Greetings. I'm wondering what the real benefit or reasons are for "fixing" a male cat? I've heard 'fixed" males get lazy and fat. I don't want that to happen to Boots.
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Benefits and/or reason for neutering male cat.
- Thread starter stevenboots
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1. No territorial fighting
2. Loses the reason to roam
3. Stops him from adding to the problem of unwanted kittens
4. Usually keeps a cat from spraying
4. Does not make him fat and lazy that is a myth
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I would also add that your cat is much more comfortable. He will no longer be driven by his hormones to reproduce at all costs.
The reason cats get fat is that they are fed a diet that is too high in carbohydrates, getting them neutered doesn't make them put on weight. I take care of several slender, energetic male cats who were all neutered at around 6 months of age.
I also have one older ex-feral cat who wasn't fixed until he was about 10 years old. He's FIV+, had to have a lot of his teeth removed due to gum disease. (FIV+ cats are prone to gingivitis) and has lots of battle scars from his tom catting days.
Boots will be much healthier if you get him neutered soon.
I also have one older ex-feral cat who wasn't fixed until he was about 10 years old. He's FIV+, had to have a lot of his teeth removed due to gum disease. (FIV+ cats are prone to gingivitis) and has lots of battle scars from his tom catting days.
Boots will be much healthier if you get him neutered soon.
I've got one reason why to add to the list
It helps their urinary track - less infections (statistically speaking).
My two boys are not neutered. My husband thought it was kind of barbaric until...
They started having some serious cat fights. Play time has turned into some sort of twisted version of a strong kitty competition. I'm fearful one of them is going to get really hurt. Andy's eye got scratched really good during one fight. On top of that as of this week BOTH have started spraying. Jake claims the bathroom and Andy got my bed. I'm so disgusted.
Their appointments are on April 15th which can't get here soon enough!
It helps their urinary track - less infections (statistically speaking).
My two boys are not neutered. My husband thought it was kind of barbaric until...
They started having some serious cat fights. Play time has turned into some sort of twisted version of a strong kitty competition. I'm fearful one of them is going to get really hurt. Andy's eye got scratched really good during one fight. On top of that as of this week BOTH have started spraying. Jake claims the bathroom and Andy got my bed. I'm so disgusted.
Their appointments are on April 15th which can't get here soon enough!
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I will say that I notice a difference in the temperament in a fixed vs unfixed boy.
the unfixed one is usually restless and always on the prowl.
a fixed boy is more comfortable and calms down. they still play but not with so much aggession
the unfixed one is usually restless and always on the prowl.
a fixed boy is more comfortable and calms down. they still play but not with so much aggession
Those are all good reasons.Another argument for neutering a male is odor control. An intact male's urine is quite stinky, and the cat himself can become a bit pungent.
Testosterone DOES burn calories so you need to cut back on a neutered cat's food intake. It's not entirely a myth that it causes weight gain, but that's just because nobody cut back their food 
. It doesn't make them lazy, though, unless you let them get too fat.
Even if you can put up with all the sexual behaviors like spraying, tomcats frequently become dissatisfied with living with humans after they're fully mature (2-3 years). It can get really hard to keep them from taking off and becoming almost feral.
If you want your cat to stay the same way he was when young, you need to neuter before full maturity. The hormones will really change him in a lot of ways.
. It doesn't make them lazy, though, unless you let them get too fat. Even if you can put up with all the sexual behaviors like spraying, tomcats frequently become dissatisfied with living with humans after they're fully mature (2-3 years). It can get really hard to keep them from taking off and becoming almost feral.
If you want your cat to stay the same way he was when young, you need to neuter before full maturity. The hormones will really change him in a lot of ways.
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Well. We've made the decision to have Boots fixed. Haven't talked to him about it yet. Is the cat kept overnight? How long is the recovery?
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Our instructions were not to feed the boys after midnight of the 15th. Then they need to be at their vet's office by 8:30 am. We were told If all goes according to plan we can pick them up around 6pm. It's a slightly different procedure for females.
I haven't told my boys yet either... I'm waiting til they spray again and I catch them. This morning Andy got on top of the litter box (ours is covered since Jake is very fond of kitty litter) and sprayed it. He's a very naughty boy.
Good job! The vet's office should advise you when to start withholding food. We have to stop at 8PM the night before, have the kitty at the vet around 7:30AM the following day. The recovery time for boys doesn't take as long because it's not as invasive a surgery like it is for female kitties. My boy stayed overnight, but most come home the same day. He will be groggy and will need to be contained until the anesthesia completely wears off. We have a large wire dog crate we use as a sick bay for our kitties. Keep him contained overnight and offer small meals a couple of hours apart. He should be able to resume normal meals the following day and be back to normal in a few days.
