Questions and answers about castration and sterilisation
Nowadays, more and more cats are being neutered/sterilized Why? Because people who have cats as pets are increasingly finding positive aspects in having their pets spayed or neutered. The following article provides answers to the most common questions. If you have any further questions, please contact a veterinarian.
Shelters are full of abandoned cats. What is the real problem?
Simply put, more kittens are born than there are homes for them. As a result, tens of millions of dogs and cats are euthanized every year. Most of these animals are not old, injured, sick, or aggressive. They are young, beautiful, healthy, friendly, and playful animals. Some of them are even purebred. Additionally, there are no statistics on the number of abandoned, abused, or starved pets each year that are simply no longer wanted. For these reasons, the issue of overpopulation must be addressed, and it all starts with breeding. Breeders have a significant responsibility in this regard. One of the best solutions is spaying or neutering your pet.
What is spaying and neutering?
Female cats are spayed, and male cats are neutered. This prevents the animal from reproducing. During spaying, the uterus and ovaries are surgically removed from the female cat. Neutering involves the removal of the testicles. Both procedures, performed under general anesthesia, are safe, routine, and relatively painless. Recovery from the surgery typically takes about one day.
What are the benefits of castration and sterilization?
- Spayed/neutered cats have reduced sexual instincts. They are more family-friendly pets.
- Spayed/neutered cats are less likely to get injured in fights while outdoors. Unspayed/unneutered cats cover large areas searching for a mate. A female’s scent travels far, and for cats, their sole purpose in life is to reproduce. This leads to fighting and other issues.
- Spayed/neutered cats are less prone to fighting, which spares them from pain and saves us from significant veterinary costs.
Is spaying/neutering expensive?
Cats are spayed or neutered every day. If your cat has no health issues, the procedure is safe and straightforward. Your veterinarian will examine your cat before the surgery to ensure there are no health concerns. Even owners of adult cats can enjoy the benefits of spaying or neutering!
Is my pet too old for spaying or neutering?
Most owners do not notice significant changes in personality. Instead, cats tend to become calmer (the natural pressure to reproduce has been removed), less irritable, and more focused on family and receiving affection.
Contrary to popular belief, the surgery does not make cats fat or lazy. In fact, a cat’s metabolism simply slows down slightly, and they require less food. This also means that the cost of cat food decreases. Additionally, insuring them is typically more affordable.
Does spaying/neutering change my cat's personality?
Most clinics accept the cat in the morning, and you can pick them up later the same day. Finding the time for this once is much easier than repeatedly visiting the veterinarian later due to potential injuries or searching for homes for kittens.
How long does it take to spay or neuter a cat?
Most veterinary clinics strive to keep spaying/neutering prices reasonable. We recommend calling different clinics to inquire about costs. Keep in mind that a one-time expense is minimal compared to potential future costs if a cat is hit by a car on the street or gets injured fighting with other cats. Additionally, if you discover your female cat is pregnant, the costs for her health, possible cesarean section, food, medications, and vaccinations can be enormous. You also risk your female cat’s life—not all births are safe by any means, and calling emergency veterinary services is very expensive.
My cat never leaves the yard. Why should I spay or neuter my cat?
You’ve already read about the benefits that come with the procedure. For a female cat spayed before her first heat cycle, the likelihood of developing mammary gland cancer is reduced by 200 times! Additionally, accidents can happen even in the yard, as stray cats can quickly find a way to get in and start fights. Keep in mind—spayed/neutered cats are calmer, easier to care for, and more affectionate toward you.
To female cat owners:
- Spayed cats have a reduced likelihood of developing cancer or pyometra, a common uterine infection in unspayed cats.
- During their heat cycle, female cats may urinate or defecate in inappropriate places, damaging carpets and furniture. This has a very unpleasant odor and is difficult to clean. It also attracts noisy, fighting, and restless male cats. Spaying resolves these issues.
- Pregnant and nursing female cats eat significantly more. The medical costs for a pregnant female are high.
- Raising kittens is very expensive—it requires a lot of money for food, deworming, vaccinations, pet passports, and advertising. It also takes a significant amount of time and dedication. Additionally, you contribute to the increase in the number of unwanted pets.
To male cat owners:
Many kittens end up in shelters because their owners couldn’t find new homes for them. When reality sets in, many who were initially enthusiastic often give up on their plans. Then, the owner of the female cat must also spay or neuter all the kittens.
But I know I can find new homes for my cat’s kittens…
- Neutered male cats have a lower risk of suffering from diseases related to reproductive organs or the prostate. The likelihood of urogenital problems is also reduced. All these conditions can lead to kidney diseases, which are the most common issue among unneutered males over five years old.
- Unneutered male cats often mark their territory with urine, both indoors and outdoors. This has a very strong odor that is difficult to eliminate. Cats typically mark everything—doorframes, carpets, furniture, your clothes, and more. Any bags left on the floor, other items, containers, or toys are not spared. Neutering at an early age (before hormones start to take over) helps prevent this issue. If the cat has already begun marking, neutering may not completely resolve the behavior—some males continue to do so even after the procedure.
I want my children to experience the miracle of birth…
Television, the internet, and the library are three excellent sources of information where you can find educational materials about animal reproduction for children. For millions of cats, this “miracle of birth” often ends with euthanasia. You are genuinely risking your female cat’s life, as not all births are safe!
But I want to make money with my purebred cat…
Professional purebred cat breeding is a science that requires years of learning and dedication to the breed. A beginner may earn minimal profit, if any, from selling kittens. The care of the mother cat, food costs, deworming, vaccinations, cattery registration, attending cat shows, advertising, websites, and more require a significant amount of money, and it may take years to break even. It involves substantial investment, and one can consider themselves lucky if the sale of kittens covers any of the costs. If you breed your “good” female cat carelessly and unprofessionally, it does a disservice to the breed and merely “produces” kittens. Additionally, there is often a lack of knowledge about genetics, hereditary diseases, cat bloodlines, and so on. This causes suffering for both these “breeders” and the new kitten owners, as no one knows when a kitten might succumb to a hereditary disease.
