Cat castration: pros and cons. Behavior of a cat after castration

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

Today, many owners of their furry friends are asking questions about whether a cat needs castration, the pros and cons of this operation, and how this will affect his behavior in the future. In this article, we will try to reveal in detail the topic you are interested in and answer all questions.

What is castration and what is it for?

Cat castration is a surgical operation during which the testes are removed, which entails the cessation of reproductive function and the production of male hormones. At about 7-8 months, cats begin to have sexual attraction to individuals of the opposite sex, which is manifested in their behavior. Loud screams begin at night, aggressive behavior, territory marks, as a result of which an unpleasant smell appears in the apartment. Therefore, in order to avoid such behavior, the operation is recommended to be carried out at approximately 7-9 months, when the furry friend is already strong enough, but has not yet tried all the charms of sexual life. Often, only castration is allowed to calm down a beloved pet and make it much calmer and more affectionate.

However, can such an operation adversely affectpet he alth? And what will be the behavior of the cat after castration? Veterinarians say that this operation is considered quite simple and is usually carried out without any consequences. However, if you do it to a more mature pet, then anesthesia after castration of a cat can play a role here, since the body of an old animal is much weaker than that of a young one, so there is a risk that any complications will occur during its recovery from anesthesia.

Pros of cat castration

Veterinarians, in turn, argue that cat castration has a lot of advantages and practically no disadvantages. However, is it really so? We can verify this by listing all the positive and negative aspects of castration. The pluses include:

• neutered animals often live 1.5-2 years longer;
• cat stops marking territory and becomes less aggressive;
• stop screaming at night and looking for a cat;
• the animal becomes very calm and more playful;
• neutered cats practically do not face such diseases as adenoma, prostatitis and other infections, unlike animals that have not been castrated;
• the cat becomes more obedient and docile;
• cats that were neutered at a young age have virtually no mammary tumors.

Cons of cat castration

• After this operation, some pets becomelazy and inactive, as a result of which they often suffer from overeating and obesity, as they spend less energy than an uncastrated cat.
• Sometimes cats after castration begin to suffer from diseases of the cardiovascular system, and to prevent this, you need to choose the right food.
• Anesthesia is also a kind of risk for an animal, if for a young one it is very small, then for an old cat this is quite a big he alth risk, because some individuals may not be able to endure it at all.
• Possible urolithiasis.
• Castration, like any surgical intervention, can be accompanied by complications (but these are quite rare cases).

However, many consequences can be avoided if you approach this operation with all responsibility.

Cat behavior after castration

After this operation, your furry pet will need time to recover. This period usually lasts one or two days, during which the cat is in a relaxed and inactive state. He can completely refuse to eat, because eating can cause the pet to vomit, move very slowly and uncertainly, all these are the consequences of surgery and anesthesia, so there is no need to worry too much. During this period, it is very important for a furry friend to be supported, paid as much attention to him as possible and shown kindness. You need to carefully monitor your pet, because due to loss of coordination, he can fall from a height and injure himself. It is worth making sure that the cat does not freeze, for thisyou can cover it with a warm blanket or put it next to a warm battery. Approximately 5 hours after the operation, you need to give your pet water. Of course, the castration of a cat, the pros and cons of which we have considered, is very debilitating for the animal.

The condition of the animal after the operation

You also need to pay special attention to the presence of a chair in the animal. If within three days you notice that he cannot empty himself, then be sure to show the cat to a veterinarian. The most important thing is to monitor the healing of the postoperative suture. Usually, this does not bother the animals, but if he starts to climb into this place and try to lick the wound, then you need to put a special collar on his neck, and the veterinarian will process the seam in the near future. In the postoperative period, it is important to ensure that the suture does not bleed and there is no wetting around it, the cat's temperature does not stay above 39 degrees for more than three days and that it is not lowered (below 37 degrees).

The nutrition of a castrated cat should also be taken very seriously, because after a while the animal's hormonal background changes. A neutered cat begins to spend less energy, so his body will need fewer calories, and his appetite remains the same. If you follow the proper nutrition of your pet, you can avoid your pet's obesity and urolithiasis.

Conclusion

In this article, we looked at what castration of a cat is, the pros and cons of the operation, as well as the pet's behaviorafter surgery. Of course, if you have such a choice before you, it's up to you. First of all, you need to weigh the pros and cons, consult with a veterinarian, and only then make a decision. If you still do not decide to castrate the cat, then you can go around and use special pills that are currently sold in every veterinary clinic.

If you decide to have an operation on your pet just like that, without good reason, then it is better to refrain, and again, resort to the medical method. When castration of a cat, the pros and cons of which we have already considered, is necessary, then it remains to choose one of the best clinics in your city with a good reputation and go there. No need to save money, because the further life of your pet will depend on how professionally the operation will be performed.