Castration surgery for a cat 🐈 pros and cons

Cat owners frequently engage in animated discussions about castration surgery. Some people are unsure, but many think it’s the greatest option for their animal companions. For the sake of your pet’s wellbeing, you can make an informed decision if you are aware of the benefits and drawbacks.

Positively, castration can stop unwanted litters from occurring, which is important in lowering the quantity of animals that are homeless. Additionally, it may result in a more composed manner, reducing aggressive and territorial behaviors. After the procedure, many pet owners report that their cats are easier to handle and more affectionate.

But there are issues to take into account. Some owners are concerned about possible health hazards related to surgery and anesthesia. Additionally, there is the controversy surrounding weight gain following surgery because neutered cats may naturally become less active. Maintaining a balance between these variables is essential to your cat’s wellbeing.

Castration is a decision that should ultimately be made based on your circumstances and your cat’s unique needs. Examining the benefits and drawbacks will help you make the decision that is best for you and your feline friend.

Pros and cons of castration

Cats that are castrated frequently do so because they actively want to mark their territory in addition to their obstinate desire to carry on their family line. Do an operation so that a fluffy friend doesn’t cause such issues.

From this point on, the obvious follows. Pros protocols:

• There is no reason to mark the territory;
• There is no excessive aggression;
• lack of high -profile requirements of a cat;
• reduction in the risk of diseases of the genitourinary sphere;
• Increased life explosion.

We must not overlook the drawbacks:

• It is possible that the cat with the loss of the sex glands acquires increased appetite. This can lead to obesity and health problems;
• Perhaps due to changes in the hormonal balance, a decrease in the activity of the beast, which is also fraught with obesity;
• When conducting an operation in adults or elderly males, sometimes difficulties arise with the work of the cardiovascular system;
• If the castration was carried out at the wrong time, then not only the testes, but also the pituitary gland take up the production of sex hormones: the operation becomes useless, and all the “cute” manifestations of the mating period continue.

However, the drawbacks do not materialize if the animal is in good health, the cat is castrated at the appropriate age, and the owners closely supervise the pet’s balanced diet.

When to castrate a cat

Understanding when the body’s systems and organs complete their formation is necessary to respond to the question of when castration is appropriate.

The cat reaches sexual maturity at six months, but this occurs at around a year. Thus, the earliest possible time to castrate a cat is six months.

Because the urethra is still developing, there is a significant chance that the cat may develop urolithiasis if the procedure is done before six months. This is particularly true for Persian, Himalayan, British, and Scottish Fold cats. At this age, some males may still have malformed testicles, which poses a serious challenge for surgical castration.

Don’t wait too long—the procedure is simpler and more effective when done when the patient is between seven and nine months old.

In any event, a veterinary clinic initial consultation is necessary.

Types of castration

There are both non-surgical and surgical approaches.

1. Open method – the scrotum is strongly stretched and an incision is made. The testicle is taken out, the vaginal membrane is released from it using scissors. The spermatic cord is extracted, which is tied to itself. The same is done with the second testicle, after which they are removed.
2. With the closed method, the vaginal membrane is not opened, but only an incision is made to extract the testicle, vaginal membrane from the scrotum. A ligature is applied to the spermatic cord and cut off. The skin of the scrotum is not stitched.
3. Bloodless method or castration without removing the testicles consists of squeezing the spermatic cords with special forceps, after which, after 5 months, they are absorbed.
4. Vasectomy is a gentle sterilization method: the vas deferens are partially destroyed, which serves as an obstacle to sperm entering the penis. The testicles continue their work, and the cat continues to demand a female, but cannot continue the family line.

Testicles are not removed in non-surgical methods. This covers the administration of tablets, injections, or Suprelorin implants for chemical castration.

How long does castration last

It takes no more than 30 minutes to complete the procedure, including the injection of anesthesia and, if necessary, the application of stitches. This duration encompasses every phase of a typical testicular excision procedure.

The duration rises to an hour in the event of cryptorchidism because of the challenges encountered during the procedure.

Every pet owner should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of cat castration surgery. On the one hand, it can help stop behavioral problems like aggression and territory marking, prevent unwanted litters, and lower some health risks. However, there are possible risks connected to surgery as well as worries about weight or behavior changes. Cat owners can make wise decisions that enhance the wellbeing of their furry friends by carefully considering these benefits and drawbacks.

