered or castrated the testicles are removed under a general anaesthetic. A small incision is made into the cat’s scrotum revealing the testes. These are pulled free clamped and the blood vessel is tied off.
Please follow this link if you would like to see this procedure.
As this is not an invasive surgery no stitching is required.
The only good reason not to neuter your male cat is if it is a highly prized pedigree that you wish to breed with.
Behavioural - Many of the problems that arise with unneutered male cats are driven by the hormone testosterone. Fighting, territory marking, roaming and mating are all part of a wild cat’s normal habits but unfortunately in our over populated urban areas these behaviours become both problematic and dangerous for your cat. Don’t be fooled into thinking that owning an ‘indoor’ cat will change any of your cat’s inherent instincts!
Fighting – your unneutered young male cat will be driven to fight with other cats in an attempt to stake his claim on territory in his environment. Lacerations and abscesses will be common and the chances of him being exposed to, contracting and spreading diseases such as FIV and FeLV are much greater.
Follow this link to read more about these diseases.
Territory marking – unneutered male cats are prone to spraying inside the house, or someone else’s!
Roaming – your male cat will try to expand his territory and may roam far from home. If an unspayed female is anywhere in the area your male will be there meowing his best loves songs! Roaming increases the risk of him getting lost or being involved in a road accident.
Mating - welfare shelters are overflowing with cats desperately needing a home and unwanted litters of kittens only add to the problem. Your male cat is capable of mating numerous times in his life, thereby increasing an already unsustainable cat population.
A male cat should ideally be neutered between the ages of 5- 6 months although some welfare organisations neuter at a much younger age. Your cat will recover quickly from the procedure and grow into a happy, affectionate home loving feline!
