At what age should a cat be neutered?

Neutering a cat is a rather delicate process, surrounded by hundreds of myths. Some claim it won't help their pet at all and will lead to numerous health problems. Others equate the procedure with cruelty to the poor animal. Still others hold the opposite opinion, believing that after neutering, a cat can live a normal life. Consequently, owners often ask questions about the advantages and disadvantages of neutering, and at what age a cat can be neutered.

All about cat neutering

Neutering your furry pet relieves owners of many difficultiesBut of course, new problems arise instead of those resolved, although they can be resolved very quickly. Ultimately, the best age to neuter a cat and whether it's necessary is up to the owner. From a medical perspective, no negative consequences are observed after the procedure.

Benefits of castration

• After neutering, an animal's lifespan increases significantly. Statistically, neutered pets live 1.5 to 2 years longer than non-neutered pets.
• The pet becomes calm and reserved. Normal aggression immediately disappears, and frequent nighttime meows cease. A neutered pet responds much better to training and education, and there are no complaints about its behavior.
• The unpleasant smell from cat urine disappears, and all carpets and fabric surfaces remain clean again.
• The likelihood of developing hormone-dependent tumors, prostatitis and other diseases is reduced.

Disadvantages of the procedure

Well, now it's worth it. mention the disadvantages of castrationBy the way, the sooner you neuter your pet, the fewer problems are likely to arise. Here are the problems:

1. Neutering at any age is performed under anesthesia, and such a procedure carries risks to the pet's health. While the risk is minimal for young animals, it's much more serious for older animals.
2. It's quite possible that complications may occur during or after the surgery, including bleeding, suture dissection, and various infections. With proper care and a qualified examination by an experienced surgeon, the likelihood of such problems is reduced. It's important to remember that potential negative changes largely depend on the cat's age. It's best if the surgery is performed on a young kitten under a few months old.
3. Once you decide to neuter your cat, there's a risk of developing urolithiasis. To prevent this, feed your pet special food and plenty of water.

What prevents people from neutering cats at an early age?

Numerous existing stereotypes often lead people to be afraid of neutering their pets. Among these stereotypes is the belief that the cat's weight will increase significantly, than before neutering. However, this is false, as an animal's weight depends solely on its diet. If fed the right food, it will always be a normal weight and will not become obese. Don't confuse a pet's activity with aggression, which often occurs during hormonal changes. Even after neutering, the cat remains active and agile. He continues to play with children and is not afraid when picked up. No significant changes are visible.

Many owners turn a blind eye to their pet's age, fearing they'll frighten or hurt them with such intervention. Others can't bear to deprive their cat of the ability to reproduce and believe it will harm the animal. painful and unpleasantFortunately, the sexual desire of such pets awakens only after certain hormonal changes at the right time of year. This doesn't depend on the cat's personal desires, so you don't have to worry. Regardless of the age at which the neutering procedure was performed, the pet's sexual desire disappears immediately. This is because a neutered cat loses the gland responsible for hormone production. But remember, it's best to have the procedure performed at an early age.

There's also one caveat: a male cat should not be allowed to interact with a female cat before neutering. He won't be able to forget this, and will occasionally experience similar desires. This most often occurs after a late neutering, at two years of age or older.

At what age can a cat be neutered?

Experts and experienced veterinarians are confident that the ideal age for castration is 7-9 months or up to one yearDuring this period, the animal reaches a fairly large size and begins puberty. If this process is complete, the hormones responsible for sexual desire will be produced not only in the testicles but also in the pituitary gland. If the testicles are removed at an early age, they will no longer signal the pituitary gland, and hormone production will cease in large quantities. It's important to consider this before asking the question, "At what age should a cat be neutered?"

Neutering a cat - what is the optimal age?

According to veterinarians, if neuter a cat before 7 years of ageThis won't cause significant harm to its health. However, after seven years, there's a risk that the animal won't be able to tolerate the anesthesia and will die.

Why do some owners perform the procedure at a later age?

It's simple. Perhaps they missed such an opportunity when the cat was little. Or they were afraid of "scaring" the little kitten.

In any case, castration is possible even after two years of age. The key is that the procedure is performed by an experienced surgeon and that the pet receives proper care afterward.