Will Neutering Mean My Kitten Becomes Overweight
Neutering will not mean your kitten becomes an overweight cat. A neutered kitten does need slightly less calories, so you will just need to slightly decrease their calorie intake and keep a watchful eye on their weight. Your vet will always check your pets weight when you have a health check or vaccination.
They Have Been Neutered
We recommend spaying and neutering your cats, but it is true they will likely undergo personality changes to some degree. Fortunately, these changes are mostly for the positive.
Immediately after being neutered, the cat may seem dazed and maybe a little confused. Some cats change very little, however. After this time, they will usually be more docile and have a relaxed temperament. This is because their sexual drive has been removed and they should feel less frustration.
If a cat has sexually matured fully before they are neutered, it is possible they will carry out certain behaviors such as mounting. This is normal. In general, the cat should become more sedate. If you notice any negative side effects of neutering a cat, speak to you veterinarian.
Cat Spaying: What It Is All About
Perhaps you have decided to get a pet cat since theyre crazy cute, cuddly, a bit naughty, and playful yet gentle at the same time.
Well, they truly are perfect in their own little ways. But then again, theyre still living creatures with needs. One of which is their need to mate.
As pet owners, one of the things you ought to expect from a cat who reaches puberty is a stage wherein they become sexually receptive.
Just like teenagers undergoing the awkward stage, the behavior of your pubescent cat is inclined to change.
To reduce undesirable behaviors, castration, spaying, and neutering can be done. But what are spaying, castration, and neutering, and whats the difference between these three?
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What To Expect After A Spay Surgery
After you bring your cat home, youll likely notice that they are sleepier and more lethargic than usual. This is normal, as they need time to recover from their surgery. However, these effects should not be long-lasting. Most cats bounce back in a matter of days.
Some cats are a bit disoriented. It depends on the cat and when you brought them home. Disorientation only occurs for a few hours. So, if the surgery was performed in the morning but you didnt pick your cat up until the evening, then you likely wont notice this symptom.
Some cats are more aggressive. Usually, this is because of the pain and disorientation. They may not really understand what is going on, which can make them accidentally attack the people they love. If your cat is aggressive, it is best to give them space.
Unlike humans, cats do not usually want lots of love and affection after surgery. Usually, they just want to be left alone.
Despite these changes, your cat should still eat and drink somewhat normally. A slightly lower appetite is expected after surgery but your feline should be drinking water normally.
In the days after the surgery, your cat may be more timid or jumpy. The surgery is usually a stressful experience since your cat doesnt exactly understand what is going on. However, this change should be temporary. In a few days, your cat should relax back into its normal routine and become its loveable self again.
Does A Cats Behavior Change After Being Spayed
Some people believe that after spaying a cat that they will become more defensive or even aggressive. But this is simply not true, if anything spaying your cat will make their quality of life much better.
The belief that cats become more aggressive after spaying might be due to the fact that after they come home from the veterinary clinic, they might act out for a few hours upon returning home. The cause of this is unknown, but this behavior quickly disappears.
One of the main benefits of having your cat spayed is that they will not go into heat at all, so you dont have to worry about them meowing and looking out the windows and trying to escape through open doors whenever they are in season. Also male cats will stop coming around your house.
Also spayed cats are actually healthier. You dont have to worry about certain types of cancers, and on average they live slightly longer.
Another common concern that people have after staying their cats is that they will gain weight. Some people think that this might happen because a slower metabolism.
This is actually been proven not to be true. Regardless of whether the cat is spayed or not most house cats are overweight and obese, simply because lack of exercise and too many treats.
If you are still debating on whether or not to have your cat spayed please talk to your veterinarian. Youll see that the benefits far outweigh any possible risks that your cat might experience.
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Pros & Cons Of Spaying & Neutering Cats
Its time to start thinking about spaying or neutering your cat. But, you are not quite sure if it is the right thing to do. If youre wondering whether you should just leave your cat as nature intended, consider the positive and negative aspects of spaying and neutering before making your decision.
Spaying The Positive Side
Spaying removes the risk of pregnancy.
Pet overpopulation is a serious problem and by allowing your cat to have litters, you are adding to the problem. Finding homes for your new family additions is not as easy as you may think. Even if you choose to keep the kittens, you will have the additional cost of vaccines, parasite control, toys and food for several pets. In addition to costs, the health of the mother can be in jeopardy during delivery. Some new mothers can have serious complications delivering kittens and can even develop health problems during nursing. All these potential problems can be avoided by spaying your cat.
