How do cats tolerate castration: how long does a cat recover from anesthesia, how does behavior change, rules of care. Food for neutered and neutered cats

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Owners of domestic cats often resort to castration. More often than not, this is simply necessary. An adult cat needs at least 8 cats a year to feel good. It is not always possible to give him such an opportunity in an ordinary city apartment. It is for this reason that the deposition procedure can help. But how cats tolerate castration is what worries caring owners. We will answer this and many other questions in the article.

What is it and how is it carried out?

Before considering how cats tolerate castration, and other nuances of intervention, we should dwell on the definition and types of manipulation.

During the procedure, the testes of the male are not only removed, as is commonly believed, but the sexual function of the animal is also stopped, so different methods are used:

1. Surgicalmethod - performed by operation. During it, the doctor opens the scrotum of the animal, removes the testicles and bandages the canals.
2. Medicated sterilization. An implant is sewn under the skin of an animal that releases drugs that suppress sexual instincts. The procedure is expensive, but is considered the safest.
3. Chemical castration. In this case, substances are injected into the testes that kill the glandular tissue, which is subsequently replaced by a connective tissue.
4. Radiation depletion. The testicles in this case are placed under a source of gamma radiation. The method is quite simple, but the appropriate equipment is not often found in clinics.

So, not every case requires a scalpel. The available choice of methods allows you to sterilize even old pets without risking their he alth and life. What kind of castration is best for a cat, the veterinarian decides, taking into account the age, state of he alth of the animal and the facilities available at the clinic.

In our country, most often resort to the classical method of surgery. The reasons for this are the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of the technique. We will dwell on it in more detail.

At what age are cats castrated?

Male puberty ends at 8-9 months. In the case of large cats, this can happen later, so the timing of the procedure is often controversial among veterinarians.

In the world veterinary practice, there are two diametrically opposed opinions on this matter. Some experts recommendcastrate the animal as early as possible, others advise doing this at the age of not earlier than one year.

Early intervention

Proponents of early spaying recommend spaying at two months of age. At this time, the genital organs are not yet formed, and the regenerative capabilities of the tissues are maximum. How do cats depart after castration performed at 2 months of age? After surgery, the pet recovers quickly, the risk of postoperative complications is low.

However, there are also disadvantages. In the case of early castration, the growth of the animal can be significantly slowed down, and the cat will remain miniature, which in adulthood will lead to problems in the bone, muscle and heart systems.

Mature surgery

If late castration is performed - after the age of 2-3 years, in this case, the behavior and habits of the animal are fixed, it can be difficult, and sometimes impossible, to cope with them. In addition, after a late intervention, the risk of developing obesity and the appearance of a urolithiasis in an animal is extremely high.

Thus, veterinarians believe that both early and late castration are not very desirable. The ideal period for the operation is considered to be from 6 months to a year. At this time, sex hormones have not yet greatly influenced the development of the male, and the condition of the organs is ideal for intervention.

British cats are advised by veterinarians to castrate at the age of at least eight months. Persian - upon reaching the year. This is due to the later sexual development of these breeds. If theyperform surgery at an earlier age, the likelihood of negative consequences increases.

Nuances of castration of older cats

If an owner decides to have an operation on a pet that is over three years old, there are a number of things to consider:

1. Castration is performed only under general anesthesia. Local anesthesia at this age is not effective and can cause pain shock.
2. Adult cats recover from anesthesia quite hard, and therefore the owner should be attentive to the condition of the pet.
3. Mandatory preparation for the operation, which includes a study of blood, urine. This allows you to determine if the animal has chronic diseases.
4. It is also worth doing an allergy test to detect a reaction to anesthesia.

Possible Complications

Classic cat castration surgery lasts no more than 20 minutes. The recovery period is usually short, the pet departs from anesthesia on average per day. Veterinarians recommend observing the animal for two days after the operation, to monitor how the cat behaves after castration, and not to leave him alone. This is due to the use of anesthesia, the side effects of which may occur during this time.

Some negative consequences of the operation are possible within 2-3 weeks after the intervention.

When is it important to take the cat to the vet:

1. Bleeding. Occurs when divorcedseams. Blood flows in a thin stream, stains the coat. The treatment is surgical, so it is important to contact the veterinary clinic as soon as possible.
2. Purulent inflammation. Perhaps if an infection has penetrated the wound. Pus appears green, yellow, white, thick, with an unpleasant odor. Treat a similar consequence with antibiotics.
3. Edema. It can develop if dirt, infection has been brought into the wound. The scrotum swells, often the animal is in pain.
4. Hernia. This is tissue loss that can occur, especially if the cat is older. Eliminate the hernia surgically, it is strictly forbidden to set it yourself.
5. Sepsis. Appears after a secondary complication after inflammation, hernia and other pathologies. In this case, bacteria enter the bloodstream, the temperature rises. Antibiotics are used for treatment.
6. Pulmonary edema. The phenomenon is rare, but extremely dangerous. Due to heart failure in the pulmonary circulation, the pressure rises, the plasma goes to the lungs, and the supply of oxygen decreases. The animal wheezes, coughs, turns blue. Cat will suffocate if not rushed to veterinary care.

