Castration of cats - Value, age and care

Content

• Castration of male cats
• Differences between spaying and neutering a cat
• castration of cats
• Castration of cats: post-operative care
• Post castration complications of cats
• Neutering cats: consequences, advantages and disadvantages
• Value of neutering cats
• Can you neuter a cat in heat?

In this article from PeritoAnimal, we are going to discuss a very important issue for all pet owners, which is nothing more than sterilization of cats. Castration of cats It is a common operation in any veterinary clinic, but it still raises questions that we will answer below.

On the other hand, some people are still reluctant towards this intervention. Therefore, we will also look at the advantages and disadvantages of sterilization. Keep reading and find out everything you need to know about neutering or neutering cats.

Castration of male cats

Spaying or neutering cats is a simple and quick procedure that consists of removing the testicles. It's done through a minimal incision in them, and of course, with the cat anesthetized. Furthermore, it hardly needs post-operative control.

As for the age to sterilize a male cat, The truth is that this can be done when the cat is still a kitten and, in fact, early intervention is recommended, at approximately five months, as this way you avoid showing the signs typical of sexual maturity when detecting female cats in heat.

The main objective of this operation is to prevent the animal from having children and exhibiting its reproductive behavior. We will see in another section the advantages and disadvantages of the operation.

Differences between spaying and neutering a cat

The sterilization of cats, in the strict sense, would be an intervention that prevents the animal from reproducing. Thus, this definition would include the type of surgery we described in the previous section, which, more correctly, should be called castration, as it is the appropriate term to refer to the removal of the testicles or the uterus and ovaries in the case of female cats.

Spaying a cat could be done with a vasectomy, which would be the cutting of the tubes that connect the testicles to the penis and transfer sperm to it. In this way, reproduction would be prevented from the testicles, but this is not the surgery normally performed. It should be considered that vasectomy, or sterilization in female cats, they only prevent reproduction, but they do not prevent heat or the associated behaviors and side effects.

castration of cats

Sterilizing cats is a little more complex when it comes to females, as in this case the organs to be removed are located inside the body, so the veterinarian will have to open the abdominal cavity. As in the case of males, the intervention can be done in the first months of life, before the first heat, and the main objective will be to avoid reproduction and heat.

When we talk about sterilizing a cat, the most frequent intervention is removal of the uterus and ovaries through an abdominal incision, of course, after administering anesthesia. To neuter a stray cat, a side cut is sometimes made and only the ovaries are removed. Thus, the objective of avoiding the reproductive cycle is fulfilled and the postoperative period presents a lower risk of complications, which is very important for the cat's immediate return to the street. Still, even with an abdominal incision, recovery from spaying cats is usually smooth. Upon waking up from anesthesia, the cat can return home to recover, as there is no need for hospitalization.

Castration of cats: post-operative care

Both in males and females, recovery is simple. The veterinarian usually injects an antibiotic to prevent the risk of bacterial infections and will prescribe pain relievers to administer at home for the first few days. For the rest, our job will be to monitor whether the incision heals smoothly. In the first few hours, it is common for the cut area to appear a little inflamed and reddened, an aspect that will improve in the following days. In about a week, the wound will heal, and in 8 to 10 days the veterinarian will remove the stitches. or staples, if applicable.

If the animal is able to access the wound too much, it will be necessary to put an Elizabethan collar on it, as the effect of the cats' rough tongue and their teeth can open it or infect it. Cats generally don't like wearing the collar, but it's necessary, at least for as long as you can't keep an eye on it.

Although for the intervention the cat must arrive at the clinic after a few hours of fasting to avoid complications with the anesthesia, when you come home you can offer him food and drink normally, as it is common to return to normal life from the first moment. Of course, it's important to keep in mind that after sterilization, nutritional needs will change, and you'll need it. adjust your diet to avoid being overweight.

Post castration complications of cats

Although they are not common, we will look at complications from sterilization in cats below, which will affect females the most due to the greater degree of complexity of their surgery. The main ones are as follows:

• It is not common, but anesthetic drugs can cause adverse effects.
• Especially in females, the wound can open or become infected, which prolongs recovery and it may be necessary to re-anesthetize the animal, suture, treat with antibiotics, etc.
• Also in cats it is possible, although rare, that a internal bleeding which will require prompt veterinary attention.
• Sometimes a seroma forms in the wound area, or a reaction occurs in the cut area due to some disinfection product.

Neutering cats: consequences, advantages and disadvantages

In this section, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of spaying cats, regardless of whether they are male or female. But first, it's important to keep in mind that cats, however much they insist on their independent nature, are domestic animals, and this section should be viewed from that perspective. We highlight, first, the advantages of neutering cats:

• Prevents uncontrolled birth of litters.
• Avoid the signs of heat such as marking, aggressiveness or anxiety, which favor the coexistence with humans, but also reduce stress and increase the health of cats by decreasing the risk of fights or escapes.
• It reduces the likelihood of suffering from diseases associated with reproductive hormones, such as pyometra in cats or breast tumors.

Like disadvantages we can highlight the following:

• The animal runs the risks related to surgery and the postoperative period.
• Energy needs decrease, which is why it is necessary to pay attention to the cat's diet to avoid being overweight.
• O intervention price may discourage some tutors.

Finally, the impossibility of reproducing irreversibly is a consequence of the operation that, in the current situation, is considered an advantage, but can be an inconvenience.

Value of neutering cats

We cannot talk about sterilization of cats without mentioning the price, as there are many guardians interested in neutering their cat who do not decide because of this issue. The truth is that it is totally impossible to quote a value, because it will vary with a series of elements, such as the following:

• the sex ofcat, as the intervention will be cheaper in males, as it is simpler.
• The location of the clinic, as prices can vary greatly depending on the city where it is located. Within the same area, the amount paid will be similar between clinics, as prices are usually recommended by the corresponding veterinary faculty.
• If something unforeseen arises, like the complications we mentioned, the final price may increase.

Although sterilization a priori, especially for females, may seem expensive to you, it is important to bear in mind that it is performed by a professional, sometimes more than one, trained for years, in a surgical center installed in accordance with legislation and equipped with technologies that are also costly. Also, spaying cats is an investment that will save you expenses that an unsterilized animal could cause, such as litters of puppies, pyometra, tumors, injuries from fights or being run over by escapes.

On the other hand, spay a cat for free or at a very low cost is sometimes possible, since in some places feline population control programs are implemented with measures like this. In some shelters or animal protection associations, it is possible to adopt a cat that has already been spayed, although it is usually necessary to pay a certain amount to help defray the expenses generated by the kitten.

Therefore, it is advisable to find some veterinarians with good references and compare prices. In addition, some clinics offer the possibility of payment in installments, and you can find out about the low-cost sterilization campaigns in your area. As part of responsible ownership, you should always take this expense into account if you want to be with a feline, as well as count your food expenses.

Can you neuter a cat in heat?

Lastly, it is a common doubt of tutors whether the castration of cats can be done when they are in heat. The recommendation is wait for its completion, or rather, operate before the first heat occurs. If this is not possible, it will be up to the veterinarian to decide if the operation is acceptable at that time, evaluating the advantages and disadvantages.