Best age to sterilize a cat: pros and cons of periods

Why is a British cat castrated and at what age? Surgery and subsequent care. Features of feeding castrated animals.

British cats have a bright appearance. They attract with their plush fur and large round eyes. Their sizes are larger than average - up to 8 kg, and the backbone is strong. The ears are straight, but with rounded tips, wide set. The muzzle is shortened and vaguely resembles a Persian.

The colors of British cats come in different colors. The most common are blue, patterned (tabby), gray. There are red and color-point cats. The white wool of the British looks interesting. Such individuals have blue eyes, and the coat is slightly thinner and softer.

The British have a majestic demeanor. They can be compared to English lords because of their poise and calmness. It is comfortable to live next to them in a house or apartment. They easily fit into any company of animals. They are trainable and very attached to their owner.

For the most part, British purebred cats have good health. However, they have a predisposition to diseases, so any manipulations and interventions require preparation.

Appearance

The British cat is distinguished by its plush fur and large, round amber eyes . These cats have well-built, strong muscles, so on average their weight reaches 8 kg. Their ears are straight and set wide apart, with slightly rounded tips.

Unlike a Scotsman, whose ears are slightly curved forward, a British breed cat does not have such a distinctive feature, so you should not buy kittens from those who will convince you otherwise.

The face of the British cat is slightly reminiscent of the Persian breed and has a somewhat shortened appearance. Their coat color is predominantly gray or blue; British tabbies, which have a characteristic contrasting pattern on their coat, are less common. Color-point and ginger cats can also be found. It is no less surprising to look at a British dog with white fur and blue eyes, but this can also happen.

Differences between sterilization of young and adult individuals

Adult cats (over 1 year old) are also sterilized, although they are much more difficult to tolerate the procedure. To maintain the health of your pet, sterilization should be carried out after a full examination.

One of the negative consequences may be the formation of tumors, such as the development of breast cancer. If a cat has already had more than 2 periods of heat, the likelihood of developing cancerous tumors exceeds 25%.

The owners of a British cat must approach this issue responsibly so that the animal lives a long and healthy life. Experts believe that to prevent complications, the operation should be carried out at the optimal time.

The right time

It is not recommended to castrate your pet until 6-7 months of age. This is due to the fact that the cat’s urethra and body have not fully formed . The usual method of castration is also impossible because there may be testes in the area of ​​the inguinal ring or abdominal cavity.

Although, theoretically, a specialist can perform this operation at any age of the animal, the most optimal period is considered to be when the cat has not yet had a single mating, but is already old enough to undergo anesthesia. Therefore, if you are looking for an answer to the question of how many months to castrate a cat, then we will answer: it is best to do this after 7 months .

But veterinarians do not set restrictions on the age at which this is best performed, because at the request of the pet owner, the operation can be performed at any age of the animal.

ATTENTION! Each animal has individual developmental characteristics, and the British tend to mature later, so before deciding to undergo the procedure, you should consult with a qualified specialist. Only he can make the necessary verdict.

The following precautions should not be neglected when this operation cannot be performed:

• Intolerance to anesthesia or other medications required during the procedure;
• Reduced animal immunity;
• Stressful situations for the pet;
• Obesity of a cat;
• Animal illness (we are talking not only about chronic diseases, but even about minor health problems at the time when you decided to have surgery).

When is the best time to castrate a cat?

The most appropriate time to carry out this procedure is before the kitten reaches puberty. It is possible to castrate later, but it is better to do it early, since the pet will not be able to later show the worst side of its character during sexual activity.

Maturation of cats, as in principle of cats, occurs at 7-9 months. This depends on the breed and physiological characteristics of the kitten itself. And after this, your pet can freely engage in sexual activity.

But the optimal age for castration of a British cat is considered to be from 7 months to 1 year.

On average, a normal mature cat needs 17 matings per day, which is impossible due to the lack of the required number of partners. If the issue of searching for potential individuals of the opposite sex has not been resolved, then your Briton will use all possible methods to show his dissatisfaction. He may meow constantly, his character will deteriorate, the structure of the coat and the general condition of the animal will change.

Preparation

Basically, cats of this breed have good health, but the Scots and the British can also have congenital heart disease , which is why veterinarians take special care in preparing for surgery in these breeds. A more thorough examination of the heart , and, if necessary, an ECHO and ECG , allows you to approach the castration or sterilization procedure with full responsibility.

