When Can You Get A Kitten Neutered
Recovery time is brief for a neutered kitten. A male kitten that has been fixed may have to wear a cone of shame for a few days after the operation, but the incision will have healed completely within two weeks. It is a routine procedure and a safe one. If you intend to raise a male cat indoors and never let him outside the walls of your home, though, is a neutering operation really beneficial? Yes, and for reasons that exceed suppressing his sexual proclivities.
Is Early Spay/neuter Associated With More Surgical Or Anesthetic Complications
In 2000, Land reported on a survey of 85 veterinarians who had collectively performed approximately 200000 early spays/neuters .12 The veterinarians unanimously stated that early spays/neuters were safer, faster, and easier than the same surgeries in dogs and cats 6 months of age or older.
In a prospective study of dogs and cats, Howe compared short-term complication rates among 3 groups of animals: sterilized at younger than 12 weeks, at 12 to 23 weeks, and at 24 weeks or older.13 Researchers measured complications during anesthesia, surgery, and the immediate postoperative period and classified complications as being major or minor . For incidence of major complications, they found no differences among the 3 groups. However, for incidence of minor complications, they found a significant difference rates were highest among animals in the oldest group and lowest among those in the youngest group.13
Benefits Of Spaying Or Neutering Your Cat
According to Dr. Jennifer Coates, veterinary advisor with petMD, spaying a female cat before her first heat cycle virtually eliminates the risk of mammary cancer. She says that this condition is especially serious in cats since feline mammary cancers tend to be very aggressive in comparison to other species.
Spayed female cats also cannot develop ovarian and uterine cancers or a potentially fatal uterine infection called a pyometra, Coates adds. Other health-related issues related to spaying include negating the possibility of the complications that can occur with pregnancy and birthing.
For male cats, Coates says that the benefits of neutering are primarily behavioral, although the procedure does eliminate the possibility that a cat will develop testicular cancer as he ages.
Anyone who as ever tried living with an intact male cat will tell you that the vocalizations, escape attempts, roaming, fighting and urine spraying associated with normal tom cat behavior can get old really quick, she says.
Feline AIDS and leukemia can both be spread between cats through bites, often spurred on by sexual competition, says Coates. So, reducing the urge to mate also reduces the likelihood that your cat will contract one of these oftentimes fatal infections.
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Can I Hold My Cat After Neutering
It would be best not to. After surgery, your cat will be in a bad mood and would prefer to be left alone.
Be trying to hold him, you will agitate him even further making him struggle and worsen the surgery site.
Just leave your cat alone to recover. When he is ready or wants affection, he will come to you.
What Are The Benefits Of Neutering
Population control
Millions of cats are destroyed across North America each year because there are far more cats born than homes available. A single male cat can father many litters so that neutering of intact males is essential for population control. Although sexual desire will be greatly reduced by castration, some experienced males may continue to show sexual interest in females.
“Vasectomies are not performed in cats because this procedure only sterilizes the cat but does not stop production of male hormones.”
Spraying
The most common behavior problem in cats of all ages is indoor elimination at locations other than the litter box. A large number of these cases are cats that spray or mark walls and other vertical household objects. Adult male cats have an extremely strong urge to mark territory, both indoors and out. Neutering reduces or eliminates spraying in approximately 85% of male cats.
“Neutering reduces or eliminates spraying in approximately 85% of male cats.”
Aggression
Cats, whether neutered or intact, can get into fights but most intercat aggression is seen between intact males. This is a direct result of competition between male cats, and because intact male cats roam and protect a muchlarger territory. If these fights lead to punctures or wounds that penetrate the skin, abscesses are a common sequel. Neutering reduces fighting and abscessdevelopment in male cats.
Roaming and sexual attraction
Physical changes
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Best Age To Neuter A Cat To Avoid Complications
Kittens that are neutered between the ages of 8 weeks to 6 months will have fewer postoperative complications due to the size and development of the reproductive organs.
Recovery times will be shorter, and cats will have a lower chance of displaying secondary hormone behaviors that occur around 5-6 months of age, such as:
-
Not urinating in the first 24 hours after surgery
Monitor your cats surgery site daily and contact your vet if you see any of these signs of infection: swelling, bleeding, discharge, or redness.
Give all medications prescribed by your veterinarian as instructed, including pain medications, even if your cat is acting normally. Your veterinarian will discuss any feeding changes that may be necessary after surgery.
Heres an explanation of the two types of neuter procedures and more detailed aftercare instructions for each.
Dr Jennifer Coates Dvm
Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM, serves on the advisory board for Cat Life Today. Dr. Coates believes neutering is best.
Heres what she said, Kitten neuters are simple surgeries. Kittens only need to be anesthetized for a few minutes and recover quickly.
