Features of the cat's behavior before and after castration, differences from sterilization, how the operation takes place, preparation of the animal and caring for it, problems and dangers. A beautiful and fluffy kitten has appeared in your house, which will eventually grow up and turn into an adult cat. If, before purchasing, you did not decide why you need a fluffy - for breeding or as a pet, then over time it will have to be done.
Features of the cat's behavior before and after castration
So, you don’t want to knit your purr, and you don’t want to castrate either. Of course, every owner wants only the best for his pet. Many people think that it is cruel to subject your family friend to such manipulations. Your furry pet cannot make a decision on its own, and give consent to this, everything will be on the conscience of the owner of the four-legged. "We are responsible for those we have tamed." (Antoine de Saint-Exupery). Breeders without relevant experience do not even imagine how much trouble and problems an adult sexually mature animal can cause. Let's weigh the pros and cons.
Some cats mature very early - by 6-9 months. Animals have no concept of pleasure and "sex", they have an instinct for survival. That is, they need to prolong the existence of their species on earth. The pet's body itself lets you know when it's time to reproduce. To satisfy the needs of "love", an adult sexually mature male needs at least three to seven estrous females per year, with a frequency of approximately several times every two weeks to once a day (depending on the temperament of a particular animal).
So this is an erroneous opinion if the owner thinks that the cat's "wedding" alone or at most six times in his entire life will bring him satisfaction and great happiness. When there is a rapid release of hormones, and in some individuals it is very high, you cannot predict the behavior of your mustachioed friend. It usually starts with songs and trills in different ways. The newly made "groom" will entertain you with serenades day and night.
Almost all macho males mark their territory: corners, upholstered furniture, personal belongings - that is, anything in your home. It also goes to people who come to the house. There is nowhere to go from the stench, it is almost impossible to completely wash and remove the "wonderful" smell. Due to the sharp release of hormones in the animal, an unplanned molt may begin. You will have to constantly comb your furry friend, not to mention frequent cleaning in the apartment.
Missing the lady of the heart, cats lose their appetite and lose weight. There are specimens in which aggressiveness increases and character deteriorates. A large percentage of the owners of "walking" male cats were scratched precisely during this difficult period. Some received very serious injuries, and after all, wounds from the baleen-striped claws heal for a very long time. There is even the disease felinosis - a bacterial disease after injuries received from felines. Bacteria enter the wound on the skin, and the infection infects the surrounding tissue.
Many simply run away in search of "love" - it is good if through the door, and there are windows in the house too, and not only on the first floor. Even with a successful landing, there are many other dangers that lurk on the street: aggressive dogs, vehicles, flayers. And then the tragedy for the whole family, especially for young children. And in the first place, you will only blame yourself.
Of course, if you have a private house, and the cat is walking on the street, you do not need to castrate it. He himself will find brides and satisfy his sexual needs. But he cannot do without injuries and various diseases, because the primacy of "love" will have to be defended in battles with other contenders. Having a free walking pet at least once a year, conduct his routine vaccination. Even if he gets infected with something from his fellows, the sore will pass in a milder form.
The operation to castrate a cat does not affect its psychological state and hunting instincts. A neutered furry lives a longer, quieter and healthier life. The pet does not need to run away from home in search of girlfriends. The risk of contracting venereal and infectious diseases is reduced to almost zero. The striped mustache is more attached to the owner and anxiously loves his household, becomes a pleasant home purr. Now the male cat does not want to escape from the house in search of a bride and there is no need. And you can only sing if the bowl is empty.
Among people with the wrong information, there is a false opinion that castrated cats are prone to overweight and become lazy. The metabolism of a furry friend after the manipulation decreases and it all depends on how the owner looks after his pet. If a mustache is fed uncontrollably, then it will be extremely difficult for a fat animal to move. So the diet should be organized intelligently: systematically, taking into account the individual needs of your "glutton". It is necessary to create conditions for outdoor games of the cat - be sure to find time for this.
If we talk about sedatives, then today, there are no completely safe remedies. In general, they negatively affect the health of the animal. The endocrine system is damaged, causing various diseases from the genitourinary system. This is also not a way out of this situation.
Differences between castration and sterilization
Sterilization and castration are two fundamentally different operations with different outcomes. When male cats are sterilized, the spermatic cord is tied to them. At the same time, the animal retains hormonal levels and sexual function. His behavior does not change, he only becomes incapable of reproducing future offspring. When a cat is castrated, the testes are completely removed and the hormonal background decreases. The animal is not capable of reproducing children, and behaves in a completely different way.
What is cat castration, how and where is it carried out?
"Castration" in translation from Greek means blanching. The operation is performed under general anesthesia and takes approximately 5 to 25 minutes. The scrotum of the cat is incised, the testes are removed, special threads are applied to the spermatic cord so that there is no bleeding, and finally the testes are removed. If you want the best for your pet, then look for professional, specialized veterinary clinics with experienced certified specialists.
Many people do not hesitate to look for would-be doctors on the Internet and get the appropriate result. There are animals for which such "specialists" remove only one testicle. Then comes inflammation, very serious complications and repeated surgery. Owners, be careful, do not trust the charlatans of your beloved pet. Then your home friend will pay first of all!
