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Should we neuter our cat?

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SuperBowser said:
This is the part I don't follow. In what way is it good for their health? They have no behavioural problems, they can't leave my flat to search for female cats and losing testosterone would cause weight problems.

Yes, there's a risk of testicular cancer, but we don't go around castrating humans for this.
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Humans can make that choice themselves. Cats cannot and it does stop cancer. What benefit does it do to allow them to not be neutered? To be stressed cause hormones say they should be getting out and trying to "get some". Them accidentally getting out and a new accidental litter is made and more cats/kittens put to sleep cause there is no home for them?

If you think they'll miss their balls (or the potential to procreate) you are projecting onto them. They'll not even realize they're gone. It's the humans that have an issue with that. I also find it really funny that you have less people objecting that female cats will miss their ovaries. It's always male pets that people seem to think will miss their balls and they have more objection too. The male surgery is way less invasive though and probably even less noticed by the cat becaus of that.
 
Yes, absolutely.

You should not give a shit if your cat will be the last of his lineage. There are already way too many cats on this planet, you'll be doing the world a favor.
 
Tigress said:
Humans can make that choice themselves. Cats cannot and it does stop cancer. What benefit does it do to allow them to not be neutered? To be stressed cause hormones say they should be getting out and trying to "get some". Them accidentally getting out and a new accidental litter is made and more cats/kittens put to sleep cause there is no home for them?

If you think they'll miss their balls (or the potential to procreate) you are projecting onto them. They'll not even realize they're gone. It's the humans that have an issue with that. I also find it really funny that you have less people objecting that female cats will miss their ovaries. It's always male pets that people seem to think will miss their balls and they have more objection too. The male surgery is way less invasive though and probably even less noticed by the cat becaus of that.
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Don't project on to me. It seems impossible to have a rational discussion about neutering online because everybody responds the way you do.

- My cats are not stressed or trying to leave

- I would have the same thoughts if they were female.

- I live in a 6th floor flat with lifts as the only sensible way of leaving. They cannot go outside.

- Removing testicles has serious negative health consequences too - you are eliminating a frankly slim chance of testicular cancer and trading it for a markedly increased risk of obesity; this is more problematic for indoor cats who already have difficulties exercising. Additionally, you are exposing a cat to a general anaesthetic procedure and the natural risks that go along with that.

As I've already said, I've booked them for the operation. But the only reason I see to neuter them is preventing a future risk of spraying/territorial behaviour. None of the other benefits are applicable.
 
Come on, dude..

0621_barker.jpg
 
If they aren't going outside ever and they don't appear to be acting territorial than naw, your fine. Spaying and neutering is to stop the increase in the stray cat population. That's not something you have to worry about.
I wouldn't rule out a behavioural change later though. You might find yourself with two angry cats fighting and pissing on everything.

For what it's worth, my male is neutered and my girl is spayed. We did it asap and they never go outside. They both appear happy and content although she can be a destructive bitch sometimes.
Growing up we had several males we didn't neuter and they were also fine and happy cats their whole lives.
 
SuperBowser said:
Don't project on to me. It seems impossible to have a rational discussion about neutering online because everybody responds the way you do.

- My cats are not stressed or trying to leave

- I would have the same thoughts if they were female.

- I live in a 6th floor flat with lifts as the only sensible way of leaving. They cannot go outside.

- Removing testicles has serious negative health consequences too - you are eliminating a frankly slim chance of testicular cancer and trading it for a markedly increased risk of obesity; this is more problematic for indoor cats who already have difficulties exercising. Additionally, you are exposing a cat to a general anaesthetic procedure and the natural risks that go along with that.

As I've already said, I've booked them for the operation. But the only reason I see to neuter them is preventing a future risk of spraying/territorial behaviour. None of the other benefits are applicable.
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Thanks for this reply. Has no one in this thread actually done any research? I was looking it up once for my girlfriend's dog just to see what it would actually do. If the behavior isn't an issue, and there's but a small chance of escape (always a chance, right), why trade off one cancer for others? Why increase the rate of obesity, etc.
 
Yes. Always neuter your cat.

We neutered our kitty, Freddie Mercury, that we rescued from the streets late last fall. I think he was about 10 months when we did it. He's an indoor cat being with us, but still needed to be done.

Also you'll neuter your cat unless you enjoy cat piss being sprayed all over the house.
 
All pet dogs and cats should be spayed/neutered.