IMPORTANT! In cats of decorative breeds, cryptorchidism is often encountered - this is a phenomenon when there are no testes in the scrotum. This phenomenon once again suggests that it is simply necessary to carry out the castration procedure until the testis that has not “come out” begins to degenerate into a tumor.

For this operation, general anesthesia is used . Firstly, this guarantees the absence of any painful sensations, and secondly, under local anesthesia it is difficult to properly fix the cat in order to carry out the necessary manipulations accurately enough.

Very often, a veterinarian may require tests to eliminate risks .
This can happen if you are planning to castrate a cat that is no longer young, or if listening to the animal aroused the doctor’s suspicions.

Indications and contraindications

There are always exceptions to general rules. In some cases, surgical intervention is permissible even if there are contraindications.

When should an animal not be sterilized?

It is prohibited to sterilize an animal that has not been vaccinated or previously treated against parasites. Other possible contraindications include:

• old age (more than 10 years);
• pathologies of the cardiovascular system and respiratory organs;
• acute viral infections and chronic lesions of the genitourinary system;
• estrus, pregnancy and the postpartum period, including lactation.

Neglecting the listed contraindications is permissible in case of a serious threat to life. If other methods to prevent dangerous complications do not help, the pet is sterilized.

When is surgery necessary?

Emergency surgery is rarely performed. It is prescribed when it is detected:

• abnormalities associated with pregnancy;
• malignant neoplasms in the reproductive organs and mammary glands;
• false pregnancy.

It happens that with incomplete removal of the ovaries, repeated estrus appears. To eliminate the consequences of unsuccessful sterilization, the animal is operated on again.

Operation

The castration procedure itself is quite simple, not expensive and usually takes about 10 minutes:

1. The anesthesia is given - quite light, compared to what may be needed during abdominal operations and more serious surgical interventions.
2. An incision is made in the scrotum area through which the testicles are removed.
3. At the end of the operation, the incision is sutured. Externally, the operation site becomes completely invisible; you can understand that the testicles have been removed only by touch.

How does castration work?

Your animal is given general anesthesia, after which you can castrate your British cat. The procedure itself takes place in several stages.

• The doctor makes a small cut in the skin over each testicle and ties the spermatic cord.
• He performs the same manipulations with nerves and blood vessels.
• After this, the doctor cuts the cord and removes the testicle.
• After the operation, he does not suture the incision so that the natural healing process of the wound occurs.
• A British cat is placed on its side so that it recovers from anesthesia faster.

Having castrated the animal, the veterinarian provides the necessary instructions to the owner for proper care of the pet. So, in case of inflammation of the place where the incision was, it is recommended to blot it with a cotton swab with brilliant green. But in general, the wound should heal quickly and without complications.

Sterilization of cats

There are two options for this procedure: modern and classic.

The classic, or as it is also called the cavity method , is a ten-centimeter incision through which the ovaries are removed. After such an operation, the cat should be in a clinic under the supervision of specialists or require careful care at home.

The modern method of sterilizing a British cat leaves behind a small incision (usually 3-5 cm) , which is carefully sutured. For this operation, vacuum abortion technology is used.

When are Scottish cats neutered?

Sterilization of Scottish cats: Scottish Folds, Scottish Straights, Highland Folds and Highland Straights is carried out at the moment of puberty, which greatly affects the further development of the animal. It matters whether the age at which the operation is performed is too early or too late. Veterinarians consider the optimal development of a Scottish cat for sterilization to be approximately 10-12 months, this is due to the fact that:

The young pet has already grown up enough, is hormonally mature, is able to withstand surgery without complications, and can easily tolerate anesthesia. It speeds up the healing process of skin tissue, which reduces the possibility of infections.

At a more mature age, up to 5 years, postoperative complications and a poor reaction to anesthesia may occur during sterilization. Long-term healing of postoperative suture.

If the cat has had sexual intercourse, then after surgery and removal of the ovaries, she will not be able to give birth, but will retain the function of producing hormones from the pituitary gland and will continue to reproduce in estrus.

Experienced breeders and veterinarians know that sterilization extends the life of a cat to 4 years, which can be explained by the fact that during frequent births a cat loses strength and health to bear kittens, and does not have enough time to recover.

It is difficult to select a purebred Scottish pair, when the fold-eared ones mate - Scottish Folds, Highland Folds with the straight-eared ones - Highland Straights, Scottish Straights. Mating with individuals of other breeds is prohibited; it leads to the birth of out-of-breed kittens. Unfortunately, they often fall into the category of stray animals. Their number will help to reduce castration and street cats as well.