Anesthesia is an important aspect when carrying out castration of a cat; the patient's well-being depends on it. There is: intramuscular, intravenous, inhalation anesthesia. Typically, most experienced physicians use a combination of these anesthesia in order to ensure proper medication sleep, a high degree of pain relief, and an easy and quick awakening of the patient.
Preparing a cat for castration
The age of the cat for the manipulation must be from seven months to a year - that is, the entire body must be fully formed in the animal. If this is done at an earlier age, then the unformed genitourinary system will not allow the urethra to fully develop, and the pet will have big problems with urination.
Later, if the furry macho is already mated, castration may not give the result you expected. The fact is that when the cat is not yet "untied" (has not had contact with the cat), the testes produce sex hormones, and after mating with the cat, the adrenal glands and the pituitary gland begin to secrete. Therefore, your male will simply become sterile, and the behavior may remain almost the same. According to statistics, 5-10 percent of cats behave as if they were not manipulated. At the age of 8-10 years, it is dangerous to castrate some mustachioed animals, the body may react badly to anesthesia.
The cat must be vaccinated, or revaccinated no later than two weeks before castration, and be sure to drive out the worms. To avoid complications during the operation, the stomach of the mustachioed striped must be empty - you cannot eat, but you can drink. Also, the animal is examined by a veterinarian and determines the general condition of the body: the skin and hair are felt, the lymph nodes and mucous membranes are checked, the heart and lungs are listened to, the stomach is felt and the body temperature is measured. If necessary, they do ultrasound diagnostics and take blood and urine tests of the cat.
Postoperative care for a castrated cat
Special manipulations of the animal after castration are not required. Since during the operation the eyes of the animal are open and the mucous membrane of the eyes is dry, subsequently, for some time, it is necessary to bury the eyeballs with special moisturizing drops.
Then, when the cat comes out of anesthesia, its muscular system is relaxed, so poor coordination of movements may be observed for several hours. To avoid falls, make sure that he does not climb on high surfaces until movement is restored. After manipulation, the patient's body temperature is lowered. To prevent the pet from catching a cold, it must be placed in a warm place and wrapped in a blanket.
Some cats may feel nauseous after anesthesia and should be fed as little as possible. The patient must have free access to water. For a better effect, a special collar is put on the mustache, for several days, so that it does not lick the operated site, the stitches do not come apart, and the infection does not get into the wound. So everything will heal faster.
After castration a few weeks later, the macho hormone levels decrease. The animal is incapable of reproductive function. The manifestations of aggression cease, the cat becomes cute, calm and docile. The animal no longer marks its territory.
Benefits of neutering a cat
- is not distracted by reproductive function, is more attached to the owner and family members;
- does not run away from home in search of a "wife";
- there is no need for songs and trills to attract females;
- does not mark the territory in the house or apartment (your favorite personal and household items will be safe and sound);
- less susceptible to infection with infectious and sexually transmitted diseases;
- a castrated cat reduces the risk of developing diseases of the reproductive organs (for example, prostate adenoma, testicular cancer, urolithiasis);
- the likelihood of getting injured and wounds fighting for the primacy of being a "groom" is minimized (the cost of services of veterinary hospitals is reduced);
- metabolism decreases, and the castrated cat consumes less food (saving on the amount of feed);
- your friend's life expectancy is increasing, diseases are decreasing (for many years he will delight the whole family with his presence).
Problems and dangers to which a non-castrated cat is at risk
- In search of a female, she may try to escape from her home. Such attempts imply big problems for the animal: falling from a height, getting lost on the street, getting injured by other cats and stray dogs, getting run over by the wheels of a car, falling into the hands of cruel people.
- A cat can become infected with sexually transmitted diseases from a friend.
- Outside contact with other animals increases the risk of contracting various diseases.
- In the process of life, there is a high probability of getting hold of diseases of the reproductive organs, such as: testicular cancer, prostate adenoma, urolithiasis.
- Frequent mood swings.
- Refusal to eat, weight loss.
- Loss of hair from a sharp change in the level of hormones in the cat's body.
Trouble threatening the owner of a non-castrated cat
- loud round-the-clock exhausting songs;
- horribly smelling, indelible marks on everything in the house, including not only your personal belongings, but also the belongings of guests who come to the house;
- constant combing of the fluffy and frequent cleaning in the apartment;
- treatment of an injured animal by a veterinarian;
- the risk of getting yourself injured from an aggressive "macho";
- your irritation at this behavior of the cat, and you think: "Who would push him away?"
False conclusions about neutering cats
For some reason, many inexperienced owners of furry friends think that this operation is painful and unsafe. In veterinary clinics, anesthesia is used before the procedure and the animal does not feel anything. The postoperative recovery period does not last long, for several days.
Many people believe that a castrated cat will be deprived of the joy of sexual intercourse, which he desperately needs. Your opinion is wrong. If you cannot ensure your macho regular dates and sex with brides, then expect appropriate behavior. Your cat will be aggressive and irritable and may scratch you. You will constantly search for the missing pet, and if you find it crippled and sick, heal. He will definitely not let you sleep at night - he will sing songs in every way. Get ready to smell the "divine", eaten forever smell of its marks, and also often clean wool throughout the apartment.
Decide what is best for your beloved cat only for you. Indeed, in some cases, you can no longer change anything. Rate well all the pros and cons. We wish you every success!
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