Castration Of A Cat Or A Female Cat

Neutering of a cat is one of the most frequent operations among the owners of pets who live in large cities.  It involves surgically removing the pet’s sex glands. In males, the testes are eradicated, and in females, the ovaries are also eradicated. Neutering is quite an uncomplicated process if it is carried out by a trained veterinarian, then the dangers that are likely to be perpetrated on the pet are few. However, the owner still needs to prepare a little.

By the way, do not confuse castration and sterilization. Most people use the first term to refer to male cats and the second term to refer to female cats. However, they are referring to different kinds of operations.  During castration, the internal organs responsible for sexual activity are completely removed from the pet. During sterilization, the pathways through which sperm or eggs move are tied off – the seminal duct or fallopian tubes.

After both surgeries, the animal will not be able to reproduce, but sterilized pets continue to produce sex hormones, the reproductive instinct is preserved, and the pet can even mate, but fertilization does not occur. Based on this, castration of a cat or a male cat is a preferable option to sterilization. The latter is recommended only for medical reasons when treating a disease. Sterilization will not eliminate the animal’s sexual behavior.

Why castrate a male cat

One of the first questions when it comes to castration of a cat or a female cat is: why is this operation necessary? After all, in nature, cats do just fine without it. And many “country cats”, it would seem, do not need such things. However, there are many good reasons for castration.

First, behavioral:

• The behavior of a male or female cat ready to reproduce changes greatly, they begin to scream loudly and unpleasantly, meow.
• Cats mark their territory, which results in an unpleasant smell spreading throughout the house.
• Cats become restless, and some may even try to run away.
• Some pets become aggressive.

Secondly, medical:

• Genital injuries.
• Hereditary pathologies.
• Congenital anomalies (for example, cryptorchidism, that is, the Location of the testicles outside the scrotum).
• If the owner takes his cat to the country or lets it out for a walk (or maybe the pet runs away on its own), then there is always a risk of getting unwanted offspring and associated diseases.
• Tumors – malignant or benign.

True, there are also contraindications, in the presence of which castration cannot be performed, so as not to harm the cat even more:

• If the pet is weakened after another operation or illness.
• If he has an exacerbation of some chronic disease.
• If the animal has heart or kidney pathologies.
• If the cat is already too old (after 7 years).
• If there may be problems with anesthesia (for example, Intolerance to any components).
• And some others that you can consult with your veterinarian about.

If the owner wants to avoid problems with the cat’s behavior associated with reproduction and also wants it to remain healthy and bring joy to him for a long time, then he should seriously consider castrating his pet.

Recommended age for castration

Castration is not recommended before the animal reaches 7-9 months. This is because the cat has already formed by this age, but sex hormones are not yet produced in the young body at full capacity. There is no consensus on whether it is worth performing castration surgery before the first heat in cats, but most veterinarians still advise castrating the cat before it occurs.

There is another important point: all cat breeds develop differently. Some complete this process faster, while others are considered “late-maturing”. Therefore, before deciding when to neuter your cat, it is better to consult a specialist.

There is no upper limit for when a cat or a male cat can be castrated, but it is worth understanding that pets over 6-7 years old have more health risks simply due to their age.

What difficulties may arise if you castrate a very young or very old animal?

Pros and cons of castrating a cat

Among experts, there are both opponents of castration and those who strongly recommend it for pets that are not planned to produce offspring in the future. Indeed, both sides have their compelling arguments. The main ones are listed in the table:

Despite all the disadvantages of castrating a cat, they can easily be avoided or corrected if:

• Have the operation done by a good specialist and in a trusted clinic? To do this, you should first study reviews on the Internet, ask friends who have already castrated their animals, and you can also ask for advice from the breeders from whom the kitten was purchased.
• Carefully care for the animal after castration and monitor its nutrition, selecting a special balanced food for castrated and sterilized cats.

The operation cannot be performed during estrus. During this period, the body is actively restructuring, and such a strong intervention can entail very negative consequences, including cancer. In addition, directly during castration, there is a high risk of significant blood loss, since the animal’s blood vessels are dilated. Recovery from anesthesia, healing of sutures, and the general postoperative rehabilitation period can also be delayed. Therefore, it is better to castrate an adult cat 2 weeks before or after estrus.

As for the offspring, if the owner does not plan to continue professionally breeding, then there is no need to worry about this and it is worth doing castration. Animals do not need to satisfy parental feelings – they reproduce only at the will of instincts. In addition, this way it is easier to protect the pet from various possible diseases and prolong its life.

How to prepare a cat for castration

Castration is a very common operation that doctors perform daily. However, it still requires preliminary preparation for both male and female cats. How can this be done?

• You must not feed the animal 12 hours before castration. If there are several of them in the house, you must either isolate the pet preparing for the operation or let all the other four-legged friends go hungry. This is done to prevent vomiting during castration since the anesthesia contains substances that cause it. Severe vomiting can greatly complicate the situation and increase the time of the procedure.
• You should not give the cat anything to drink for 2-3 hours.
• If the animal is old, but castration is necessary for one reason or another, then it is worth showing the animal to a cardiologist and a therapist first.
• All vaccinations must be done before the operation (preferably at least a month) or postponed until after it (it is also recommended to vaccinate the animal no earlier than a month after castration).
• 10 days before castration, the animal should be dewormed (for this purpose, special anthelmintic drugs can be purchased at veterinary pharmacies and pet stores).
• It is necessary to prepare a warm blanket, because after surgery, because of the effects of anesthesia, the animal may lose feeling in his limbs and will turn blue, even on a summer day.

A male cat is easier to neuter than a female one, it does not involve much surgery as compared to spaying.

