Wow—your kitten is already approaching puberty! Can you believe it? That means it’s time to talk to your VCA care team about the best time to get them neutered.
When a cat gets “neutered,” both testicles are removed, and the penis remains in its normal location. You may also hear this referred to as “castration,” but the medical term is orchidectomy or orchiectomy.
The testicles produce sperm and testosterone, so your cat will not be able to get female cats pregnant, and you’ll see a reduction in testosterone-driven behaviors.
- Males who aren’t neutered are more territorial and are more likely to mark the home by spraying urine.
- The urine of intact male cats has a very strong odor which is difficult to remove.
- Tomcats (unneutered males) are more likely to stray from the home in search of mates, which puts them at increased risk of injury (hit by car or attacks by predators) or infection (especially feline immunodeficiency virus or FIV).
- One intact male can get many females pregnant, increasing the burden on animal shelters and rescue organizations who are overrun with kittens.
Generally, veterinarians recommend neutering your cat at around 5 to 6 months of age, though your VCA care team will consider what’s best for your individual pet when determining the best time to neuter. Male cats usually reach sexual maturity around 6 months of age. You’ll want to get them altered before they begin to develop tomcat behaviors.
A neuter procedure is usually a quick, minor procedure performed under general anesthesia. Because your cat will be anesthetized for the procedure, your veterinarian will recommend fasting the cat the night before surgery.
If they eat the morning of surgery, they run the risk of vomiting while unconscious, which could lead them to inhale vomited material, causing potentially life-threatening pneumonia.
Both testicles are removed through small incisions in the cat’s scrotum (the sack that holds the testicles). Usually, these incisions are left open to heal on their own. This reduces irritation to the sensitive scrotal skin and also allows for drainage if necessary (usually not an issue at this age).
Most neuter surgeries are routine and go without a hitch. However, with any surgical procedure, there is a risk of complications. Prior to the surgery, the veterinary team should discuss potential complications with you, such as bleeding, infection or anesthetic reactions.
Your cat will usually go home the same day they have the procedure. Your veterinarian will send instructions on:
- Use of the e-collar (cone-shaped collar that prevents them from licking their incision)
- How to administer pain medications
- How to monitor the incisions
- Follow-up appointments, if needed
- Restrictions on outdoor activity
- Avoiding bathing or getting the incision wet
One thing to note is that neutered cats are at an increased risk of obesity, so make sure you check your cat’s body condition regularly and adjust feeding amounts when needed. Your VCA care team will help you determine how much to feed if needed.
If you have a breeding cat, speak with your VCA care team about caring for your intact male cat and how to prevent unwanted litters.
1. Unlimited exams are any exams during regular business hours, excluding specialty, emergency, telemedicine or urgent care exams.
2. Vaccines may include rabies, feline distemper (Panleukopenia), feline respiratory virus (Rhino, Calici) and feline leukemia (FeLV). Lab work checks for issues like diabetes, liver and kidney disease, parasites and general infections.
