Castration of cats: the pros and cons of this procedure, and how it happens

You've adopted a small kitten; it's growing and developing, and its natural instincts are beginning to awaken. Specifically, it begins screaming due to its desire for companionship with female cats, marking its territory, and behaving aggressively, thereby disturbing its owners' peace. At these moments, the question of neutering the cat arises.

What is castration?

Castration is removal of the sex glands Surgical procedure. This procedure is simple and poses no risk to the cat's life or health. Nowadays, you can often find advertisements for veterinarians to make house calls for castration. The cat does not require any special care in the postoperative period.

In what cases is castration necessary?, and in which ones not? The answer to this question depends on where the owner and their pet live:

1. The owner and his cat live in a comfortable apartment on the second floor or higher. The cat doesn't go outside and mostly stays indoors. In such conditions, the cat has nowhere to vent its sexual energy and will behave aggressively toward everyone in the apartment. He will also mark his territory, causing an unpleasant odor. And screaming is unavoidable in this situation. The clear answer is that neutering is necessary for such a cat.
2. The owner and his cat live in a private house or on the ground floor of a multi-story building. These cats often wander outside. When the active period of searching for a female begins, male cats may go outside and satisfy their needs there. Afterward, they will behave as usual at home—affectionate and fluffy. In this case, the answer is clear: neutering is prohibited. Note that "neutering" is prohibited, because if you neuter a male cat that roams freely outside, he could be harmed by other male cats fighting for a female, as he won't be aware that it's the time of sexual activity.

What is the best age for castration? Castration surgery can be performed at any age, but it is best done at the age of 8-12 monthsAt this age, the cat has not yet experienced the full joy of sexual intercourse, but is strong enough to undergo the operation without problems.

Both sides of castration

The positive side of castration:

• the pet has no mood swings or bouts of aggression;
• there are no unpleasant odors, since the cat does not mark its territory;
• the cat has no desire to escape, because often they run away because of the cat’s strong desire;
• The risk of genital diseases is reduced to almost zero, since there will be no contact with cats.

The downside of castration:

• the risk of surgery, although minimal, still exists;
• there is a risk of infection, but if you follow all the veterinarian’s recommendations, it is reduced to zero;
• The risk of weight gain occurs when you don't follow a diet, but if you do, this risk is reduced to almost zero.

How does castration surgery occur?

Preparatory period

The scrotum must be stripped of hair, either by shaving or plucking. Then the skin must be cleaned. treated with a 70% alcohol solutionThis is necessary for initial cleaning and disinfection. These same areas are treated with a 5% iodine solution.

The main period, that is, the castration operation itself

A disposable sterile scalpel is used to make a 1-1.5 cm incision in the skin of the scrotum. The testicle is removed through the incision and separated from the sac with a scalpel. The vas deferens is twisted around its axis and tied with absorbable thread. This will prevent bleeding and promote thrombus formation. the thread will completely dissolve in 90-100 daysEverything above the thread is cut off, and the wound is dried with a sterile cloth. The second testicle is treated similarly. Then, both incisions are treated with an antibiotic spray. No sutures are placed on the scrotum; the wounds will heal very quickly.

Postoperative period

It will take 3-5 hours for your pet to recover from anesthesia, and it is during this time that it will require increased attention from its owners.

To the owner some procedures will need to be carried out, such as:

• Ensuring moisture in the eyes, that is, it is necessary to close the eyelids so that the eyes do not dry out, because he will not be able to do this on his own.
• Maintaining a comfortable temperature. During anesthesia, the cat's temperature drops, causing it to shiver. To ensure comfort, place it on a soft, warm surface and cover it with a blanket. If this doesn't help, place a heating pad on its back. Specifically, on the back, not the stomach!
• Ensuring safety. During the first few hours, your pet will be weak and disoriented, which can lead to injury. It's important to ensure they don't climb to high places.
• Providing food and water. After anesthesia, you'll always want to drink, so make sure there's clean water available. For the first feeding, give half the amount of food you usually give.

Proper feeding of a neutered cat throughout life

Neutered pets prone to severe weight gain, so veterinarians recommend following a diet. If you feed your pet homemade food, its diet should consist of meat, low-fat dairy products, rice, fruits, and vegetables. If you feed your pet commercial food, you should buy food specifically for neutered cats, as it already contains a balanced diet.