Castration of cats is a surgical operation performed both for medical reasons and at the request of the owner of the animal. Usually this operation is performed during the period when the age of the animal is from 5 months to 4-5 years.
Why castrate a cat
This question is asked by many owners, because castration is a surgical intervention and leads to a violation of the hormonal background in the animal's body. However, for domestic animals that are not subject to breeding, such intervention is a necessary measure. After all, a sexually mature cat will strive to satisfy its natural instincts. And not having achieved what he wants, he will begin to experience severe stress, mark corners in the apartment and even try to escape into the street. It is also worth mentioning that cat tags have an unpleasant odor, which is quite difficult to get rid of. Also, the owners need to remember that it is useless to punish the cat for marking the territory, because the animal thus seeks to manifest the instincts inherent in it by nature. Therefore, timely castration is necessary in order to make life easier for the pet and its owners.
At what age is it better to castrate a cat
Veterinarians recommend neutering animals immediately after puberty between 7 and 12 months of age. Of course, an operation can be performed on a five-month-old kitten, however, early castration in the future can provoke diseases of the genitourinary system. Late castration also has some drawbacks. First, older animals tolerate general anesthesia worse. Secondly, after castration, adult cats do not always change their behavior for the better and continue to mark corners in the apartment.
How to care for a cat after surgery
Castration is not an abdominal operation and does not affect internal organs, so the recovery period after it lasts only a few days. Sometimes the doctor does not even suture the cat's genitals, treating the postoperative wound with brilliant green.
If the cat is healthy, and the operation went without complications, then no special care is required. It is enough just to follow the recommendations of the veterinarian. The doctor may prescribe the treatment of the wound with chlorhexidine or brilliant green.
For the operation to proceed without complications, owners are advised to contact reputable veterinary clinics. Reviews of any clinic can be found on the forums where the owners of the animals communicate.
After the operation, the animal must be provided with rest and a warm bed. Perhaps on the first day the cat will refuse to eat, but this is not a cause for concern. The most important thing is that he drinks water. On the second day after the operation, the cat will most likely have a good appetite. This is a sure sign that his health is normal.
If on the second day after the operation the cat categorically refuses to eat, it is better to call the veterinarian. The doctor may offer to bring the animal to the clinic for an examination to make sure there are no serious complications.
If the cat after castration leaves anesthesia for a long time, then the owners should control its movement around the apartment. The animal may try to jump onto any high surface, from which it cannot jump off on its own.
Diet for a castrated cat
Neutered animals are prone to obesity, so they should be switched to dietary food. And to prevent urolithiasis, fish and seafood should be removed from the cat's diet. The easiest way to solve the problem with dietary food is buying specialized feed for castrated animals. These feeds are low in calories and contain substances that prevent the development of diseases of the urinary system.
