Can you tell me about your experience with spaying/neutering your cat?

Question

I have a male kitten, and I am hesitant to get him fixed. I heard it changes their personality and their hormones. I was also thinking how selfish it seems to surgically alter an animal because it's more convenient to us.

How did your pet change after the surgery?

Do any of you have non-fixed pets? Are they ok? How annoying are they?

Oh, he's an indoor cat.

Answer 1

I would highly recommend it. I have had cats spayed and neutered. It makes them much happier not having to worry about mating. Get it done early at 6 months usually. I noticed my female cat was more groggier than the male cats but it could be because they gave her more anesthesia. She did trip coming out of the cat carrier but it could be because she has a bad leg. My husband did not have his cat neutered so it would spray (awful smell) and meow constantly and extremely loud! At times I couldn't go to sleep because of him. He also tried to hump me but luckily I knew what he was doing and stopped him(hopefully he never tried when I was sleeping ew). When we got him neutered he stopped the constant meows, humping and spraying. He has only sprayed once since then (this was done over a year ago) but he was older when getting the surgery done and it is better than having him do it every month. He is much happier and friendlier. Unfortunately because he was not neutered earlier and used to escape a lot and leave for weeks he has FIV. Please take care of your cats before it's too late.

Answer 2

I have a male kitten/cat a year old this month. I just had him fixed because he was coming home all tore up from fighting with the neighbouring cats. He also started spraying in my house. I also have his sister at my house. They were both to get fixed February but was a bit to late. As my female is now about to give birth! With my boy being the daddy! I had him fixed though. and the changes I have seen were for the better! He did spray in the house a couple more times after he was fixed but that's all so far. He is black and white and before he was fixed he was very slack about keeping clean, now he is spotless! He stays home all the time now and only goes outside for a few minutes and comes back in. He is lazier though! And really I had a travelling vet come to my house and do the entire thing right on my kitchen table. It took a matter of minutes! and done! No stitches or anything! Took some time for the drunkenness to wear off is all! I would rather have my cats fixed cause I don't want #1 a million more cats and #2 I cant stand listening to them while they are in heat! Earplugs wont cover that sound!

Answer 3

Do you intend to keep the cat indoors or will he have the opportunity to go outside? If he stays indoors, some male cats will spray urine on walls and furniture. Some do not. It all depends on the individual animal.

If you do not intend to keep him indoors, how will you stop him from roaming? Male cats will get in fights over a female. This can lead to serious infections. A neutered male is much less likely to fight. Also, some areas have laws prohibiting unneutered animals running loose.

An even bigger problem is unwanted kittens. Thousands of cats are killed every year in shelters, at vets and by their owners because there is no one to adopt them, or they are too wild to adopt. Having a male cat, you won't find that unwanted litter in your laundry basket, but your male cat will still be a contributing factor in someone else's problem and the birth of unwanted animals.

As for personality and hormonal changes, a neutered male will not produce testosterone. Loss of testosterone may cause him to be less agressive. If the kitten is young, he doesn't have much hormone production yet. Neutering will have little effect on his personality from the loss of the hormone.

To sum it all up, yes, it is for our convenience. It keeps the urine smell in the litter box where it belongs, it prevents the births of kittens which will be killed by animal control, and it reduces the likelyhood of injury from other cats.

Answer 4

I've worked in vet clinics for the last two years, and I highly recommend getting him neutered. He needs to be between four and six months old so that his testicles are visible. This also means that they have the hormones that they need, and won't really be affected by the surgery. It is a quick procedure, and most vet clinics send the patient home the same day. Your cat will be a much more pleasant animal to live with, once he's neutered, and his personality will only be altered for the day of the surgery, while the sedatives are wearing off.

Answer 5

Having your cat neutered is one of the best things you can do for him. First realize that animals don't think of sex like we do. It is very much a biological impulse for them. If you don't neuter you are going to have a cat that has raging hormones, and he is going to fight with other cats and have relations with little girl kitties. This can be detrimental because it sets him up for contracting disease such as Feline Lukemia and Feline Aids. Neither of which have a cure. By neutering you also will elminate any threat of testicular cancer.
Having him neutered will make him a better pet. He will be more calm and interested in you rather than interested in running the neighbor looking for his next lay. (sorry to be crude). And stop and think about it for a moment. The world doesn't need anymore unwanted kittens. Don't we put to death enough cats and dogs every year? Be part of the solution, not the problem.

God Bless you and your kitten.

Answer 6

Majority of kittens end up on death row at the 'shelter' so don't think of it as selfish when few cats are given homes. If you have room for more than one cat its better to take one from the pound than make more. Having a male is the same, you just don't see the result. His personality will likely change for the better as they usually stop the yelling and screaming so you will sleep better. Fixed cats tend to live longer. Choose a good vet with new equipment and the latest anesthesia drugs. (new drugs allow more room for vet screw ups without killing your cat). I lost one to a vet in Los Angeles during a neuter procedure 10 years ago and am still bitter...especially after the appt. reminder they sent six months after killing her. Not fixing should not be an option, just find a good vet and good luck.

Answer 7

I would definately recommend you have your little man neutered, it is a quick procedure, he will be back home with you the same day and usually none the worse for it.

Un-castrated males will mark their territory (spraying), which smells awful and I mean, really bad, they have a tendency to roam for females in heat and more likely to have an accident or disappear. They are more prone to getting into cat fights and commonly develop abscesses and contract feline viruses like Feline Leukaemia (which you can vaccinate against) or FIV (Feline AIDS - which you can't vaccinate against) to name but a few consequenses for not castrating

I think all this is far worse they a possible slight change in his personallity, most male cats are very placid and every male cat that I have owned has been the same before and after the operation

Answer 8

i have 2 cats just got them fixed nuder
at first the personality changes

maybe couse there other cats or cats who have spayed at the vet
get your cats at peak
but after a week or so they are more loveable and less
how do u say aroused
but getting fixed a must
to prevent alot
spaying
marking
and the need to mate
help alot
just dont over pet them to get them aroused
and keep a good diet not to much water
alot of people give cats water all day evry day and wonder why there spraying all over

also litter box behavior changes at first they more arrgessive with cover up again mayb the vet had lots of cat sprays and they just need a cool down for a week or 2 after
hope it help alot

Answer 9

Neutering a pet is NOT done because it is conveininet to US. It is conveinient to the animal, no chance of testicular cancer for your pet, and no chance of bringing unwanted kittens into the world to contribute to the overpopulation problem therefore no chance of kittens having to be euthanized. You are saving the lives of cats by neutering yours. I have owned cats for 35 years and neutering has not changed personalities at all. The information you received is wrong.

Answer 10

I had my little buddy (male 5 month old kitten) neutered. Cost like 130 bucks or something like that, and he didn't miss a beat. He was a bit stoned on the anisthesia for a day or so, but bounced right back. You would have never known he had just had his testicles removed (oof, still makes me cringe...)