In many communities, scores of unwanted cats are euthanized each year for want of a good home. Cats are prolific breeders and without neutering and spaying neighborhood cats, the number of cats in one area can quickly get out of control.
Aside from helping to reduce the pet overpopulation problem, neutering a male cat can have additional benefits for the cat in question as well as the owner of the cat.
What does Neutering a Male Cat Involve?
Neutering a male cat involves removing both testicles surgically. The neuter procedure is done with the cat under a general anesthetic or with the cat heavily sedated using a local anesthetic to numb the pain involved with the procedure.
Neutering a male cat is much less invasive than spaying a female cat as it does not require entering the abdominal cavity in most cases. The neuter procedure is a relatively simple surgery and male cats usually recover very quickly following the neuter procedure.
What are the Health Benefits of Neutering a Male Cat?
There are a number of important benefits which are realized when a male cat is neutered.
- Neutered male cats tend to remain closer to home without the attraction of female cats which are in heat to lure them away from their home.
- Neutered male cats tend to fight less frequently than intact male cats do because they do not tend to be quite as territorial.
- Neutered male cats are at lower risk for developing abscesses and other infections or injuries which may occur as a result of cat fights.
- Neutered male cats are at lower risk for being exposed to diseases such as feline leukemia and feline AIDS since they tend to fight with other cats less often than intact male cats.
What Other Behavioral Benefits are Seen with Neutering a Male Cat?
Male cats which have been neutered also tend to have fewer behavioral problems. In general, neutered male cats tend to make better pets than intact males because:
- neutered male cats spray urine much less often than intact male cats because neutered males are not usually as territorial as intact males.
- neutered male cats tend to produce urine which is less offensive than that of an intact male cat. Intact male cats produce a urine which smells extremely strongly of ammonia. This happens as a result of hormonal influences which are lacking in neutered male cats. Therefore, the urine of neutered male cats is usually easier for the cat owner to tolerate, especially when the cat urinates primarily indoors.
- neutered male cats often tend to be more social animals than those cats which are not neutered. Neutered males tend to seek interaction with people more often.
Neutering your male cat will provide a valuable community service by reducing the number of kittens produced. At the same time, neutering a male cat will also result in better health for your cat as well as making your cat a better pet for you.
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