The duration of the postoperative recovery process in cats after castration depends on the features of the animal. On average, it takes from 2 to 4 hours before the animal comes to its senses. So it’s just like having your cat nap, really badly, and then within 24 hours, the cat is completely back to its normal self.

Pet owners also should be aware that this operation can be done in two ways – feline sterilization at home and in a veterinary hospital. The first strategy has its benefits, but it is less often used than the second.

How cats are neutered

• First of all, the pet is sedated.
• Then the area where the operation will be done is clipped and the skin is washed with a particular agent.
• Thereafter, a little cut is made, through which the testicles are cut and taken out, then it is sutured.
• It rarely lasts more than 15 minutes, and, the sutures after the intervention are also rarely sensitive and rarely need any postoperative intervention or removal.

Castration of a cat

Similar to the male cat, anesthesia is administered to the female cat. Then, the hair is clipped from the abdomen and a deep incision is made in the groin area. The uterus and ovaries are taken out through it and then stitched up. The operation of castration takes about 40 minutes, and after this, the cat is dressed in a special blanket (sometimes replaced with a special collar) so that the animal does not lick or scratch the stitches. The owner will also need to do some additional treatment so that the stitches do not fester or become inflamed. A total of two stitches are applied – internal and external. If the latter is done with regular, not self-dissolving threads, then it will need to be removed later, and it is best to consult a veterinarian for this.
Another method used in the castration process in cats is endoscopic castration. Then on the abdominal wall, many tiny holes are made, allowing various medical instruments to be made, with the internal organs and also actions done by the doctor as if appearing on the screen in this particular type of surgery called with minimal external intervention over the body but is indeed pricier. In addition, not all veterinary clinics have the necessary equipment for castration using endoscopy.

Carrying out castration of a cat at home

There are cases when it is necessary to castrate a pregnant cat. This can be done only in exceptional cases and for medical reasons when pregnancy threatens the life of the animal. Such a procedure disrupts the natural course of events in the pet’s body. And given that during this period strong physiological and hormonal changes already occur, it will take a lot of time for the cat’s body to recover. Moreover, rehabilitation will often be impossible without additional medical assistance.

Caring for a cat after castration

Very important for the recovery period following surgery; how quickly the cat will return to normal is dependent mostly on the actions of the owner. So, what is needed to ensure no complications arise and the animal returns to normal life as soon as possible?

• For 12 hours after anesthesia, the cat needs to be closely monitored. For this period, loss of coordination of movements, vomiting, and lethargy are characteristic. If these symptoms do not disappear after the specified period, it is better to contact a veterinarian.
• It is also worth listening to the pet’s breathing when it has not yet fully come to its senses. It should be even and calm.
• It is necessary to provide a cozy place and it must be on the floor, and not on your favorite shelves, chairs, and tables. Otherwise, the cat may fall and get hurt. This place should also not be near a radiator, in direct sunlight,t or in a draft.
• The cat needs to be provided with complete peace so that there is no fuss, other animals, or children nearby. While the pet is coming to its senses, the environment around it should be as comfortable as possible for it.
• If the cat’s bowls are somewhere up high, it’s worth moving them to the floor so that the animal doesn’t accidentally trip or fall.
• Water can be given after 2-3 hours.
• After 6 hours, you can try feeding the cat. But you shouldn’t give him the whole portion at once – to begin with, you can offer half or a third of the usual amount.
• The animal must have a clean tray. You need to monitor this constantly since grains of filler can get into the seam and cause inflammation.
• In the first hours after the operation, problems with the toilet may arise. You should never scold him for this. It is better to put a diaper next to him or even replace the tray with it to make it easier for the pet to relieve himself.
• Cats will also need a blanket. They may become more irritable or, on the contrary, lethargic. This is often not due to the consequences of castration, but rather to the “post-operative clothing” that they are forced to wear for about 14 days.
• In cats, it is necessary to ensure that the suture does not fester, become inflamed, or moist. Some experts recommend treating it for prevention. For the same reason, it is important to keep the house clean. If something goes wrong, you should immediately contact a veterinarian.
• If the cat eats quite actively and knows its norm, then the previous portion size can be left the same as before the operation. If the pet is prone to gaining excess weight and has become less active, then the portion should be reduced.
  When feeding ready-made industrial feeds, it is recommended to switch to special feeds for neutered pets.
• It is necessary to motivate cats to move. Often, castrated pets become lazier and calmer: after all, now they do not need to look for a mate for reproduction. A decrease in activity is fraught not only with excess weight gain but also with other possible diseases. Therefore, if the animal only wants to eat and sleep, the owner should pay special attention to its physical activity, come up with some kind of game, or buy toys that will interest the cat.
• After castration, changes in the behavior of male and female cats are possible. For example, at first, they will be lethargic, and will not want to jump and run, even if this was previously usual for them. They may strive to be alone more often or, on the contrary, will demand the attention of the owner. This is normal, because, firstly, they have experienced great stress and, perhaps, continue to experience pain and discomfort. And secondly, changes in the hormonal background also make themselves known.
• For a speedy recovery, the pet will need more attention, love, and care from its owner. This is especially important in the first hours after it has recovered from the anesthesia after castration. Due to the strange condition and impaired coordination of movements, the animal may be frightened and unable to move around the apartment normally.

Suppose the operation is performed by a professional. In that case, the animal is healthy, and the owner has provided it with everything it needs after castration, then male cats will forget about this procedure in a couple of days. Female cats will forget about it immediately after their blanket is removed.

Castration in modern conditions is probably one of the most necessary operations. It can be performed by almost any veterinarian and even done at home. Therefore, if the owner does not plan to breed pedigree cats, but just wants to live with his four-legged friend and at the same time cares about his health and longevity, then he should seriously think about castrating the animal.