Benefits of Neutering
Spaying and castration are surgical procedures that make
your cat unable to reproduce. Spaying is the removal of a
female cat's ovaries and castration is the removal of a male
cat's testicles. Neutering refers to either procedure.
If you have an outdoor cat or multiple indoor cats you
should seriously consider having your cat neutered. The world
is incredibly overpopulated by stray cats. Most of them end up
in shelters or on the street and if they are not adopted, they
are either put to sleep or die from trauma, starvation or
exposure to the elements.
Unless you are planning on breeding and are confident you
will find homes for all the kittens (a female cat can produce
up to 15-20 kittens a year) the most responsible thing to do is
have your cat neutered.
Benefits of neutering
Even if your cat stays indoors and doesn't live with a
viable breeding partner, it's still a good idea to have your
cat neutered. If you have a female cat, spaying makes ovarian
cancer impossible and also dramatically reduces the risk of
cervical cancer.
It will also eliminate a number of behaviours that you may
find undesirable. A female that hasn't been neutered will go
into heat around three to four times a year. During this time
she may meow constantly or try to get out of the house.
When a female goes into a heat several times without mating
she may develop problems like depression, anorexia, diarrhoea
and vomiting. Neutering will eliminate all such behaviours.
Males
Male cats also benefit greatly from being neutered. It
eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and prevents a number
of behaviours that can make owning a male cat difficult.
Neutered male cats are far less territorial, will rarely
spray urine to mark their territory, and their urine will not
smell nearly as strong. If you have two male cats, neutering
them will dramatically reduce the amount they fight. In fact,
neutered cats are generally much more docile and easier to
handle.
The operation
Preparing for the actual procedure is the same for each
gender. You should not feed your cat for about 12 hours before
the surgery.
The cat is put under a general anaesthetic and hooked up to
monitoring equipment to make sure there are no complications.
Then an incision is made and the ovaries and sometimes the
uterus or testicles are removed. The incision is then closed
with stitches that may be hidden inside.
Because a larger incision is needed for a female cat she may
need to stay at the clinic for a day or two while male cats
generally go home the same day.
Afterwards
Your vet may fit your cat with a head cone to prevent the
stitches being chewed. You'll need to keep an eye on the cat to
make sure that the wound shows no signs of swelling, tearing,
bleeding or discharge.
If any of these symptoms appear, inform your vet
immediately. Usually a cat recovers completely from a neutering
operation, and within a week or two the vet will remove the
stitches.
During her recuperation make sure she has plenty of water,
clean bedding and a chance to relax in a calming
environment.
There is some debate about the best time to have a cat
neutered. Most vets recommend neutering at six to eight months,
before your cat reaches sexual maturity. Ask your own vet what
he or she recommends for your cat.
Side effects
After neutering, a cat's hormonal balance changes, causing
the metabolism to slow down, this makes the cat prone to weight
gain. Hill's™ Science Plan™ NeuteredCat™
contains just the right amount of calories for neutered cats.
In addition, neutered cats accumulate more fat and less muscle
mass than non-neutered cats. Therefore, Hill's™ Science
Plan™ NeuteredCat™ is formulated using our unique
Weight Management Formula (WMF) with lysine and L-carnitine
which help to burn fat and build muscle.
Urinary problems are common in all cats, and more so after
neutering. Hill's™ Science Plan™ NeuteredCat™
is formulated with controlled mineral levels and produces the
appropriate urinary pH level to decrease the risk of bladder
stone formation and maintain urinary health.
Hill's™ Science Plan™ NeuteredCat™ is
available from your veterinary practice.