Spaying makes for a calmer cat.
Without the drive to mate, your cat may be quieter and wont be prone to cat calls and the incessant need to seek out a mate. The spayed pet no longer attracts males and their annoying advances and serenades. Spayed cats are also easier to get along with. They tend to be more gentle and affectionate.
Spaying keeps your cat healthier.
Spaying The Negative Side
Spaying may cause weight gain.
Neutering The Positive Side
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Does Cat Behavior Change After Spaying
Brmme says that your cats personality shouldnt change in any significant way. Brmme says that by shaving cats eliminate heat cycles, and cats are more affectionate and vocal during heat cycles. So, your cat might become calmer after getting neutered since she wont have to go through these procedures anymore.
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I Don’t Have To Spay/neuter Because My Pet Is Always Indoors/always With Me
If your pet is always with you or always indoors, he might not be getting the right amount of exercise and socialization. But having a pet spayed or neutered doesn’t just prevent him or her from having an accidental litter it’s also important for other health reasons.
“For female dogs there is an increased risk of mammary cancer if they are allowed to go through multiple heat cycles, which is one of the main reasons we spay them before their first heat cycle. We see intact female dogs get an infected uterus called a pyometra, which can be life-threatening and requires surgery to remove the uterus,” Proietto told The Dodo.
“For male dogs they have an increased risk of prostatitis as well as testicular cancer because they remain intact,” he added.
The ASPCA agrees, and cites the high fatality rates of breast cancer in dogs.
Myths About Spaying And Neutering Debunked
Spaying or neutering is one of the most important steps that pet parents can take to ensure their dog or cat will lead a healthy and happy life.
So it’s surprising that about 20 percent of pet dogs and 10 percent of pet cats in the United States aren’t spayed or neutered.
For World Spay Day, The Dodo teamed up with New York City veterinarian Dr. Rob Proietto to debunk some of the common misconceptions that keep pet parents from doing the responsible thing.
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Do Cats Put On Weight After Being Neutered
This is often said not because the procedure itself is conducive to putting on weight. But more so because the cat stays indoors for a while afterwards, and becomes more of a home cat after.
Its up to you as their owner to provide plenty to do around the home to keep their exercise interesting. Maintain the portions of food carefully too, dont over feed a cat. They are usually more than happy to eat way too much.
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Short Term Cat Behavior
Your cat’s behavior after spaying will depend on whether or not the vet keeps her overnight to recover from the operation. Leaving her at the vet for this period is better than taking her home, as she can be kept very quiet and under supervision while recovering from the anesthetic. If you bring her home after this, she will usually be close to her normal self.
If you bring your cat home immediately following the operation, much more care should be taken. She should be kept warm and quiet, preferablyin a small room or a large cage, with access to water, food and a litter box. Remember that she may be very groggy and uncoordinated, and may also be more aggressive than usual. Make sure she does not hurt herself or you, and keep young children away from her.
After being spayed, your cat will be tender around the incision for afew days, and may become aggressive if she thinks you are trying to touch it. However, you should check the area for signs of infection, like redness, swelling or weeping fluids. Your cat may have trouble urinating or defecating for the first two days, or may urinate more thanusual. She may also show little interest in food. This is normal for the first few days, but if this continues after two days, you should mention it to the vet.
A few weeks after your cat has been spayed, you may notice a slight swelling in the area of the scar. This is normal, and as long as there is no redness, weeping fluids or opening of the scar, it should resolve on its own.
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What Does The Neutering Operation Entail
For both male and female kittens, neutering is a very safe surgical procedure. It will take place under general anaesthetic and your kitten will be admitted for the day.
When you collect your pet, you will be offered painkillers and the all-important surgical collar, more commonly known as a buster collar. The collar will ensure that your pet isnt tempted to nibble or scratch at the site of the wound, which will have been shaved and stitched. Youll need to ensure that they wear this collar for a few days at least.
Once home, they may initially be a bit drowsy and wobbly , the buster collar will also play a part in this. Let them have some food and rest if they need to. However, many kittens are such bundles of energy they’re back at full speed within a few hours.
You will need to keep your kitten indoors for a few days. Keep an eye on the wound and make sure theyre eating and going to the toilet as normal. You must take them back to the vet after a few days for a post-op check-up. The wound itself should take no more than 10-14 days to heal.