Veterinarians may perform vasectomies as part of the management of feral cat colonies, but for pet cats neutering is best.
Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM
According to Dr. Coates, Post-operative complications are rare. For owned cats, the benefits of neutering include not only stopping reproduction but also problematic reproductive behaviors like spraying, yowling, aggression, and roaming. Alternatives to neutering, like vasectomies, will prevent unwanted litters but not these problematic behaviors. Veterinarians may perform vasectomies as part of the management of feral cat colonies, but for pet cats neutering is best. For interested owners, testicular implants are available that maintain the look of an intact male cats scrotum.
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What Are The Benefits Of Spaying Or Neutering Your Cat
Now that you have a better idea about when your cat should be sterilized, its important to highlight the benefits of the procedure. While you may want your kitten to one day experience the joys of motherhood or are afraid your male cat may feel less masculine if hes neutered, the spay/neuter surgery provides several health and behavioral benefits that can help your kitten live a longer and healthier life.
Female cats that are spayed before their first heat, for example, have a reduced risk for malignant mammary tumors later in life, which is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in cats 10 years of age and older. t also reduces the risk of your cat developing infections of the uterus and cancers of their reproductive organs. Additionally, it removes the possibility of complications that can occur with pregnancy and birthing. Spaying female cats also prevents heat cycles, which can last several months, and eliminates yowling, crying, and other erratic behavior associated with heat cycles in cats.
For male cats, the benefits of neutering are mainly behavioral. However, the procedure does eliminate the possibility of testicular cancer and other prostate problems later in life. Neutering your male cat will reduce his inappropriate behaviors , marking inside your home, and fighting with other males.
Benefits Of Neutering Your Male Cat
Population Control
While male cats dont actually have kittens themselves, one unneutered male cat in your neighborhood can make many female cats pregnant. Thats why neutering male cats is as important as spaying females when it comes to population control!
Health Issues
Neutering your male cat may help slow the spread of serious cat diseases such as Feline immunodeficiency virus and Feline leukemia virus that are often spread between cats during fights. Neutering can help to reduce cat aggression and may mean fewer injuries from fighting. Neutered males also tend to stay closer to home which helps to reduce their risk of being injured by vehicles.
Deter Undesirable Behaviors
Unneutered male cats typically spray inside the home more than neutered males and may be aggressive towards their owners. Having your male kitten neutered while young can help to prevent these behaviors from starting. Also, male cats who are not neutered, frequently roam over large areas in search of unspayed females to mate with. These males will spray to mark their territory and often fight with other male cats which can be bothersome, noisy, and smelly.
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Why Should I Neuter My Cat
Neutering a cat has multiple benefits for your pet. For example, your cat will be less likely to contract certain diseases as well as avoid unwanted pregnancies. Other advantages of neutering or spaying a cat include:
- Curbing the naughty behaviour that comes with sexual maturity, such as spraying urine to mark their territory.
- Neutered cats are less likely to stray from home, which protects them from being involved in road traffic accidents and fighting with other cats.
- Your pet may become more affectionate. Female cats can often become gentler.
- A reduced risk of contracting certain diseases, including feline leukaemia and feline aids.
- A decreased risk of your female cat developing a womb infection.
- If female cats are spayed at an early age, they are less likely to develop mammary cancer.
When Should I Neuter My Male Cat
When to neuter a British Shorthair male is a divisive and complex question. We consider the different approaches and explain our advice.
When to neuter a male cat is a question that we are asked by every one of our new kitten owners. There is a lot of conflicting advice out there, and opinions differ depending on who you are talking to. The issue seems to be particularly divisive when it comes to neutering male British Shorthair cats. This article identifies the common approaches, and then explains what age we advise neutering a male cat, and why.
There are two schools of thought on when to neuter a male cat:
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Are There Any Risks Or Complications
Healthy young animals have the lowest risks and are less likely to have any serious complications. However, it can be much harder to keep young active animals quiet after surgery, so they are more likely to have simple post-surgical complications.
Older animals, or those in heat, especially those with additional health issues, have a higher risk and are more likely to have complications. If you have any concerns about your pets health or if she is on medications for a medical condition, please let the veterinary staff know ahead of time so your animal can be treated appropriately.
Some of the most common post-operative complications include inflammation or infection of the incision, opening up of the incision, swelling under the skin at the incision site caused by fluid, and bleeding. These complications can be caused or made worse by the pet licking or chewing the skin at the incision or by not keeping the pet quiet as directed after surgery.
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Trap Neuter Release Program
Besides domesticated cats, it is also important to neuter as many strays and ferals cats as we can. A female cat can have up to 200 kittens in her lifetime.
