Pros and cons of castration. How will (not) your cat's behaviour change?

Nowadays, it is common for town cats as well as village cats to be castrated. The reasons are understandable and people have fortunately moved away from the old-fashioned tradition of drowning kittens. But what to expect from castration, especially in tomcats, or what not to expect? 

Have you decided to have your cat castrated and apart from regulating the cat population explosion in your village you also hope that your pet will be calmer and cuddlier? A common mistake that will surprise many cat lovers. Neither the temperament nor the character of your cat, or even the level of obedience, will not change by undergoing this procedure. But then, many owners have complained that their castrated tomcat became slightly more aggressive. How is it possible?

According to some sources, castrating is the most frequently performed veterinary procedure. It is a common, about half-hour long, operation. However, the removal of gonads does have an effect on your pet, even if it only affects behaviour controlled by the sex hormones. Your tomcat should therefore not be as inclined to run after his female companions. Neutered cats continue to mark their territory but the stinging odour of urine is significantly reduced. An important claim in support of castration, based on a number of studies, argues that it increases life expectancy.

Despite a speedy recovery, the cat deserves your increased attention and care like any pet patient. The wound, although very small, should be checked regularly. It is recommended to keep the cat calm, even if he is trying to get out. If possible, place the cat toilet as close to the resting animal as possible to prevent him from walking. Eating and drinking is not recommended until four hours or more after the operation.

Thanks to modern medicine, your pet will be fit again in several days, wanting to get back to the old ways. If the cat was used to mouse-hunting, do not be surprised if this habit persists even after the castration. It is also possible that the cat will get involved in a catfight, defending his territory. 

In some cases, it can take up to six weeks for hormonal changes to take effect. Until then, the cat can still show sexual behaviour towards female cats - if they live under the same roof or nearby.

If you feel that the cat is more aggressive, it is not caused by unsuccessful castration but by his nature. There are cat breeds known for their stronger dominant signs and behaviour. Accept your furry friend as he is. Not all cats are cuddly. And this often does not change with castration. Despite all this, there are more pros than cons of castration, especially when it comes to the quality of life of your feline companion.
 
Whatever your decision, we wish good health to all cats!

Related articles

History of the domestic cat I.

Did you know that the domestic cat which is now kept as a pet all over the world, is probably a domesticated form of the wild cat, specifically of its subspecies the African wildcat, European wildcat and Asiatic wildcat?

What do cats have under their fur or cat's anatomy

Cat is a perfect tool for hunting. It owes it to the dozens of years of evolution. While in dogs, their physical signs have been emphasised or suppressed, cats got to keep, apart from several exceptions, their main anatomical features unchanged. In...

How to behave at dog playgrounds

It's no longer a strange thing when a municipality sets up a dog park or a dog playground. Due to frequent regulation of off-leash movement of dogs, this should, however, often be obligatory. Do you know how to behave in such places so that you...

How to travel safely with a dog in the car

Vacation time is finally here and many of us are planning where they will be headed this year. If you decide to go for an adventure by car and to take your dog friend with you as well, a bit of advice might come in handy on how to provide safety for...

How to teach a dog to swim

Of course that we won’t talk about how to teach a dog the swimming technique. We want to talk about how to teach the dog to get used to water and how to make swimming a positive experience for it. Since not every one of them trusts water and some are...

How to choose the right equipment for a cat

If you’re planning to bring a new addition home and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a kitten or an adult cat, it is necessary to prepare the flat for it as well. Do you know what will the animal need and what you shouldn’t forget about or how to choose...

First aid for poisoning - Pesticides

No matter how thorough we are with the prevention, a situation might come up when a dog or a cat will get to a poisonous thing, whether it’s by our inattention or it's somebody else’s fault. That’s why it’s not off-topic to prepare yourself for the...