Litter Training After Being Fixed
One of the downsides of being a rabbit owner is that these animals will leave a mess wherever they go. If you allow your rabbit to hop around the house, there is usually a very significant trail of droppings not far behind. While this is easy to clean, it can be much better for everyone involved if the rabbit is litter trained.
This may not be as easy a process as training a cat to use a litter tray but it is certainly possible. That being said, rabbits are much more likely to be receptive to litter training if it is done after they have been spayed or neutered.
Typically, an unneutered male will want to mark his territory which he will do by spraying it with urine. After he has been fixed, this is not something he will feel the need to do and so he may be a little fussier about where he does his business, making it much simpler to train him.
Furthermore, if you have your rabbit neutered when he is a little older, this can result in even more successful litter training. This is because, as rabbits get older, they are typically easier to train. Many rabbits will also enjoy simply sitting in their litter trays and you can use this to your advantage when training them.
Your choice of litter is important. While cat owners will use clumping litter, this can be bad for a rabbit. Instead, you should try to find softer litters such as paper pellets or even old newspapers. When purchasing litter from the pet store, the packaging will tell you which animals it is suitable for.
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What Are The Negative Effects Of Neutering Cats
All of the behavior changes mentioned above are positive changes. Plus, getting your female cat neutered will help prevent unwanted pregnancy and reduce the risk of some illnesses. However, there are some negatives to getting your kitty fixed. To give a balanced viewpoint here is some more detail on these drawbacks.
Reduces Risk Of Certain Diseases
Spaying a female cat can help reduce the risk of pyometra and tumors of the mammary glands. Neutering male cats can help prevent the spread of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukemia Virus. Male cat sterilization lessens their predisposition to go into a fight with other cats. This helps them stay protected against these viruses.
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Post Neutering Home Care
When vets finish the operation of neutering, you should have to follow important instructions for your pet care. Cats generally after being brought home, they will have anesthetic effects. Vets put protective ointment in cats eyes in order not to dry out and to avoid possible blurriness. When you are home with your newly neutered cat, provide a warm, dark, and quiet place at least for twenty-four hours.
Immediate Behavioral Changes After Spaying
The long-term behavioral changes seen in spayed cats are due to hormonal changes. However, hormones dont change overnight. It will take a while for their hormones to reset and the body and mind to notice a difference. Still, you will notice some immediate behavioral changes post-operation in response to the operation itself.
In most cases, the main behavior change you will notice is stress-related. Going to the vet and having an operation is an extremely stressful experience.
This typically manifests in one of two ways:
Your cat will become withdrawn and quiet, OR Your cat will become clingy and more affectionate.
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Why Is My Cat So Clingy After Spay
Your cat might be clingy because it would be feeling scared and disoriented after the operation. The pain medicines you might be giving your cat on the advice of your vet could be an add-on to your cats confusion.
It is okay if your cat is so clingy after spay.
You are your cats comfort and hence your cat could want you to pet it, love it, be near it, etc. After the operation your cat might want to feel safe and secure, so be sure you make it feel so.
In case you have a kitten who is spayed, it is still small of course and so your kitten might need you even more.
Do not leave their side of the room until the kitten or cat is sleeping or dozing off. Just like a small kid would need attention and care when they are in pain even your little cat would want you to love it, and cuddle with it.
You should reassure your cat that you are with it and include your cat whenever you are with it.
Always keep talking to your cat even from the other room when you leave by its side.
Their Routine Has Changed
Although a big change such as moving home can lead your cat to change their personality all of a sudden, even small changes can affect them. If you have changed their meal times, started to have an erratic schedule or even changed their type of food, the cat may respond by feeling insecure. You may also make small improvements which make the cat feel more comfortable, resulting in a more calm character.
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Will Pet Calming Sprays Help Reduce My Cat After Spaying
You could try the spray. There are specific sprays that should be sprayed in her environment. This is because whenever your cat is anxious it will feel calmer after spray.
If your cat is experiencing extreme stress and disorientation after the surgery, you can opt for pet calming sprays.
Pet calming sprays are essentially pheromones that mimic the appeasing or calming pheromones that naturally occur in cats. These calming pheromones are also available as plug-in diffusers, wipes, and collars.
The scent from these sprays can create a relaxing environment for the cat and help it calm its nerves.
The major benefit of pet calming sprays is that they do not have any harmful side effects. All that they do is mimic naturally occurring calming pheromones which help the cat realize that it is safe and it can relax.
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