Neutering is a common procedure for kittens to prevent them from reproducing. For female cats, this is known as ‘spaying’, and for male cats it’s known as ‘castration’.
What are the Benefits of having a Cat Neutered?
The primary and most common reason for having a cat neutered is to prevent your cat from producing unwanted litters. However, there are plenty of other health benefits to having this procedure:
· Eliminates the risk of birth defects – Unlike humans, animals don’t have an understanding of family relationships and will often mate with siblings, leading to an increased risk of birth defects and deformities in the offspring.
· Reduces urine marking or ‘spraying’ – Spraying or urine marking is often prevalent in male cats, however, once they have been neutered, the amount they will urine mark reduces significantly.
· Reduce the risk of theft – Unfortunately, theft of animals sometimes occurs so that they can be bred. Having your cat neutered makes them less desirable to thieves, reducing the risk of animal theft.
· Prevents cancers – Cat neutering can prevent the risk of cancers in both male (testicular cancer) and female cats (uterine infections).
RSPCA, Benefits of Neutering your Pet, https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/general/neutering
What are the Short-Term Effects of Neutering Your Cat?
While a common and straight-forward operation, there may be some short-term side effects of the procedure, including:
- Lethargy
- Lack of appetite
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Pain around the incision
While it may be distressing to see your pet in pain or discomfort, these symptoms should subside after 24 to 48 hours. If, after this, you notice that your cat is still experiencing any of these symptoms and not urinating, contact your vet immediately.
To help make your cat as comfortable as possible during this time, there are certain precautions to follow to help your cat recover:
- Avoid Cat Litter - Although your cat can still use a litter tray after surgery, the litter pellets or stones can sometimes get stuck to the incision, causing soreness. Therefore, we would recommend using a newspaper throughout the recovery period.
- Keep Your Cat Contained - Chances are, they won't want to be running around after surgery. However, you should keep your cat contained so they can't run, climb stairs, jump or go outside in the first 7 days to reduce the risk of infection/injury.
- Reduce Food & Water Intake - For the first 24/48 hours, your cat may feel nauseous. Giving them a small amount of water to sip on or small amounts of food will help limit vomiting.
What are the Long-Term Effects of Neutering Your Cat?
Once your cat has recovered from their procedure, you may notice some long-term effects such as:
- Behavioural Changes – Neutering can have a positive impact on cats' behaviour. Particularly with male cats, there are noticeable reductions in their aggression and urine spraying. While neutering can’t alter a cat’s personality, it can certainly make them more affectionate and docile.
- Obesity - A common change in cats after being neutered is weight gain. This is due to the hormonal changes after the surgery, which can affect metabolism and appetite, leading to an increased appetite and overeating.
- Increased Urinary Issues – After a cat has been neutered, they become more prone to urinary tract problems, such as urinary tract infections and struvite stones. Our range of Struvite Cat Food is designed to help with struvite stones and lower urinary tract issues in cats by using a balanced mineral content. We’ve got some more information on struvite treatment over on our blog.
How to Care For Your Cat After Neutering
While the short-term effects of neutering don’t last long, here are some top-tips for caring for your cat after neutering in the long-term:
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Diet and Exercise – Due to the higher risk of obesity in neutered cats, it’s important to monitor their diet and exercise to prevent weight gain. At Calibra, we offer a range of Sterilised Cat Food that not only has a calorically balanced diet to help reduce weight gain, but also contains balanced levels of minerals, including magnesium, phosphorus and calcium, which can help reduce urinary infections.
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Look for Signs of Urinary Infections – Due to the increased risk of urinary infections, it’s important to keep an eye out for any symptoms so that you can seek treatment as soon as possible. Symptoms to look out for include:
- Straining to urinate
- Frequent urination
- Blood in the urine
- Discomfort around the genital area i.e. licking
- Changes to the smell of the urine
- Regular Check-ups With a Veterinarian – It’s essential to have regular check-ups with your veterinarian to ensure your pet's health is as it should be and to identify any problems. This is particularly important after an operation, as your vet will be able to inspect the wound, check the healing process and help with any other questions you may have about your cat after neutering.
For more information on how to care for your cat after neutering and how to find them the right sort of food, our team are happy to help. In addition to our sterilised cat food, we have a range of diet-specific foods including Hypoallergenic Cat Food to help minimise reactions to common foods, to our Sensitive Cat Food range to help cats who struggle with their digestion.
