Emma Jones
Animal welfare organizations have long been calling for cats to be neutered, and more and more cities and communities are implementing corresponding regulations. This prevents unwanted cat offspring and for you as a pet owner, castrating the animal has other advantages. Find out everything about the procedure, the best age for it, the costs, and the optimal diet for neutered cats.
Have cats neutered – why?
The cat is the Germans’ favorite pet. According to Statista, around 14.7 million house cats lived in German households in 2019. But by no means do all house cats enjoy a warm spot by the stove: the German Veterinarians’ Association assumes that there are around eight million more or less “wild” house cats. The high population of domestic cats raises questions and problems.
Cats become sexually mature at seven months and reproduce uncontrollably throughout their lives. According to the veterinarians’ association, unwanted kittens are killed, abandoned, or taken to animal shelters. A Germany-wide castration obligation for cats does not yet exist, but more and more cities and municipalities are issuing corresponding regulations. Even without the law, you should have your cat neutered, as the procedure offers you and your animal a number of benefits in addition to the animal welfare aspects:
- No unwanted offspring
- No heat of the cat and no marking behavior of tomcats
- A longer life expectancy for the animal – twice as long on average
- Reduced risk of contracting serious infectious diseases such as FIV (cat AIDS) or FeLV (leukosis) in conspecifics
- Minimizing hormonal disorders
Castration or sterilization: what does the procedure look like?
Colloquially, the tomcat is often referred to as castration and the cat as sterilization. In veterinary medicine, however, these are two different interventions: During sterilization, the vas deferens in the tomcat or the fallopian tubes in the cat are interrupted. The animal is then infertile, but the side effects associated with the sex drive, such as the cat’s heat, remain. Therefore, it is common practice in small animal medicine to castrate both cats and tomcats. The testicles are removed from males and the ovaries from females. before. Compare the content declarations and manufacturer information. In some cats, intolerance to common food items is more difficult to resolve. The specialist trade has adjusted to the problem of food sensitivity: there are sensitive feeds from various manufacturers as a counterpart to the allergen-free feeds for people with allergies. In addition to meat, these preparations contain easily digestible, high-quality proteins, fructooligosaccharides, and dried sugar beet pulp, but no additives, flavor enhancers, or grain components.
When should I have my cat or tomcat neutered?
You should subject your cat or tomcat to the procedure at the latest when the sex drive begins. Spaying is usually done at an age of six to eight months. The habit of spaying queens only after the first heat or of allowing them the joy of mothering at least once does not stand up to scientific scrutiny. It is best to speak to your veterinarian early on about a castration appointment.
How much does castration cost for tomcats and cats?
The costs for castration of a cat or a tomcat are based on the fee schedule for veterinarians (GOT), which was amended on February 14, 2020. When it comes to pricing, veterinarians have some leeway, they can apply the single, double or triple rate. The single rate for the castration of the cat is 19.24 euros, the triple rate is 57.72 euros. For the cat, where the intervention is much larger, the sample rate is 57.72 euros. There are also costs for the examination, anesthesia, and wound care.
After the castration: This is how it goes on
Your cat or tomcat must wear a neck brace for the first few days to prevent the animal from licking the surgical wound or biting the stitches. If possible, you should not leave your animal alone during this time. The stitches are usually removed ten days after the operation.