I know it's the only thing to do, as there are so many cats that are abandoned, thrown out and killed every year, still the moral implications are really killing me.
What right have I got to mutilate him? There are far too many humans on the planet right now, still I don't see people being forced to chop their privates off.
Isn't it ethically wrong to impose this kind of life changing operation on a living being?
He's booked in for tomorrow and I'm scared he will hate me when he comes home, or that he won't be the same adorable guy he's always been...
Please all the very witty (NOT) creeps who hate cats answer something else, will you?
2007-04-01 09:56:50 · 36 answers · asked by greybamby 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Best thing for both of you.... he will be an even better pet, and your house won't have spray stink all over your furniture.... He'll be just fine, hon, and so will you.
2007-04-01 10:25:27 · answer #1 · answered by April 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Will the procedure hurt him? Yes but not for long...
The ethically correct thing is what your heart tells you to do I can't tell you which way is right. But you should think about the overall well being of the cat.
If you don't have him fixed he will grow up to be harder to handle. He will be far more like to walk around spraying the house. Plus it will be hard to keep him in the house when those "natural" urges come around...He may even run off to pursue the ladies....I have had male cats come home battered in fights or never come back at all because they were answering that mating urge.
I suggest that you get him the operation and give him LOTS of love while he is healing......He will be more likely to grow up that loving pet that you want him to be.
2007-04-01 10:26:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are NOT mutilating your cat. He will not be in any pain, and will be right back to normal by the next day.
I totally see your point, I've asked myself this question too. I really think this can NOT be compared to humans - the fact is, as intelligent as animals are, they do not have the same emotions with regards to reproduction. They work much more on instinct than we do, and I honestly believe they do not suffer psychologically from being neutered - or I wouldn't be a part of it.
I think it is much crueller to leave an animal to produce dozens of potentially homeless/abused offspring, as you have said.
I really don't think your cat will hate you. He may seem not himself for the rest of the day - don't panic, he'll be groggy from the anaesthetic! If he seems off with you it's because of this, or unrest at being put through a new and unsettling experience! Trust me, I see neuter ops a dozen times a day. Cat in particular bounce right back - often before they have even gone home! I honestly believe they are not even aware of the change.
Don't beat yourself up, please - I promise you, you're doing the right thing. Kitty won't hate you, I don't really think cats bear grudges - life's too short! I did way worse to my cat and she never stopped loving me!
Chalice
Rest assured
2007-04-01 10:06:56 · answer #3 · answered by Chalice 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can understand, but not answer, your ethical point. One thing you could keep in mind is indeed all the poor little cats that don't have any owner because of un-neutered male cats...
However, what I can say is that an animal won't realise it's neutered, so it definitely won't hate you. And yes, its behaviour might change a bit, but chances are he'll only be more adorable! Male cats become affectionate when neutered, and they will often stay closer to home.
Keep in mind that it will take a couple of weeks for him to loose all his hormons, so you won't notice the changes immediately. Good luck tomorrow and enjoy the company of your cat!
2007-04-01 10:06:14 · answer #4 · answered by maswala 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It will be the best thing you can do for him. Is he indoors only? It is almost impossible to live with and un-neutered cat confined indoors. TOM cat urine has a very skunk like odor. Male cats in my opinion as very loving. But just think, he will want to stay home instead of roaming around looking for a girlfriend. Roaming TOM cats are more likely to get hit by a car, or get abscesses from cat fights. People sometimes give animals human characteristics, but they are not humans. Animals sometimes are treated better than people. Your cat will get vaccines and medicine when needed. Some people/children in third world countries die everyday from illnesses that could be cured with simple antibiotics or other very cheap medications or vaccines. Your cat won't hate you.... he would say "thank you for taking care of me"
2007-04-01 10:11:57 · answer #5 · answered by catsmeow150 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, it won't ruin him at all. I have a neutered male and he is a loving sweet animal and spoiled rotten but certainly not ruined. He sure doesn't act like he hates me since he's on my lap watching me type this.
You are helping a massive pet overpopulation problem. At our local shelter, baby kittens are put down regularly if they show any sign of contagious illness because of the fear it will spread to the other cats in the shelter and because they cannot adopt them all. Feral kittens and cats have an average lifespan of less than 18 months because they usually either starve, get sick or are eaten by coyotes or feral dogs. We have changed them from wild creatures so they are not adapted to live in the wild any longer. Humans domesticated cats so its our responsibility to be good stewards of what we have created. That's the ethical issue that I see.
After surgery, he'll be less inclined to wander and therefore less likely to get attacked by a dog, hit by a car or lost. He also won't spray urine in your house - which is no small thing. And he won't be contributing to more and more unwanted kittens that die terrible deaths.
In my mind, that the most ethical thing you can do.
2007-04-01 10:05:34 · answer #6 · answered by ? 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
When I had my cat neutered he did hate me for a while but then went back to his original self. Neutering is a way of controlling the cats so that they don't end up in rescue centres all the time. There are already plenty of 'unwanted' cats out there that are finding difficult to find a loving home and it would be best for the cats if they weren't popping up left right and centre.
2007-04-01 23:09:08 · answer #7 · answered by future_millionairess 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the right thing to do, even though I completely agree with both your arguments. Think of it this way, if your cat knew what he was doing and could choose to control himself, he would probably not want to add to the overpopulation problem, either, and might appreciate not having urges to deal with. The only alternative I can think of is to keep him and inside for life, which is recommended, but then he (and you) will still have to deal with said urges. Plus, they aren't going to mutilate him. They're going to make an incision, snip something (I'm not a vet so I'm not sure the name of it) and sew him back up. They don't chop things off, that's just an expression.
2007-04-01 10:10:03 · answer #8 · answered by SomeGirl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It won't ruin him- you won't be able to tolerate him if you don't- spraying, stinking, trying to get out of the house, etc.
He won't hate you. He may be a little upset... but he'll be happy to be home. Neutering is a very simple procedure and can actually extend his life. Unaltered cats and dogs have an elevated risk of breast and genital cancers.
He will be the same old cat. Some get chubby, but I personally think this has to do with feeding. I have 2 male cats, both 6 years old, neutered as babies, and they are both skinny still!
Don't worry- he will be fine!!
2007-04-01 10:05:04 · answer #9 · answered by ~Kali~ 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
He will never know the difference and you will not only be doing the right thing to help stem the tide of stray cats making more stray cats which all end up being euthanized.He will live longer and he will no longer be spraying trying to attract females. We have four (4) cats living at our house two (2) males and two (2) females all of them have been neutered or spayed and they get along just great.
2007-04-01 10:06:40 · answer #10 · answered by hjbergel 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
He wont hate you!!! At the most he might be a bit off with you for a couple of days.
I didnt want to neuter my cat (because he is absolutely gorgeous and I wanted some more gorgeous kittens just like him one day) but unfortunately he is a total alpha male and had a bad habit of humping peoples legs and his blanket! (it was funny to begin with but then it just got plain embarressing - he had a sleazy purr and everything). And he was starting to get more agressive.
I finally took the plunge because he disapeared for 24 hours because there was obviously a female cat on heat near by.
He was fine as soon as he came round from the anesthetic and came home quite happy. He wasnt even in a bad mood with me and he is just the same except less agressive.
He did get tons of tuna (his favourite) when he came home though.
Good luck
2007-04-02 08:32:27 · answer #11 · answered by Lady Claire - Hates Bigotry 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