If your male cat will soon undergo the cat's surgery, you should understand what the procedure is, how you prepare for it and what the recovery looks like.
This article covers the basics of Cat Neuter Surgery, including the risks and benefits of Cat Neutation, so you can make the best choice for your pet and family.
Key dealers
- Cat Neuter surgery is a safe and common procedure that removes the testicles to prevent reproduction and reduce hormone-driven behaviors such as spraying and roaming.
- Neutation offers long-term health and behavioral benefits, including lower risks of injury, illness and testicular cancer, and is associated with a longer life.
- Although risks are minimal, short -term complications such as infection or hematoma are possible, and neutered cats may be more likely to obesity or urinary problems if they are not handled properly.
- Castration costs usually range from $ 200 to $ 300, but lower cost options are often available through clinics, shelters or non -profit programs.
What is cat neutation?
When a cat becomes castrated, the veterinary surgeon takes his testicles to prevent him from reproducing himself with female cats. The procedure also reduces hormone -driven behavior, such as urban injection (eg marking) or roaming in search of a friend.
The equivalent of cat neutation for female cats is called spaying. This article focuses on male cat neutation or castration.
About 80% to 85% of pet taxes in the United States are spayed or neutered. While the idea that your cat should have surgery and undergo anesthesia can give you anxiety, most pet parents choose the cat's surgery to prevent overpopulation of cats and cat homelessness.
How does cat neutation work?
A Cat Neuter is a surgical procedure performed during general anesthesia. Anesthesia makes your cat unconscious for the procedure, so they are not aware of what is happening and cannot feel any pain.
In most cases, the cat gets pain medication and an injection of anesthetics to help them lose consciousness.
During the procedure, they receive gas anesthesia to keep them unconscious, delivered via a mask placed on the cat's face or a tube placed in the wind pipe (trachea).
When your cat is unconscious, the fur around their scrotum will be shaved or picked. This is to prevent hairs from entering the cut and causing infection. A trained veterinary team member will clean the skin before surgery, which also helps prevent infection.
Cats can be castrated from 8 weeks of age. Male cats may be able to impregnate women already at the age of 4 months, but they are usually castrated about 6 months.
During the operation, your cat's veterinarian will make one or two small incisions in the scrotum. The blood supply to each testicle and VAS deferens, the tube that carries sperm away from the testicle, is tied. This can be done with suturing, or the veterinarian can bind these small structures on themselves, a procedure called autoliguation.
When this step is clear, the testicle is removed. The process is repeated for the second testicle.
The cuts are so small that your veterinarian can leave them open to heal on your own, which allows liquid drainage and prevents swelling.
Some veterinarians use surgical glue to close the cuts.
Why should a cat need to be castrated?
Most pet parents choose to castrate their cats because it has many potential benefits. Neutation your cat can:
Risks for cat neutation
Most cats are back to themselves within a few days of neutation. However, surgical procedures always have a risk.
Although unusual, some potential complications of neutralization may include:
Surgical site infections and abscesses can usually be treated with antibiotics. In some cases, your veterinarian may need to empty an abscess.
All anesthetic procedures entail the potential risk of death. But this risk is rare.
The risk of anesthetic death is about 0.11%, or 1 in 895, in seemingly healthy cats. When unexpected death occurs, it is usually due to undetected heart disease.
There are also some long -term risks for cat neutation, including:
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Obesity. Neutation increases the risk of developing obesity, which can also contribute to orthopedic disease. Cat parents should work with their veterinarian to keep their pet on a healthy weight after neuter.
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Orthopedic issues. Nutorizing a cat while young can delay the closure of the growth plate. This can increase the risk of growth plate fractures, although more research is needed to understand this risk. Obesity can also contribute to orthopedic issues.
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Feline lower urinary tract disease (flutd). Neutorizing a male cat can result in a narrower urethra, which carries urine from the bladder through the penis. Neutation A cat can increase the risk of developing flutd, a umbrella terres for conditions that affect the bladder and urethra. Like orthopedic issues, obesity can also play a role.
Benefits of cat neutation
Removing a cat's testicles is 100% effective in preventing reproduction.
A male cat without testicles cannot get a female cat pregnant. By neutrating your cat, you help reduce the burden on animal welfare through the uncontrolled breeding of cats.
Cat Neutation has also been shown to reduce hyperactivity, sexual behavior, aggression, roaming behavior and urine injection.
Most of these benefits occur as less testosterone circulates in the body. Only 10% of castrated male cats develop a urban problem, compared to almost all intact men.
Neutered male cats also have a longer average life than unpleasant male cats.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (Avma), castrated male cats live about 62% longer than male cats that have not been castrated.
This is probably due to the reduced risk of transferring injuries and illnesses during roaming or struggling to find a friend.
Effectiveness of cat neutation
Removing a cat's testicles is 100% effective to prevent the male cat from getting female cats pregnant.
If your cat is castrated later in life, neutration may not eliminate testosterone -driven behavior. He can continue to spray urine or show some sexual behaviors, such as humping.
Cost for cat neutation
Most veterinary practice takes about $ 200 to $ 300 to throw a cat. Factors that affect the cost include your geographical location, clinic type and your cat's health history.
Pet parents can also look for low -cost procedures. These neuter is usually considerably cheaper and can in some cases be free. Low cost options may include:
Some clinics also offer payment plans or membership that spread the cost of the procedure for several months or a year. Ask your veterinary clinic staff for payment options.
Prepares for a cat's thrower
Pet parents must do very little to prepare their cat for castration surgery. For the most part, the cat must fast for a few hours before surgery.
This usually means no food after midnight the night before, but you should follow your veterinarian's specific instructions. Water is usually ok.
If your cat takes medication for a health condition, ask your veterinarian if you are going to give a dose before the procedure or skip it.
Care and recovery after surgery for cat neutation
Your cat will probably come home the same day as their procedure. They can be drowsy and have a reduced appetite for one to two days after surgery. You can offer your cat less, more frequent meals if they have an upset stomach.
Your veterinarian may also recommend your cat wearing a recovery cone to prevent them from lick their cut.
Although it can take the average anywhere from seven to 14 days to heal, your cat will usually start acting as themselves a little earlier. Keep the cut clean and dry until it heals.
Alternative to cat neutation
If you want to prevent reproduction and sexual behavior, there is no real alternative to a cat.
Keeping your male cat indoors and isolated from women can prevent breeding, but they are likely to show undesirable urine injection and other sexual behaviors that make live with an unauthorized male cat challenging.
Common questions
Do male cats change after being castrated?
Male cats usually show a decrease in hyperactivity, sexual behavior, aggression against other cats and urine injection after being castrated.
What is a good age to throw a cat?
Cats can be castrated from 8 weeks of age. Male cats may be able to impregnate women already at the age of 4 months, but they are usually castrated about 6 months.
How much does a cat cost to neutore?
You can expect to pay about $ 200 to $ 300 for a Cat Neuter, but options for lower cost may be available in your area. If you choose a special clinic or if your cat has an underlying health condition, the cost may be higher.
Is it a good idea to throw your male cat?
Neutation is usually recommended for all male cats that are not intended for breeding. Shorted cats live on average longer and show fewer unwanted behaviors. If you remain unsure of neutration, have a conversation with your veterinarian.
