Questions and answers about castration and sterilisation
Nowadays, more and more cats are neutered/sterilised. Why? Because people who have a cat as a pet are finding more and more positives in their cut pets. In the following article you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions. If you have any other questions, please contact your vet.
Shelters are full of abandoned cats. What is the real problem?
Simply put – more kittens are born than there are homes for them. Consequently, tens of millions of dogs and cats are put to sleep every year. Most of the animals killed are not old, wounded, sick or aggressive. They are young, beautiful, healthy, friendly and eager to play. Some of them are also purebred. And there are no numbers of pets abandoned, harassed, starved and no longer wanted every year. For these reasons, the problem of overpopulation needs to be addressed and it all starts with breeding. Breeders have a big responsibility in this respect. One of the best options is neutering/sterilisation.
What is castration and sterilisation?
Female cats are spayed, males are neutered. This removes the possibility of the animal having offspring. Sterilisation involves the surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries from a female cat. Neutering means removing the testicles. Both operations, which are performed under general anaesthetic, are safe, routine and relatively painless. Recovery from the incision usually takes about one day.
What are the advantages of castration and sterilisation?
- The sexual instincts of cut cats are reduced. They are more family-friendly pets.
- Cats that have been cut are less likely to be injured in outdoor fights. Uncut cats cover very large areas in search of mates. The female’s scent travels very far and cats have only one purpose in life – to have offspring. Then they fight, etc.
- Cut cats aren’t prone to fighting, saving them pain and ourselves huge veterinary bills.
Is castration/sterilisation expensive?
The cash box is castrated/sterilised daily. As long as your cat has no health problems, the operation is safe and easy. Your veterinarian will do a pre-operative check-up on your cat to see if it has any health problems. Owners of adult cats can also enjoy the benefits of surgery!
Is my pet too old for neutering/sterilisation?
Most owners do not see a big change in character. Rather, the cats become calmer (they have been deprived of the natural pressure to have offspring), less irritable and more focused on family and affection.
Contrary to popular belief, surgery does not make cats fat or lazy. In fact, the cat’s metabolism simply slows down a bit and it needs less food. This also means that the cost of cat food is reduced. They are also cheaper to insure than usual.
Will neutering/sterilisation change my cat's character?
Most clinics will take your cat in the morning and you can pick him up later that day. It is much easier to find time to do this once than it is to go to the vet repeatedly later for injuries or to find a home for kittens.
How long does it take to neuter/sterilise a cat?
Most veterinary clinics try to keep the prices of neutering/sterilisation reasonable. We recommend calling around to different places to get a price. Remember that the one-off outlay is very small compared to the potential costs later if your cat gets hit by a car on the street or fights with other cats. In addition, if you find out that your female kitten is pregnant, the cat’s health, possible caesarean section, food, medication, vaccinations will cost huge amounts of money. You are also risking the life of your female cat – all whelping is far from safe and calling an ambulance is very expensive.
My cat never leaves the garden. Why should I neuter/spay my cat?
You’ve already read about the benefits of having a haircut. A female cat that is spayed or neutered before her first run is 200 times less likely to develop breast cancer! In addition, accidents also happen in the garden because strange cats very quickly find a way to get in and start fighting. Remember – cats that have been cut are calmer, easier to care for and more gentle towards you.
For owners of female cats:
- Cuts reduce the likelihood of cancer or pyometra, a common uterine infection in uncut cats;
- Female cats may pee or poop in inappropriate places during the run – ruining carpets and furniture. This is a very unpleasant smell and is hard to get rid of. It also attracts noisy, fighting and restless males. Sterilisation solves these problems;
- Pregnant and lactating females eat much more. The cost of treating a pregnant sow is high;
- Raising kittens is very expensive – a lot of money is spent on food, worming, vaccines, passports, advertising. It also takes a lot of your own time and commitment. Plus, you’ve contributed to an increase in unwanted pets.
For owners of a male cat:
Many of the kittens that end up in the shelter are there because the owner was unable to find them new homes. When it comes down to it, many who were full before they started usually give up their wish. Then the owner of the female cat will also have to neuter/sterilize all the kittens.
But I know I will find new homes for my kittens....
- Neutered males are less likely to suffer from diseases related to the reproductive organs or prostate. The likelihood of developing urogenital problems is also reduced. All of these conditions can lead to kidney disease – the most common problem in uncastrated males over five years old;
- Uncut male cats often mark their territory with urine – both indoors and outdoors. It is a very strong stench that is difficult to get rid of. The cat will usually mark everything – doorsteps, carpets, furniture, your clothes, etc. Any bags left on the floor, or other objects, containers, toys – will not be left untouched. Neutering at an early age (before the hormones kick in) helps with this problem. If the cat has already started to mark, neutering may not help 100% – some males do it later.
I want my children to experience the miracle of birth....
Television, the internet and the library are three very good sources of information for children about animal reproduction. For millions of cats, this “miracle of birth” usually ends with putting them to sleep. You are taking a real risk with your own female cat’s life, because not all litters are safe!
But I want to make money with my breeding herd...
Breeding professional pedigree cats is a science that involves years of study and work. A beginner can make minimal, if any, money from selling kittens. The care of the mother kitten, food costs, worming, vaccinations, breeding registration, shows, advertising, websites, etc. all take a lot of money and it will take years to break even. You have to invest a lot and you will be lucky if you get something back from the sale of the pups. If you mate your ‘good’ female in an unskilled and unprofessional way, you are doing a disservice to the breed and ‘producing’ kittens. There is also a lack of knowledge about genetics, hereditary diseases, cat lines, etc. Both the “breeders” and the owners of the new kittens suffer, because no one knows when a kitten might die of a hereditary disease.