Reasons why from the ASPCA site:
Your female pet will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast tumors, which are malignant or cancerous in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.
Neutering your male companion prevents testicular cancer and some prostate problems.
Your spayed female pet won't go into heat. While cycles can vary, female felines usually go into heat four to five days every three weeks during breeding season. In an effort to advertise for mates, they'll yowl and urinate more frequently—sometimes all over the house!
Your male dog will be less likely to roam away from home. An intact male will do just about anything to find a mate, including finding creative ways escape from the house. Once he's free to roam, he risks injury in traffic and fights with other male animals.
Your neutered male may be better behaved. Unneutered dogs and cats are more likely to mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house. Your dog might be less likely to mount other dogs, people and inanimate objects after he's neutered. Some aggression problems may be avoided by early neutering.
Spaying/neutering your pets is also highly cost-effective. The cost of your pet's spay/neuter surgery is far less than the cost of having and caring for a litter.

Debunking Spay/Neuter Myths and Misconceptions

Spaying or neutering will not cause your pet to become overweight. Lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your pet to pack on the extra pounds—not neutering. Your pet will remain fit and trim as long as you continue to provide exercise and monitor her food intake.
Neutering is not as a quick fix for all behavior problems. Although neutering your pet often reduces undesirable behaviors caused by a higher level of testosterone, there's no guarantee that your dog's behavior will change after he's neutered. Although the surgery will reduce the amount of testosterone in your dog's system, it won't eliminate the hormone completely. Neutering will also not reduce behaviors that your pet has earned or that have become habitual. The effects of neutering are largely dependent on your dog's individual personality, physiology and history.
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I'd disagree with ASPCA's assertion about weight after neutering (of course, diet and exercise are the way to manage the problem). It's highly improbable that removing sex hormones from an animal will have a non-significant impact on metabolism.

All the other reasons clearly outweigh this if you have an outdoor animal or an animal with behavioural difficulties. But it doesn't help to lie about it.
 
SuperBowser said:
I'd disagree with ASPCA's assertion about weight after neutering (of course, diet and exercise are the way to manage the problem). It's highly improbable that removing sex hormones from an animal will have a non-significant impact on metabolism.
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It is a bit silly. Even my vet made sure to tell us that we would need to/should feed our cat less that we were before he was neutered.
 
SuperBowser said:
- Removing testicles has serious negative health consequences too - you are eliminating a frankly slim chance of testicular cancer and trading it for a markedly increased risk of obesity; this is more problematic for indoor cats who already have difficulties exercising. Additionally, you are exposing a cat to a general anaesthetic procedure and the natural risks that go along with that.

As I've already said, I've booked them for the operation. But the only reason I see to neuter them is preventing a future risk of spraying/territorial behaviour. None of the other benefits are applicable.
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My dog is nowhere near obese (she's ideal weight). My Siamese cat was always so thin I had to keep asking vets to make sure she didn't need more food. My Maine coon loses and gains weight so easily it is hard to keep her at one weight (I have to keep an eye out on whether to feed her more or less cause I haven't found the perfect amount she stays stable at). My two kittens are slightly chubby as in ey have a small pouch under their stomach, the male still looks thin as he is a leaner build than his stockier sister who also only has a small pouch (some cats are predisposed to that). But it is all in controlling what they eat. The only obese cat I had was that way when I adopted him and the only time he lost weight was when he was seriously sick. But I kept him from gaining more weight in his lifetime. Oh, and the kittens were neutered at 8 weeks where as my other pets were neutered around the traditional recommended age (other than he obese cat which I'm not sure when he was neutered. But seeing as he had a tom cat face I think it was later in life).

The chance of being obese has more to do with how you feed them then neutering them.

And honestly, for not putting more animals into the euthanization chamber is worth the surgery risk. I worked at a vet clinic. We had one pet die from the surgery in the 10 years I worked there. It's a pretty standard procedure that is not all that high risk. Admittedly the kittens I have one of their littermates died but the shelter I got them from insists on spaying them super young (there is arguement health wise that it is better to wait for them to mature). Also, your cat is male and that involves a lot less invasion and a lot safer so the risk is even more minimal (both animals I knew of that died were female). It's a tiny incision and a small snip for a male.

Oh, and don't say cause you keep them indoors means they won't get out and create a litter. Cats are escape artists and not neutering them makes it more likely he will be much more insistent on trying to get out. Mistakes happen and pets do get out. So yes, you could be contributing to the overpopulation problem even if you intend to keep them indoors if you don't neuter. Honestly that is the biggest reason to neuter imho. Go to a kill shelter and watch them put perfectly good animals to sleep and say that isn't a reason to neuter like you seem to imply here,

As for the seems to be only male thing... maybe not you in particular but I work at a pet store and used to at a vet and predominantly if people were not wanting to neuter it was cause the animal was male and he might miss his testicles. I don't think I ever heard anyone worry about a female pet getting spayed (not even for surgery is a risk too reasons even though it is riskier with female animals). Nevermind, I do remember one guy who didn't want to spay and I really wanted to rant at him... he wanted his kids to witness the miracle of life (yeah, then go have htem witness the miracle of death as kittens are put to sleep since there is no room for them cause so many born for stupid reasons like that). It was almost always them worrying if the pet would miss his balls (or being more honest and them not wanting the pet not to have balls). My dad is very guilty of this. He had no issues with spaying when he had female pets... but he has absolutely refused to let his current male dog get neutered *sigh*. In general you see this attitude a lot more when it comes to male pets than female pets. People don't seem to worry about doing it on female pets. And yeah, I'm sorry, that does say something about society in general at least on that.
 
