Many cat owners prefer to castrate their pets so that they do not mark their territory and do not scream constantly. In this regard, the question arises at what age it is better to do this in order to minimize negative consequences. After all, castration, like any surgical operation, is associated with a certain risk to the health of the animal.
There is no general age at which all cats enter puberty. For some, it occurs at five months, for others at 8. In any case, experts do not recommend rushing. Even if the five-month-old cat is already marking corners and showing interest in cats, you need to wait a bit. After all, physiologically it is still a kitten, it is still growing. Muscles, skeleton are formed, internal organs develop, including the genitourinary system. Castration leads, in particular, to the fact that the cat's penis completes its development, which in the future can create difficulties in the treatment of diseases of the genitourinary sphere.
Veterinarians, based on global practice, recommend neutering cats at the age of 7-8 months or a little later, but up to one year. At this time, the animal's body is already formed and can undergo surgery and general anesthesia without negative consequences.
Moreover, if you decide to castrate a cat, there is no need to delay with this either. Late castration is just as dangerous to health as early. At the age of more than a year, a lot changes in the cat's hormonal system, for example, androgens begin to be produced not only by the testes, but also by other glands (pituitary gland, adrenal glands). This can lead to the fact that castration will not give the desired result, and the cat will continue to mark territory. It is also not recommended to castrate a cat that has already had sexual intercourse: most likely, he will continue to ask the cat and mark the corners.
Moreover, it is not recommended to castrate an older cat, since it can be difficult to endure anesthesia. There is a possibility that the operation will lead to complications in the course of chronic diseases.
Important: before deciding to neuter your cat, consult your veterinarian.