The Trap Neuter and Release Program is designed to encourage cat lovers to trap and bring in such cats for neutering at their local vets. Many vets are registered with this program and can do the surgery for free or at a very subsidized cost.
Once the operation is successful. The cat is then released back to its colony.
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How Will I Know If My Cat Is On Heat
Female cats may become more affectionate, crouch on the ground with their bottom in the air and more noticeably they can be very vocal and meow a lot. Male cats are generally less distinctive when theyre ready to mate with a female however they may begin to spray urine, roam more and mark their territory.
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Does Neutering Lead To Any Adverse Effects On Health Or Behavior
Male urine odor is particularly strong and pungent.
There are many misconceptions about the effects of neutering on health and behavior. Neutered males are no more likely to become fat or lazy provided they receive a proper diet and adequate exercise. With less roaming, fightingand mating activity, calorie intake may have to be reduced and alternative forms of play and activity provided. Behaviors that have developed independentof hormonal influences such as hunting are not affected. Regardless of ageat which it is performed, neutering does not have any effect on physical development . Although neutering before puberty appears to have similar effects to neutering post-puberty, every attempt should be made to neuter before puberty before the cat develops problems, experiences, and habits associated with sexual maturity.
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When Should You Have Your Cat Fixed
Each pet is unique and your vet will be able to offer advice on when you should have your cat spayed or neutered. However, we typically recommend spaying or neutering kittens at around five to six months old. Adult cats can also be spayed or neutered.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet’s condition, please make an appointment with your vet.
What Age To Spay/neuter Your Cat And What You Need To Know
In a veterinary, there is probably no more common surgery than spaying a female cat or neutering a male.
For many feline parents it is relatively easy to understand the need and relevance of this procedure, but for others spaying or neutering their cats may still be cause for much doubt and concern.
Is this your case? Dont worry, we can explain everything here are all the answers to the most frequently asked questions!
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Under What Circumstances Should You Neuter A Cat
To put it simply, you should always neuter a male cat. When they are young, tomcats are more affectionate than females. However, when they feel nature’s call during adulthood, cohabitation at home will become more difficult.
They will start to mark your home with their urine and try to escape at any opportunity, not hesitating to jump blindly into the unknown when they hear the call of a cat in heat. For this reason, they will also fight with other male cats. The best case scenario is that your cat returns from these little escapes with fleas, ticks or other parasites.
How Will My Kittens Diet Change
After neutering, your kittens nutritional needs change. Its energy requirements go down by about 30%, but its appetite will increase by approximately 20-25%. As your kitten is still growing and needs energy to develop healthy muscles and body mass, its important to give it a food that covers its adjusted nutritional requirements. A food designed for spayed or neutered cats may be a good option. Consult with your veterinarian for a nutritional recommendation.
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Feeding Your Neutered Cat
Once your cat is neutered it’s important to feed a good quality lower-calorie diet, which is specifically formulated for neutered cats to help control body weight. After neutering male cats’ energy requirements are slightly lower. It is recommended to feed higher protein quantities and foods containing L-carnitine to male neutered cats to help maintain a healthy weight.
Examples of foods available for neutered cats from MedicAnimal:
- Varied flavour profile for increased palatability
- High protein levels to reduce appetite, fighting overeating
- Designed as a complete meal for young male cats
- Suitable for use in homes with more than one cat.
- Suitable from neutering
How Can I Arrange To Spay Or Neuter My Cat
To get your cat spayed or neutered, make an appointment with your local veterinarian. Most vets require at least one pre-op appointment before the big day. Dont feed your cat the night before the procedure, but do give her water. On the morning of the operation, remove the water, too.
Spaying and neutering doesnt usually involve an overnight stay. Most of the time, youll drop your cat off with the vet in the morning, and youll pick her back up again in the afternoon. Then its home for a little TLC.
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Can You Spey A Cat In Heat
Yes, although speying a cat in heat isnt quite as simple as a routine spey, its done regularly by most vets. Speying during a heat is a little more risky is because the blood vessels around their womb tend to be a bit larger and more likely to bleed. This means the operation is slightly more risky and can take a little longer.
What If I Dont Spay Or Neuter My Cat
Some people choose not to neuter their cats. If you decide to keep your cat intact, bear the following points in mind:
- Unneutered cats roam away from home more often, so theyre at increased risk of being hurt in a traffic accident if you let your cat outdoors.
- Male unneutered cats are more aggressive than their neutered counterparts.
- Female cats go into season once every three months. While in season, theyre noisier, more anxious and far more demanding.
- Unspayed female cats have up to three litters per year, with as many as six kittens in each litter and that can get expensive.
- Many unspayed female cats develop mammary cancers by the time theyre six or seven years old. If you decide to leave your female cat intact, check her regularly for lumps and speak to your vet if youre concerned.
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