To Neuter or Not to Neuter?

I was wondering what everyone else's opinion is; I'm wondering if it would be better for my cat if I get him neutered? He is currently the only cat, but we are planning on getting a female (she is already spayed). I've heard mixed opinions on the subject...

I would neuter him. He won't miss them.

He doesn't need the hormones, and it beats trying to stop tomcat spraying later. Neutering after that starts usually isn't enough.

JaksMom13 said:

I was wondering what everyone else's opinion is; I'm wondering if it would be better for my cat if I get him neutered? He is currently the only cat, but we are planning on getting a female (she is already spayed). I've heard mixed opinions on the subject...

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Oh yes, in my opinion you should definitely get him neutered. You are just asking for all kinds of problems to crop up. From health issues for him, behavior problems, spraying, etc.. If you are going to get a female you also need to get her spayed. There are so so many unwanted cats and kittens at the shelters, why add to the problem. Go into a shelter sometime and see all those poor cats. It is really, really sad to see them in those cages. One of our adopted cats had been there for over 7 months. Luckily it was a no kill shelter. Many animals are put to death each day because shelters just dont have the room or the money to take care of them.  Please get him neutered.

Ok thanks! Definitely don't want him spraying!

I should have mentioned, GREAT that the girl will be spayed. Heats are hard on them and pyometra isn't worth the risk.

Neutering by the way is a very simple procedure.

All my cats that have been neutered are up and running the next day. If you DON'T neuter, they remain more aggressive, can start spraying, and are very obnoxious wanting outside to get at the ladies.I don't see any downsides to neutering but a lot  if not. Plus it's not THAT expensive, not like spaying anyway. Bless you for giving these babies a home!

I agree with everything that has been said here.  Between overpopulation, health and behavioral benefits...it's really better to get him spayed. Especially before he has a chance to learn to spray.  Spraying problems are not fun to deal with and we see plenty of people on the Behavior board with those sort of issues.  TCS in general is VERY pro-spay and neuter because we've seen the alternatives!

Thanks again everyone! All of your posts have been helpful. I will definitely be getting Jak neutered! [emoji]128521[/emoji] [emoji]128077[/emoji]

Definitely a good idea! We just had our stray Charlie neutered. It went well. Hopefully once all those kitty hormones are out of his system he'll settle in a little better!

I can't say I've ever heard mixed opinions on neutering cats :tongue2:. Dogs, yeah, there's a whole thing on the subject, but cats, really nobody wants to live with an intact tom. Even breeders don't usually keep their toms in the house (they usually have a little cat hut/run made in the yard). So, yeah, you wanna have that done very soon.

Wouldn't an intact tom also bug the hell out of the spayed female? 

An intact male wouldn't try to mate with a spayed female because the female wouldn't go into heat.  A tom cat is more territorial and therefore more aggressive than a neutered male.  In that sense he would cause problems with other kitties.

I would think bringing another cat into a home with an intact male would be bad news! The tom would likely become very territorial, angry, start marking, etc

Denice said:

An intact male wouldn't try to mate with a spayed female because the female wouldn't go into heat.  A tom cat is more territorial and therefore more aggressive than a neutered male.  In that sense he would cause problems with other kitties.

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This is not always true. Mating behaviour is very complex and is also connected with domination. Tomcats can also bring a female into heat by mating with her, and an intact tom might try this with a spayed cat. Tomcats want to control their environment and all cats around them, so he might bother your female in all sorts of ways including mating with her. Neutered toms can also exhibit that behaviour as domination but it is less common and at least they try but can't succeed! I have one who does that frequently with his little 'companion'. She either swats him away or just letshim get on with it, looking rather bored.

Thanks again everyone! All of your posts have been very helpful . I will definitely be getting Jak neutered! [emoji]128077[/emoji]Especially since the female we will be taking in is quite a bit smaller than him right now. I wouldn't want him to accidentally hurt because of becoming more aggressive. I've introduced them before and they got along really well. I don't want that to change because I don't have him neutered. Thanks again everyone!
-Sara

Living with an unneutered tom is a lot like living with a 15-year-old boy.

mrblanche said:

 
Living with an unneutered tom is a lot like living with a 15-year-old boy.

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And a perpetual HORNY 15 year old, at that!

We had a sweet teenager appear in our yard, and start to settle in.  He was almost a ringer for Ginger-Bear, and they got along famously.  Except the new arrival, Tigger, was almost wild, in that he would not allow himself to be picked up.  I worked with him and got him to the point where I could hold him for a minute or two, and was working my way toward the carrier.

Unfortunately, his hormones got in the way before I could get him to the vet for neutering, and he was struck and killed by a car.