neutering

when you don't intend to breed from your cat its advisable to neuter your cat. if you don't, the cat population grows out of proportion and more and more cats end up in charity centres waiting for a loving home. the belief that it is unfair to neuter a cat and denying it some fun is far fetched. cats mate not out of pleasure but purely because its instinctual. intact male and female cats are hard to keep indoors for example, and they will try anything to get out and might get frustrated over time.

when and how?

• a kitten should be neutered by the age of about 6 month, before sexual maturity sets in
• female neutering is called "spaying", during spaying the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the uterus are removed through an incision made alongside the tummy, the operation requires a full anesthetic and the cat will usually recover quickly in a few days after the operation
• male neutering is called "castration", during castration parts of the vas deferens and both testicles are removed, this will be performed though very small incisions at the base of the scrotal sac, stitches are usually not necessary and the cat can go home the same day

you should not feed your cat at least 12 hours before the operation. after the operation keep your cat warm and in a quiet undisturbed place. offer a light meal like white fish or chicken and fresh water. provide a litter tray near by. keep your cat indoors for the first few days until the wound is healed, ask your vet for further information.