Some people choose not to neuter their cats. This really doesn’t make sense. Think about it, what does it cost to get a kitten neutered? If you stop and think about the pros and cons of getting your kitten neutered who can afford NOT to have it done?
What does it mean to get your cat neutered?
Neutering an animal means to have its testicles removed. Castration, or being neutered, keeps the animal from being able to procreate. This also causes behavioral changes by reducing the amount of male sex hormones in the animal’s system. A cat that has been neutered is considered ‘altered’ due to the removal of their testes and those who have not been neutered are ‘intact’ because they still have their testicles.
The question of whether or not this is a necessary procedure is almost always answered with a definite ‘yes’ although there are people who choose not to have their pets spayed or neutered. Some are due to cost, others are due to the belief that their cat is an indoor cat so it doesn’t matter and still others are due to their own preferences. There are always going to be people (often men) who compare their own preferences to stay intact to the kitten’s situation.
Behavioral Effects
When a male cat matures he can smell a female cat in heat even if she is several houses, and even blocks, away. This is frustrating to the cat because he cannot get to the female and act on his natural urges to mate. He can become irritable, start spraying his territory (which happens to be your home) with his scent (which happens to be really strong, foul smelling urine) to show his dominance and hopefully attract the females that he can smell going into heat.
When the cat doesn’t get to mate he can become restless, more irritable, aggressive and even evasive and downright sneaky. Keeping him indoors is more difficult than keeping teenage human boys away from girls. With a human teen you are able to give him magazines and computer games to occupy his time. You can’t do this with your cat; there is nothing on your cat’s mind but getting to the females that he can smell as they go in heat and you have nothing you can distract him with.
When the door to your home is open he may make a run for it, even though he has never attempted to get outdoors before. He may even hate the outdoors, but his urges to mate are all that are on his mind anymore. He may turn to sulking when he isn’t trying to get outdoors.
Once is never enough
After your cat sneaks out of the house and finds himself a female cat once, or after you allow him “one fling” before having him “fixed” you will find that once is never enough. It isn’t like the potato chips that he can eat one of and then show incredible willpower forever afterwards. Once he has turned on his biological drive to mate and perpetuate his species he cannot turn it off. He now has the taste and can’t go back.
A sexually frustrated cat can be moody and destructive. Your home becomes his territory and is sprayed on a routine basis. He attempts to leave the house every time he smells a female in heat in the neighborhood. This can cause him to end up injured in the middle of the road since tomcats looking for females rarely remember to look both ways for traffic before they cross the road.
Being safe is better than being sorry
If you have your kitten neutered between 2 and 6 months of age you can keep from having to deal with a tomcat on the prowl. Many vets don’t want to operate until shortly before puberty to make sure your cat has reached his full adult size before removing his testicles. The surgery causes a reduction in hormones, which can affect growth. Once your cat has reached his adult size you can safely have him neutered.
Man’s best friend
So, what does it cost to get a kitten neutered? Actually, the rewards you reap are numerous and the costs are miniscule in comparison. Your kitten will become more affectionate and he will turn the energy he would put toward chasing women into his relationship with his owner. Every waking hour that isn’t being taken up by bathing and sunning himself are going to be used to show you affection making him man’s best friend.
Saving money when having your cat neutered
If you want to save money on the surgery you can contact your local humane society or your animal rescue groups. They often have information on special clinics that are available to help cover the costs of having animals spayed and neutered. With the pet population problem that we currently face there are many groups that are willing to help responsible pet owners get their animals altered to keep the population down.
You can also contact your local veterinarian’s office to see what he charges. Often this may cost you more than a non-profit group but since this is the person who is going to help you with your animal’s care you may as well keep the vet in the loop when you are treating your pet.
Fines, Fees and Other Hidden Costs to Consider
In some areas not having your cat neutered can cause you to have fees and fines assessed. The laws vary in different areas so knowing your local laws is important. Often fees are lower if your animal is altered than they are for intact animals.
While it seems that allowing him to keep his testicles is humane, it really isn’t the case. If you aren’t going to breed your cat then you are better off to have it neutered. Giving him the ability to keep his testicles but not letting him breed can cause frustration as he is having the urges and cannot act upon them. He can even start to become neurotic.
So, in the end the question isn’t what does it cost to get a kitten neutered. The important question to keep in mind is what it costs to not have your cat neutered. A responsible cat owner will have their cats neutered between 2 and 6 months of age to make sure they have a long healthy and happy life. This helps your cat to bond with people and to become more cuddly and loving.
