Neutering Male Cats
Castration of male cats involves the removal of both testicles. This is done by making two small incisions into the skin over each testicle. The wounds are then left to heal naturally. Removal of the testicles causes testosterone (male hormone) levels to fall significantly, and can have an effect on behaviour as a result.
Advantages of Neutering Male Cats
- Can reduce the risk of straying with the associated risk of road traffic accidents.
- Can reduce unwanted sexual behaviours such as urine spraying.
- Often reduces the frequency of fighting with other male cats, reducing the risk of contracting diseases such as FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) or FeLV (feline leukemia virus), which are spread through infected blood/saliva.
- Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer.
Disadvantages of Neutering Male Cats
- There is always a risk of adverse reactions with any general anaesthetic or surgery, this can include death but this risk is very low, on the contrary, most recover remarkably well.
- Specific risks of castration include haemorrhage, breakdown of the wound, suture material reactions, bruising, inflammation and infection of the wound. Post-operative complications such as bruising, inflammation, and infection are more common in animals than humans undergoing the same procedure. Our involvement to try to keep them calm and prevent wound interference will reduce these risks.
- An association with an increased tendency to gain weight. This can be controlled with dietary management discussed at the post-operation check). Molecare recommends booking your cat for a free weight assessment at 2-3 weeks post-operatively.
- May increase the risk of developing urinary disease. However, other factors such as obesity, lifestyle, diet, and stress may also predispose a cat to developing urinary disease.
A Note on Retained Testicles (Cryptorchidism)
Cryptorchidism is the failure of one or both testicles to descend into the scrotum. Castration is strongly recommended as a retained testicle is up to thirteen times more likely to develop cancer. If they have not descended by 4-5 months of age, they are unlikely to do so in the future.
The procedure is more complicated than a standard castration as the retained testicle may be within the abdomen. Hence, the time, risks, and costs are different. If you have any further questions, please book an appointment to discuss the procedure with your vet or vet nurse.
Pre-operative Care
Please make sure your cat has not had access to food after 8pm the previous evening. Water can be left down until approximately 7.30am on the morning of the surgery. Please keep your cat inside overnight to ensure they don’t hunt or eat anything outside. Make sure to provide them with a litter tray to encourage them to go to the toilet before they come in. Try to keep your cat as clean as possible before bringing them in to reduce the chance of infection. If your cat has any special dietary requirements, bring their own food for when they wake up. If your cat gets especially stressed or has any behavioural issues, please notify us so we can help them stay as calm as possible during their stay with us.
Admission for Surgery
On arrival at the surgery, you can expect to be seen by a vet or veterinary nurse who will check that you understand the nature of the operation and examine your cat to ensure they are well enough for surgery. They will also check for cryptorchidism. You will be asked to read and sign a consent form for the procedure and supply contact phone numbers. It is important to keep a phone at hand in case of emergencies during the day.
Post-operative Care
Cats generally recover quickly from the surgery. Pain relief and two post-operative checks are included in the cost of the procedure. It is also necessary for your cat to wear a buster collar to stop them licking the wounds as they heal. If your cat licks the area, it may cause inflammation and infection.
It is important to monitor your cat closely for 24 hours following the procedure. Some cats may require further monitoring depending on their reaction to the anaesthetic/procedure. Please be aware of this when booking a date for surgery. You will be given a post-operation care sheet to guide you through this process, and you will be allocated a dedicated discharge slot to discuss it before taking your cat home.
