Neuter Your Cat

Male cats that are not used for breeding purposes should be neutered so that they can no longer impregnate a female. This is especially crucial for cats because there are thousands of kittens and full grown cats every year that are put down because they cannot find homes. There are several advantages to having your male cat neutered and the process itself is quite safe. Everyone should strongly consider having their male cats neutered.

A “tomcat” is a male cat that has not yet been neutered. An unneutered male cat can be difficult to live with, no matter how well trained he may be. Male cats that are not neutered want to go outside to mate with female cats that are in heat. This can be a catastrophie if your cat is not used to being outside or if you live in a busy area with lots of traffic. Tomcats by nature like to roam a lot and they can go quite far away from home in the search for female cats. Cats that are unfamiliar with the outdoors may not be able to find their way home. They may also fall victim to larger predatory dogs that can kill them. Your tomcat may also enjoy being able to roam at will and may just not want to come home and be confined inside your home again.

Tomcats are very territorial and become aggressive if any other male cat enters their territory. They will fight with any male cat that roams into their territory and attempt to drive them away to prevent them from mating with female cats in “their” territory. A cat that feels threatened will fight to the death. Even if death doesn’t occur, these fights can be quite serious and can seriously injure the cats involved. Wounds that are inflicted can also spread diseases like the FeLV virus, which can be fatal. Neutering your cat may not stop an aggressive cat from being less hostile toward humans, but it will prevent your cat from actively seeking fights with other male cats in the neighborhood.

The neutering process is very simple and involves removing the male cat’s reproductive organs. These organs are easily accessible in most tomcats. Occasionally, a more extensive surgery has to be done because they have not developed and descended correctly. Removing these organs causes changes in male hormones through a cat’s body and changes his behavior. Most male cats will settle down and not be as prone to wandering and aggressive behavior. The younger your male cat is neutered, the easier it will be for him.

You should always contact your vet to explain the procedure in more detail. If you don’t intend to breed your cat, neutering him is the best choice for his health and well-being. It also helps to prevent more unwanted kittens being born.