To Neuter or Not

Hi Everyone,

After my furbaby Kitty passed on, (I miss her and always will), I adopted the cutest Orange Tabby. Shane is his name and he is 7 months now and he is my baby. Also have a dog named Tiger who tries to accept Shane but doesn't want him around.

My vet suggested I neuter Shane. He is an indoor cat. I just question if his personality will change. He is the most loving and affectionate cat. I need input and opinions if I should have Shane neutered. I would appreciate any advice. My Kitty wasn't neutered due to fact she had weak heart and lungs and Vet advised not to.

I just enjoy this site so much and know there are such loving pet owners in our world.

God Bless You and your Pets.

You will increase your kitty's life by getting him neutered as it takes away the risks of certain cancers. He also might become a sprayer if not neutered and let me tell you, dried cat pee is an odor you do not want to contend with. There is also a possibility that he might get outdoors by accident, and should that be during kitty season, then he will find a female and add to the problem of kitty over population. It is just a really good idea for you to get him neutered, because soon he will be just following nature's call and you will have to deal with the aftermath. And Orange kitties keep their personality regardless of being neutered or not.

It is best to have your cat neutered even if you do not plan on him going outside. There is always a chance that he could sneak outside and from there impregnate a female(or females) and add to the pet over population crisis.

Intact males are more likely to mark their territory by spraying. Believe me intact male cat urine is NOT a pleasent scent.

Plus neutered cats are less likely to roam away(or escape outside). I can't say if neutering Shane will make him more accepting of your dog, that will just take time. But neutering does not change their personalities so having Shane neutered will not make him any less affectionate or loving or whatever else makes him a great cat.

Darn Hissy you're just too quick LOL

Both of my kitties are orange males, and both are neutered. Their personalities are the same.

BTW, welcome angelcat. I will also be moving this thread over to our Health and Nutrition forum.

Both of my males are neutered and they are both the same sweet babies as they were before. Fred was my first kitty, and because I didn't know any better he was 5 years old when it was done. It didn't seem to do anything but stop him from spraying. I had my big red tabby, Leo, done at 4 months, and he was his same sweet self as soon as he got over being mad at being in the carrier. I think it would be advantageous to your kitty and your house to have this done.

When I was in my early twenties, my vet suggested I have Blacky neutered. I thought I would be doing him a disservice. However, he was an indoor-outdoor cat, and it wasn't long before he had to go back to the vet, this time with a serious and expensive abcess! I had him neutered immediately. The vet told me then that the average lifespan of an un-neutered tom is 2 years. I was shocked. I would never have deliberately put him in danger. He lived to be 16, by the way.

WOW! 2 years! I'm lucky I still have Fred. He's 13 and still full of life. OK, he's a little goofy sometimes.

The reason an intact Tom has a short life span, accoding to my vet, is that they are constantly getting into fights over women! (female cats, of course.) This puts them in danger of more infections,.. and running after females takes them away from home for days. During this time, of course, they are crossing roads, and venturing farther away from home than usual. My Blacky's abcesses were on both sides of his body, and came extremely close to his spine. The surgery was so delicate everyone at the hospital who was able observed. He was lucky to survive. His death was caused by kidney failure 15 years after he was neutered.

Thank you all so very much for your input. I appreciate it very much. BTW after reading all the posts, I am convinced to have Shane neutered.

God Bless

Angelcat
I was just reading your thread. I am so glad you've made your decision. You and Shane will both be so much happier after he is neutered.

this is what this board was created for, to teach and not condemn. You have made the right choice for you and Shane! Congrats!