Spaying and Neutering

The Hidden Medical Benefits of Prompt Spaying and Neutering

by Dr. Sue A. Whitman, D.V.M.

Thanks to the educating efforts of the Humane Society and numerous other animal-loving groups, most Americans are well informed of the pet overpopulation concern. BUT, do you know the other, less-publicized reasons to spay and neuter your cat?

The health benefits of spaying and neutering are especially important for loved pets that we want to have with us for years. Many people are surprised to discover that their cat's future can be shaped and lengthened by a surgery during kittenhood. Let's look at the SPAY first:

Spaying can be done at nearly any age with no harmful effects, although most veterinarians are still most comfortable with doing this surgery at age 5 to 6 months. The appropriate medical term for a spay is actually "ovariohysterectomy," which simply stated, means removing both the ovaries and the uterus. Although the procedure does create some pain for the kitten due to the cramping that occurs when room air enters an open abdomen, healthy animals are generally playful and eating well again within 36 hours after surgery. Most veterinarians place a soft suture material in the muscle layer of the incision (which absorbs on its own in a couple of weeks), and another type of suture material in the skin layer (generally a non-absorbable material that requires removal when healing is complete). By Spaying your cat BEFORE HER FIRST HEAT CYCLE, which can occur at 6 months of age, you help her by:

Decreasing her risk of breast cancer in later years by as much as 80%. (Breast cancer in the cat is usually a malignant type of cancer that moves quickly and metastasizes or spreads to other organs).
Decreasing her exposure to Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (Feline AIDS), which are two separate viruses that are spread by sexual contact (or fighting). We currently have no cure for these viruses, and have a vaccine for ONLY the Feline Leukemia. There is no way to protect your cat from Feline AIDS other than to prevent exposure. Keeping your cat out of the "mating frenzy" that involves territory fighting and intercourse is a key to prevention!
Decreasing behavior problems by eliminating her instinctive need to dominate a territory and perpetuate her gene pool. Many indoor cats show aggression to owners or other cats in the home during estrus. Unfortunately, the cat is often successful in intimidating her owners, and gleans from a passing moment of aggression that she is dominant in the family. So often this simple hormone surge changes the relationships in the home permanently, and sadly, it is not always corrected by spaying once the behavior has occurred. I have also seen littermate cats become permanent enemies as a result of one "spat" during estrus. If you intend to breed your cat, you need to first educate yourself with regard to her hormonal behavior changes and know how to avoid conflict with other pets and family members.
Eliminating the risk of uterine infection (called "pyometra"), which is a life-threatening condition that occurs in middle-aged and geriatric cats, and requires an emergency surgery and extensive veterinary care.

Boys are not exempt from hormonal dangers either. Neutering your cat also protects from medical hazards and behavior problems. By neutering your male cat before sexual activity begins (by 6 months of age), you extend his life by:

Decreasing his exposure to Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus through mating and territory battles.
Decreasing his risk of catfight abscesses. Bite wounds on the cat commonly go unrecognized by owners because they are tiny punctures amid the hair. Yet, 2-3 days after a fight the wounds abscess (accumulate a large amount of pus that appears as a swelling under the skin), causing extremely high fevers and dehydration. This is a common problem in fighting cats, and can cause organ damage to kidneys or heart due to the fever and bacterial showering through the bloodstream. Abscess treatment is generally expensive to owners. One abscess incident is far more expensive than a neuter! ALSO, once a cat begins engaging in territory fighting, many will continue this social behavior despite neutering, so it is important to neuter BEFORE a kitten perceives the importance of territory.
Decreasing urine-marking behavior. Male cats (and yes, some female cats also), frequently identify their territory to other cats by spraying urine around their boundary. This boundary may include the inside of your home, your bed, the porch, etc. There is no odor more pungent than an un-neutered cats urine! It is best to neuter kittens before 6 months of age to avoid this marking behavior; once it starts, neutering may or may not eliminate the spraying behavior…
Decreasing behavior problems. Much like the effect hormones have on the girls' behaviors, testosterone can change your male kitten into a tiger. He may be aware of another cat on the other side of the window, and displace his aggression to the nearest animal: you or another pet. If his attack is shocking and frightening, you will react by retreating or screaming fearfully. Chances are, his brain will not easily let that knowledge go, and you'll need some professional help with kitty behavior modification to regain your old relationship.

One final comment on spaying and neutering: Veterinarians often hear that owners don't spay or neuter because their cat will get fat and lazy afterward.

Here is what I tell my clients: The behaviors of estrus and mating consume an amazing amount of calories due to stress, pacing, vocalizing, and fighting. During mating season, cats place eating low on their priority list, and are distracted from visiting the food bowl. Also, by 10 months of age, a kitten's growth will slow and calorie needs will decrease. Take this information and use it to keep your cat slim and active! After spaying or neutering, stop feeding your cat free choice food; feed twice daily, and feed as much dry food as your cat wants in a 20 minute period. Then pick up the dish until next feeding. This is much healthier than allowing snacking all day, and this simple routine change is usually all that is necessary to PREVENT obesity. Also, by age 10 months, go to an adult cat food. Once your cat is overweight, dieting is a little more complicated, so think about preventing a weight problem, and make changes after spaying or neutering…

Sue A Whitman D.V.M.
8262 Switchboard Road
Spencer, Indiana 47460
812-876-0711
Emergencies call above number.