Preparing a cat for castration

The animal must be thoroughly prepared; this is essential to the operation’s success. You might experience further financial losses and health issues if you disobey the veterinarian’s instructions.

A strict diet is necessary because anesthesia can trigger a gag reflex. To avoid vomit entering the respiratory tract, the male is not fed for ten to twelve hours prior to the procedure. Four to six hours prior to the procedure, no water is provided.

The cat should not suffer from any conditions that would make castration inappropriate.

The cat is dewormed a week prior to surgery and given a 24-hour bath with zoo shampoo.

Castrating a cat at home

Much like cat sterilization, castration is a do-it-yourself procedure.

When the veterinarian arrives, he or she examines the animal and answers any questions that may arise. If there are no contraindications, anesthesia is administered to the cat. The procedure starts once it takes effect and can go up to 20 minutes.

After the animal awakens from anesthesia, the veterinarian speaks with the owners once more to discuss potential issues and offers advice on how to take care of the cat following the procedure.

Cat care after castration

What is the duration required for a cat to recuperate from anesthesia? Depending on the type of medication taken. In any case, you should keep an eye on the cat’s behavior following castration because it will undoubtedly need affection and attention from you because it will be under stress. After castration, a cat that acts nervously will feel more at ease if his owner holds him on his knees, strokes him, and converses with him.

After the anesthesia wears off, the cat may sleep for several hours at a time. Generally speaking, the awakened animal is weak and confused. The cat is quite capable of hurting both himself and the owner if he acts aggressively in light of this. It’s critical to calm the animal at that precise moment by being close by. Nausea and vertigo may be linked to this behavior.

Since anesthesia slows down the body’s natural thermoregulation mechanisms, the surgically repaired cat is placed in a warm, draft-free area.

The pet should have its water bowl next to the rookery because as soon as it gets up, it will rush to find some.

After anesthesia, the animal should be able to reach the toilet.

If the cat was not given artificial or saline tears during the procedure, lacrimation will be used to remove the dryness on the cornea.

It will be necessary to treat the wound: if any dirt appears, wipe it away with a moist cotton pad and apply an antiseptic. An Elizabethan collar would be a better option since it will prevent the cat from destroying the stitches on the neck. The device is no longer needed after four to five days.

The cat will heal and get back to normal in a matter of days.

Feeding neutered cats

Very little time should elapse after castration for the pet’s body to heal and its personality to soften. He will become less and less interested in taking walks on the street, but his appetite might noticeably rise.

A once robust and healthy cat will need to have the total calorie content of the diet reduced by 25–30% to avoid becoming a fluffy dumpling of unusually large size.

For castrated cats, fish dishes are not part of the diet, and it is best to completely reject dry, non-specialized feed. Fried, salted, and high-fat foods should be avoided.

Boiled lean meat and porridge are both very useful foods. For castrated cats, there is ready-made, balanced feed available.

If the cat marks after castration

This kind of question comes up from time to time, and the answer is this: identify the margin’s cause.

When this happens, the animal is taken to a specialist for examination because the examination may reveal a botched procedure or that the cat is actually a cryptorch with its testicles outside of the abdominal cavity.

A second operation might be the answer because the testes are the source of sex hormones and need to be removed.

The common bad manners of the cat—for which you will need to review the advice on how to wean a cat from marking territory—are another factor contributing to the unpleasant smell that marks leave in the apartment.

There are zoopsychologists who can assist desperate owners in managing their cat’s marking urge.

Pros	Cons
Reduces the risk of certain cancers	Requires anesthesia, which can have risks
Helps control the stray cat population	Some cats may gain weight after surgery
Eliminates the risk of unwanted kittens	It"s a permanent procedure
Decreases aggressive behaviors	Initial recovery can be uncomfortable for the cat

The decision to have cats castrated has advantages and disadvantages of its own. On the one hand, it can lessen some behavioral problems and help prevent unwanted litters, leading to a calmer pet. Neutered cats are less likely to roam around or get into fights, which keeps them safer overall, according to many owners.

There are a few possible disadvantages, though. After surgery, some cats may gain weight, and there’s always a chance that something might go wrong during the process. It’s crucial that owners carefully consider these issues and talk to their veterinarian about them.

In the end, the decision to neuter your cat should take into account your lifestyle, personal circumstances, and the health of the animal. When making a decision, consider all the options because it’s a big one that could result in a happier and healthier life for your pet.

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