Neutering my 6 month kitten

Hi all,

Ive only been using this site for a couple of weeks but have already learnt so much from everyone! So I thought this was the best place to ask about the above...
I'm looking to book him in at the vets for sometime in the next few weeks, but even thinkin about making the call makes me want to cry! He's so well behaved, he doesnt have any 'accidents' and doesnt walk round trying to hump everything that moves so in that respect I don't feel like he needs the operation..
However Ive heard it's better for your cat to have this done? Does anyone know, from personal experience or otherwise, why this is a kind thing to do for your cat? I know it probably is I just don't want him to hate us for making him go through the pain? or is it not very painful?
Has anyone noticed a huge change in their cat after this has been done? even for the worse?
I just want to be sure we are doing 100% the right thing for him coz he is just so gorgeous and has such a lovely personality I would hate to do anything which would change him.

Thanks guys! x

Neutering your cat is really the best thing. It'll help stop all those unwanted kittens.
A nuetered male cat is less likely to wander away. Once your kitten gets older those male instincts will get stronger. He will be more agressive towards other cats, very territorial, and will disappear for days at a time. Neutering him now will stop these male characteristics and make him a happier cat in the long run.

For males the operation is minor. They will be a bit groggy after the operation from the anesthetic, but after about 24hours they will return to their normal energetic selves. A male cat will not even have to return to the vets to have stiches out.

I've had all my cats neutered. In my experience its better and less traumatic to neuter them early. One of my cats was neutered at 2years old, and because he was so old it messed up his hormones for a while. Whereas my kitten had no problem with being neutered.

I think its the right thing to netuer your kitten.

Get your cat neutered! Does he go outside? Because if he does he will mate with every unspayed female in the area. Even if he does go outside, if he happens to escape he will impregnate other cats and that will leave someone else to look after the kittens that ensue.

Your cat will be fine - He will not even notice that it has happened. His personality will not change and if anything he may become a little less aggressive (although that doesn't happen in every cat)

It is not very painful - The operation takes about 5 minutes and they recover very quickly.

So get your cat neutered! Its the best thing for him!

He's an indoor only cat, do you think it would stop him lacerating my ankles every time I have bare feet ?
We will get it done I just wanted to hear peoples opinions on it first, he might not notice but I suppose I just feel like he's my baby hehe. Im sure you all know what its like you just want whats best for them and don't want to hurt them!
Right I'll stop being so overprotective and make the call..

Thanks guys x

I'm glad you're going to get your kitten neutered!

I think your kitty will eventually grow out of attacking your ankles - Tibby used to bite my toes, elbow, hand etc and he's grown out of that now! Neutering really did calm my big boy down!

I think it is us Mewomys that have the problem with it, we don't like the thought of leaving them etc! Your little boy will be fine - and some chicken as a welcome home treat won't go amiss!

Good luck making the call!

aaw thanks, I also don't want him to lose any of his 'kitteness' so to speak! I suppose it's hard coz you know they are growing up...

Awww, don't worry about them growing, that kittenness won't necessarily disappear! Tibby and Molly are both two and act like kittens!

Both of my "boys" were fixed early (Toby between 4-5 mo and Tedy at 6 mo)
They are just fine, and did`nt even act like they knew what happened.
I do not have to worry about them spraying on everything. (unfixed male cats will do that to mark their territory! Even those who have been nutered may if it is done too later in life)
My boys are now over a year old and even though they have mellowed out a bit as they have become adults...they still play and have their WILD times everyday.
I`d say NOT getting your boy fixed you would be more likely to see a BIG change in him as he becomes "of age".....and you may not like some of the things he will do if you don`t.
Please get him fixed....for his sake...the sake of all the unwanted kittens that die everyday ...and for your own sake.
Linda

Your cat may not have accidents now, or hump anything that moves, and be well behaved, but that will change once those hormones kick in. Once a male cat becomes sexually mature their urine will begin to smell really strong, they will have a tendancy to start spraying if the smell that another cat has been around your house (male or female), they will start yowling during the night to call for a mate, and they also can become aggressive from frustration (and even end up biting you).

The surgery to neuter a male cat takes all of about 10 minutes, if both testicle are descended. I know from experience how testosterone can make your once sweet kitten turn into a monster. Sturgis had an undescended testicle and it took 3 surgery's, numerous tests, an ultrasound, and a year time to find it (when we did find it it was small and under-developed), but by that time Sturgis was acting like an un-neutered male cat and breaking my heart.

Originally Posted by Petnurse2265

Your cat may not have accidents now, or hump anything that moves, and be well behaved, but that will change once those hormones kick in. Once a male cat becomes sexually mature their urine will begin to smell really strong, they will have a tendancy to start spraying if the smell that another cat has been around your house (male or female), they will start yowling during the night to call for a mate, and they also can become aggressive from frustration (and even end up biting you).

The surgery to neuter a male cat takes all of about 10 minutes, if both testicle are descended. I know from experience how testosterone can make your once sweet kitten turn into a monster. Sturgis had an undescended testicle and it took 3 surgery's, numerous tests, an ultrasound, and a year time to find it (when we did find it it was small and under-developed), but by that time Sturgis was acting like an un-neutered male cat and breaking my heart.

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From what I can see they are both there... Never had a cat before but to me they look about the size of grapes and just seemed to come out of nowhere!! I will definately get this done because if he starts spraying etc I will get angry with him and I don't want that as it would be my fault.
I have noticed that recently when we are playing instead of chewing my hands he grips on with claws and teeth and has broken the skin a few times do you think this could be because he's getting to that age?
That sounds really bad for Sturgis, I think Ive been so lucky with Sleeves so far if this is best for him then its the least I can do.
He is also making funny noises when we turn the lights out, its like a gurgle-miaow. Somethings telling me I need to do this for him sooner rather than later!
Thanks for everybodies help! x

Bijou didn't even has stitches or glue. They just basically put the skin together at the point of incision and it healed quickly by itself.

Your boy will be less aggressive probably and a happier, healthier cat.

Stitches and glue are not used because that tends to make male cats obsessed with the inscision and lick it, which in turn causes problems.

I had Smokey neutered in Sept (of this year), he was 6 months old. It has been a little over a month since his surgery, and he stills acts like his crazy, lovable self. If anything he did calm down a little bit. He use to attack Ellie (2 year old cat) all of the time. LOL

We had a cat when I was little who wasn't neutered, and he sprayed everywhere. You can't appreciate how awful the smell is til it happens, but believe me it's not something you want to risk. He sprayed on beds, shoes, walls, clothes, legs, carpets - everywhere! He stopped immediately when he was neutered.

My two go in for neutering tomorrow so I know how you feel, but it really is best for them

Originally Posted by Purity

We had a cat when I was little who wasn't neutered, and he sprayed everywhere. You can't appreciate how awful the smell is til it happens, but believe me it's not something you want to risk. He sprayed on beds, shoes, walls, clothes, legs, carpets - everywhere! He stopped immediately when he was neutered.

My two go in for neutering tomorrow so I know how you feel, but it really is best for them

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Oh good luck to them both!! Im going to phone the vets when I get in from work tonight. I feel so much better after talking to you all its hard when you've not done it before, I suppose like having a child!
A friend of mines cat had to be neutered the other week and 4 months because he was peeing on all her clothes and jackets etc he's completely stopped now though.
I'll try and get him in for next week as its only a matter of time until he starts sprayin etc by the sounds of it. x