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facts about neutering cats

This can be problematic, as not everybody wants more kittens running around the house.

Nor do they want to add to the increasingly large numbers of kittens looking to be re-homed, which is a huge problem for charities and businesses trying to rescue unwanted cats. It's for these reasons that we advise that you neuter your cats once they reach sexual maturity, but there are also benefits for your cat's health and for you as a pet owner. 

Spaying and Castrating

Below we will discuss the facts for both female spaying and castrating male cats.

What is Spaying?

This is the process of neutering female cats, both their uterus and ovaries are removed. The procedure is usually performed at 5 - 6 months of age. There are many advantages to spaying your cat, including;

  • Preventing unwanted pregnancies and homeless kittens
  • Preventing "cat calling" - when on heat, female cats can be very vocal, demanding, and overly-affectionate, and you'll receive lots of unwanted visits from tom cats.
  • Preventing pyometra, a life-threatening infection of the uterus can requires costly emergency surgery to treat

Spaying operations are a very quick procedure, and in most cases, your cat can come home the same day.  We will then see her back 3 and 10 days post op to have your wound examined and ensure that all is well at home.  Where possible we use dissolvable stitches but occasionally use ones that need to be removed which is usually done at the 10 day check up.  She will have a patch of fur shaved on her left side. It is important to ensure she doesn't try to lick her stitches whilst she is healing.

What is Castrating?

This is how we neuter male cats - or toms - through removing their testicles. Again, the process is usually performed at 5 - 6 months of age. There are many advantages to neutering your cat, including;

  • Preventing unwanted pregnancies and homeless kittens
  • Preventing male cats from "spraying" urine to mark their territory - the urine of an uncastrated tomcat has a very strong and unpleasant smell
  • Reduces the tendency to roam - roaming cats are at a much greater risk of injury from car accidents
  • Reduces the spread of disease through fighting

In most cases, you can take your cat home the same day. Because there are no stitches to be removed, there's no need for the 3 and 10 days post op checks like for females.

Why should I neuter my cat?

Apart from the benefits listed above, non-neutered cats - particularly toms - are susceptible to a number of conditions including;

  • Cat bite abscesses
  • Feline immunodeficiency virus (cat AIDS)
  • Feline leukaemia virus

In fact, we recommend that all cats, whether they're neutered or not, be vaccinated against feline leukaemia.

Weight Management

We recommend seeing both males and females back two months after they have being neutered to check their weight.  Naturally after being neutered your cats calories requirements will decrease so if they continue to eat the same they will gain weight very easily.  We recommend moving them onto a specific diet for neutered cats as this is lower in calories whilst still being balanced for all their dietary needs.