Reaction to anesthesia

How do cats tolerate castration and anesthesia during it? If an animal is diagnosed with heart failure, this may adversely affect the condition after the administration of the drug. Also at risk are cats of some breeds - British, Scottish Fold and others.

Signs of complications are severe shortness of breath, heart failure. To prevent this condition, before the operationexamine the heart of the animal using ultrasound and ECG. If the risk of complications is high, it makes sense to refuse the operation or perform it under local anesthesia.

What is post-surgery care? What is the host doing?

Owners often ask the veterinarian about how to care for a cat after castration? If the anesthesia was local, this process is greatly simplified. The main thing in this case is to eliminate stress. For this, the cat is given more attention and affection, and postoperative care consists in treating the wound. It is cleaned daily with a damp cotton swab, treated with an antiseptic and bandaged.

So that the cat does not tear the seams, they put on an Elizabethan collar and a blanket for 4-6 days. If you experience any of the negative effects described earlier, you should go to the veterinarian.

After general anesthesia

How to care for a cat after castration in this case? In the first hours after the intervention, the pet has severe weakness, nausea, dizziness. So the animal moves away from anesthesia. What to do after castration of a cat to its owner? Sometimes he is offered to leave the animal in the clinic for a day after the operation. However, the animal can calm down and feel the care of the owner only at home.

After general anesthesia, the cat is observed:

1. Dry eyes. During the operation, the eyes of the cats do not close, the veterinarian does this manually so that the conjunctiva is moistened with a tear. Afterprocedures, if the pet has not yet recovered from anesthesia, this will need to be done by the owner. How long does a cat depart from castration? This may take several hours. If the animal lies with its eyes open for a long time, you can drip saline.
2. Lower body temperature. If in a normal state, cats have a temperature of 37.5-39.0 degrees, then after the operation it can be 36.5-37.0. In order for the animal not to freeze, it is worth covering it with a warm blanket. To normalize blood circulation, the cat's paws and ears are rubbed.
3. Wobbling gait. This is due to the fact that the muscles during the application of anesthesia relaxed. So the pet can walk on the first day after the procedure. It is worth watching how the cat behaves after castration, so that the animal does not climb somewhere where it cannot get out.
4. Pain. Even though the animal is silent, this does not mean that it does not hurt. After the operation, the cat is depressed and needs painkillers.

After the operation, you need to examine the inguinal region of the animal daily and check for bleeding.

To make the stitches heal faster, the wound is treated with hydrogen peroxide and brilliant green. You can also lubricate with Levomekol.

The doctor may prescribe a 5-day course of antibiotics to avoid possible complications.

Cat's toilet after the procedure

In the postoperative period, a light-colored filler should be poured into the cat's tray in order to notice possible bleeding in time. It is better to buy softadsorbent to avoid irritation.

Some owners, after castration, put a small diaper on their pet, in which they previously made a hole for the tail.

It may be that the cat does not have a toilet for a long time - neither big nor small, or urine leaves little by little. This is quite normal.

Vaseline oil will help to cope with constipation. It is poured into the mouth of the animal in a small amount, if after 20 minutes no negative reaction is observed, another 15-20 grams are given. After 3 hours, the animal's intestines should empty gently.

How and what to feed?

In the first hours after castration, the cat does not eat anything, because his appetite is reduced. Do not force feed an animal. However, water must be available to him in sufficient quantity.

Castrated males have an increased risk of developing urolithiasis, so veterinarians do not recommend feeding such animals with fish. It has an increased content of phosphorus, calcium and magnesium, which can lead to the formation of stones in the organs of the urinary system.

Experts advise to buy a special dry food for neutered cats and sterilized cats and feed them to the animal. The composition of such food acidifies the urine, which prevents the appearance of urolithiasis. But at the same time, the cat must drink more fluids in order to go to the toilet normally. The ratio of feed and water should be 1:3. If the pet rarely goes to the toilet, you should contact your veterinarian for a diuretic.funds.

In general, a neutered cat is more likely to ask for food. This does not mean that he wants to eat. It's just that his interests are shifting away from cats, and the resulting void needs to be filled with something. The owner should not follow the lead of the animal, otherwise it is not far from obesity.

Summarizing

So we looked at how cats tolerate castration. A timely operation will relieve such an unpleasant phenomenon as the smell in the house, which is formed due to the fact that the animal marks the territory.

The performed procedure will also save the cat from he alth problems that cause long-term sexual abstinence. Veterinarians do not recommend castrating an animal at an already mature age, since aggressiveness and many formed habits will not leave the cat.