The thought of having tiny, furry little kittens running around will surely bring a smile to everyone’s face. But what happens when an entire litter of kittens eventually breeds and delivers another litter, and that litter delivers another, and so on? As cat owners and lovers, we need to keep in mind that cats can reach sexual maturity as early as 4 months old. This means they could potentially breed and produce kittens at this young age and up to 3 times a year! So what can we do to prevent this? Neutering (also known as sterilisation, or spaying for females and castration for males) is the procedure of removing the ovaries and uterus for females and the testes for males to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
But is neutering beneficial for our cats? Why is it needed? And do we need to be aware of anything?
Population control : As mentioned earlier, cats can become pregnant from as early as 4 months of age, and they are capable of delivering up to 3 litters per year. If one unspayed female delivers an estimated 12 kittens yearly, and the kittens of this cat reproduce, as well as the kittens of these kittens, the number of cats that one unspayed female could potentially produce is staggering. Considering the overwhelming number of stray cats in Dubai, it is no wonder that rescuers try so hard to control the population spread by using the TNR (trap, neuter, release) programme. Unwanted kittens may not be cared for and are likely to suffer from various infectious diseases, or worse. Although adoption has become more popular, there still aren’t enough homes to open up for stray animals. A single male in one territory can impregnate multiple female cats!
Nuisance control: Female cats will come into season and be receptive to male cats regularly (approximately every three weeks during sexually active times of the year—also known as going into ”heat”) if they do not get pregnant. Having female cats in heat in an area will attract males, which will create problems. Unneutered male cats are likely to stray across a large area, mark their territory with extremely pungent spray, and also engage in fights with other males, adding to the noise nuisance. In the case of fully domesticated cats, this type of behaviour could be extremely difficult to handle constantly inside the house.
Health issues Female cats that are not neutered have a higher percentage of suffering from womb infections and mammary tumours later in life. There is a higher risk of passing on the infectious diseases to the kittens. Pregnancy and the birthing process are definitely also not without risk. Male cats may transmit infectious diseases such as FIV and FeLV even while fighting with other cats. Moreover, there can be painful fight injuries, such as wounds, abscesses, and internal injuries, which make the cat weaker and more susceptible to road traffic accidents, as they will tend to wander over large areas.
Issues at home Unneutered male cats could easily wander from home and may not return due to their strong tendency to roam. They may also spray urine inside the home and be aggressive towards their owners. In addition, both males and females could possibly become extremely vocal, often making it unbearable for owners to deal with.
It is therefore desirable to neuter kittens early enough to ensure that the above problems are prevented. Most owners find it very difficult to have an unneutered cat as a flatmate (especially male cats!).
The Procedure of Spaying and Castrating:
Spay surgery involves a general anaesthetic and the removal of both the ovaries and uterus. Before the procedure, the fur on the area of the incision will need to be shaved, and your vet will ask you to fast your cat in the evening to minimise potential anaesthetic complications (water is always okay). Usually, your cat will be able to return home the same evening, and a checkup with the vet should be done approximately 5 days after the surgery. Castration is removing both testicles of male cats. This procedure is also performed under general anaesthesia and through an incision in the scrotum. As with the spay operation, fasting from the previous evening will be required, and your cat will probably go home the same day.
Post-operative Care:
Both male and female cats can recover from neutering surgery in 7-15 days. It is sensible to try to keep your cat in a fairly quiet environment for 24 to 48 hours to allow the internal wounds some time to heal. However, if your cat seems unusually quiet or dull or starts to lick or scratch excessively at the skin sutures, contact your vet to get a dressing or special collar to prevent the wound from being damaged.
It is important to remember that once a cat has been neutered, there is a stronger tendency for her or him to become overweight. You may need to adjust their diet proportionately. If you notice your cat starts to put on excessive weight, then a special “neutered/sterilised diet” might be necessary.
At The Cat Vet, we offer various types of high-quality veterinary prescription diets specifically tailored for sterilised cats. To prevent your cat from gaining extra weight after neutering, speak with one of our nurses or vets to discuss the importance of a sterilised diet. Providing a water fountain in order for your cat to have access to liquids at any time is also crucial after neutering.
Please call us at 80022838 for more information or visit thecatvet.ae to book your appointment today!
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