The cost of sterilizing Scottish cats is much higher in the central cities of the Russian Federation, and the price also increases when calling a veterinarian to perform the operation at home. This is convenient for the owner, but more for the pet:

• Moving is always stressful for an animal;
• At home, she will more easily survive post-operative anesthesia;
• In a weakened state, you cannot catch an infection.

Table No. 2: Approximate cost of sterilization of cats in different cities of the Russian Federation

Why is a cat sterilized?

Despite the severity of abdominal sterilization surgery for a Scottish cat, most veterinarians advise performing a medical procedure during puberty that will free the animal from emotional suffering during estrus. Sterilization is especially necessary for Scottish fold cats: Scottish Fold, Highland Fold, mating, which are prohibited due to genetic abnormalities.

The use of special medications temporarily helps, but does not relieve the cat from repeated heats when the dissatisfied animal accumulates surges of hormones. A constant increased accumulation of them in the organs can lead to serious diseases and shorten the life of the pet.

Abdominal surgery is performed under anesthesia, but the cat’s young body can handle it and in 10-14 days, with proper care, the wound will heal.

The operation itself, which allows you to sterilize a cat, is called ovariotomy, and involves removing the ovaries. A more modern method is castration, or ovariohysterectomy, in which not only the ovaries are removed, but also the uterus itself.

Pet after sterilization

After laparoscopy, which is considered a more modern operation, minimally invasive, low-traumatic, the recovery period is shortened, small wounds, fastened with self-absorbable threads, heal quickly with minor treatment.

It is important to know! Laparoscopy is performed under general anesthesia using surgical procedures; three 2mm incisions are used to sterilize the cat. The doctor inserts a small camera into the abdominal cavity, looking at the monitor screen, and removes the uterus and ovaries.

Postoperative period

As a rule, a British cat after castration quickly returns to its usual rhythm of life and easily recovers from anesthesia. Here are some recommendations:

• Veterinarians recommend staying close to the animal while it recovers from anesthesia. Cats blink very rarely at this time, so sometimes the doctor prescribes drops for them to moisturize the surface of the mucous membrane.
• Do not let your British cat lie on the bare floor ; lay a soft and warm towel on them.
• Protect them from jumping and do not allow them to climb heights. The fact is that the front legs begin to move much faster, while the mobility of the hind legs after anesthesia has not yet returned to normal - this can lead to an unsuccessful jump and injury.
• Treat the seams with brilliant green . As a rule, they heal very quickly and heal on their own, but you can still help your pet.

Castration itself does not lead to negative consequences for the pet’s health, but some nuances are still worth paying attention to:

1. Due to the increased content of calcium and phosphorus in the animal’s body, there is a risk of urolithiasis . (ICD)
2. Excess weight. Another problem that owners of neutered pets may encounter. This problem arises due to the animal’s low mobility. The solution is quite simple - you need to reconsider your pet’s diet.

What does a cat need after castration?

You need to watch the cat immediately after waking up, his legs will be “wobbly” for some time, so protect him from jumping - he may fall.

After the operation you will need:

1. Purchase absorbent diapers in advance.
2. Prepare a place where the cat will rest after the operation.
3. Ensure peace and quiet while the cat wakes up after anesthesia.
4. Buy special “restorative” food.

Many British people vomit after anesthesia; this is absolutely normal, so it is not advisable to feed him on the same day; it is better to postpone feeding until the next morning. On the day of surgery, you can give water or milk. There is no need to process or remove the stitches in any way; the incisions heal very quickly and do not cause any inconvenience to the cat.

At what age should castration be performed?

It is very important to know exactly at what age to castrate Scottish cats. This question is complex, since surgery that is too early will have a negative impact on the overall development of the Scot, and surgery that is too late may not help cope with the unpleasant habit of cats marking everything around them.

The ideal age for surgery is between 10 and 12 months. It is at this time that the cat reaches sexual maturity and is quite developed physically, but has not yet acquired the habit of marking territory and has not felt a strong sexual desire.

In some cases, you may encounter recommendations from inexperienced veterinarians who are accustomed to working with outbred cats to perform castration at the age of 6 months. This is strictly not recommended. When the testicles are removed early, physical development is disrupted, which creates the possibility of significant deviations in the proportion of the head to the body. Most often, the head turns out to be too small for the body, which makes the Scots cat look somewhat ugly. The indicated age limits also apply to straight-eared (whose ears stand up) Scottish cats.