If you have just gotten a male kitten, you will probably want to get it neutered. Neutering involves the removal of a male cat's testes. You can take your kitten to the veterinarian to get neutered as early as 6 weeks of age. You can wait until your kitten is older, but veterinarians recommend neutering male kittens before they turn 12 weeks old. The earlier you get your cat neutered, the less chance there is of complications, plus your kitten will recover more quickly. Now that you know when to neuter your male kitten, here are four reasons to do so.
1. Prevent Your Cat From Reproducing
When you get your male kitten neutered, it will not be able to produce offspring. This is very important for controlling the pet population. According to estimates, there are about 70 million homeless cats in the United States.
Some of these cats will suffer disease and malnutrition and be forced to live in harsh elements. Many homeless cats end up dying. Neutering your kitten may seem like a small thing, but you will be doing your part to reduce the number of homeless cats.
2. Stop Your Cat From Wandering
Male cats that aren't neutered will want to find a mate. This instinct is strong in male cats, so even if you keep your male cat indoors, they may try to find a way to get outside. If your male cat already spends time outdoors, they might end up running away. Male cats that wander have an increased chance of getting run over by a car or attacked by another animal. By neutering your cat, you won't have to worry about them wandering far from home.
3. Reduce Unwanted Behaviors
Male cats that are not neutered tend to have unwanted behaviors. One such behavior is spraying urine to mark their territory. While some neutered cats still spray, neutering will reduce their motivation to do so. Another unwanted behavior that intact male cats exhibit is called humping. They might do this on other cats or inanimate objects. Male cats that aren't neutered might also be more aggressive, especially toward other male cats. If you want a well-behaved male cat, getting it neutered will help.
4. Keep Your Cat Healthy
Getting your male cat neutered will help prevent certain health issues, such as prostate disease and testicular cancer. Neutering will also help your cat to live longer. On average, neutered male cats live 62 percent longer than intact cats. If you want to do everything you can to give your male cat a long, healthy life, you will get it neutered.
Reach out to a professional for more information about neutering.
Most vets go into the field because they truly care about animals. As such, you can expect your vet to have your animal's best interests in mind. They will recommend the treatments they believe are best for your pets, and if you follow through with those treatments, you can look forward to the best possible outcomes.
We think that the average pet owner could stand to know more about veterinary care. That's why we created this blog to post articles about vets and their kind, caring nature. We invite you to read what we post and form your own opinions.