Yes. Please do it. You'll be happy. He will be happy enough and you'll stop him from
jizzing in your face
as you sleep.
 
As someone who works at a vet, you are a bad pet owner if you don't spay or neuter your cat/dog. I don't say that lightly, unless you are a professional breeder, you have no business not fixing your animals.
 
Yes.

He will start spraying stinky shit everywhere not to mention creating a ton of street kittens if you let him outside.
 
always interesting hearing about how common indoor cats are in usa, and how common declawing is, as if theyre just living ornaments.
Say what you want about the potential killing birds (mine never did as far as I know about) but they're so happy out there in the yard. Would rather not own one than force them to live in a room.
 
Altairax15 said:
always interesting hearing about how common indoor cats are in usa, and how common declawing is, as if theyre just living ornaments.
Say what you want about the potential killing birds (mine never did as far as I know about) but they're so happy out there in the yard. Would rather not own one than force them to live in a room.
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We rescued our cat from the streets here in Brooklyn. We don't have a yard. Sending him outside would likely mean death or injury.

We make sure to make the entire apartment available to him and gave him some perch spots in the windows.
 
Mahonay said:
We rescued our cat from the streets here in Brooklyn. We don't have a yard. Sending him outside would likely mean death or injury.
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If you're taking in cats from a shelter then thats a different story, especially when ive heard how common it is for them to be on death row over there. I know people who have like, luxury breed cats just sitting in their living room their whole life.
Not trying to make people feel bad, its just how I feel about it.
 
Altairax15 said:
always interesting hearing about how common indoor cats are in usa, and how common declawing is, as if theyre just living ornaments.
Say what you want about the potential killing birds (mine never did as far as I know about) but they're so happy out there in the yard. Would rather not own one than force them to live in a room.
Click to expand...

It's not safe in certain areas to let them roam. Even in more rural neighborhoods. I constantly hear about cats going missing in our area due to coyotes. They're also not necessarily appreciated by neighbors when they wander into their yards. We have a couple of outdoor cats that roam around our neighborhood and they can be a real pain. I've seen car bumpers used as scratching posts and our neighbor's cats are constantly hiding under our cars and pooping in our yard/flowers. We have a fence but that definitely doesn't keep them out. I try to check for them when I leave but I'm terrified that one day I'm going to end up backing over one of the poor things.
 
Altairax15 said:
always interesting hearing about how common indoor cats are in usa, and how common declawing is, as if theyre just living ornaments.
Say what you want about the potential killing birds (mine never did as far as I know about) but they're so happy out there in the yard. Would rather not own one than force them to live in a room.
Click to expand...

I don't think declawing is actually all that common in the US, but I suppose it might be more common than in other places. Most people I know would never do it to their animals.
 
SpacedCadette said:
It's not safe in certain areas to let them roam. Even in more rural neighborhoods. I constantly hear about cats going missing in our area due to coyotes. They're also not necessarily appreciated by neighbors when they wander into their yards. We have a couple of outdoor cats that roam around our neighborhood and they can be a real pain. I've seen car bumpers used as scratching posts and our neighbor's cats are constantly hiding under our cars and pooping in our yard/flowers. We have a fence but that definitely doesn't keep them out. I try to check for them when I leave but I'm terrified that one day I'm going to end up backing over one of the poor things.
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some do like to explore, probably more so if you dont neuter them. Had one looking at me on the second floor through the window and have no idea how it got there. Scared the crap out of me even though it was kind of cute.

if its that dangerous for them then yeah probably not good to let them get out :/
 
Yes. It's the humane, responsible thing to do as a pet owner.

As for the side topic about declaring, it's illegal in parts of the United States, and at least two states California and Rhode Island, have legislation on the books that would consider a state wide ban on declawing. Many vets won't perform it as is. Declawing is not at all similar to neutering, if anybody's brought that up, and typically declawing doesn't solve the problem that (some) cat owners are having, as the cat becomes aggressive in other ways.
 
Yes, and even if your a breeder, stop breeding and do it anyhow. I've never understood why people go to breeders for their pets. There are so many unwanted cats, dogs etc, do a good thing. This probably isn't the right thread for a rant... do it! It's the responsible thing to do and is best for you cats well being.
 
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