Cat Castration Surgery

Castration not only prevents unwanted pregnancies, it also reduces sexual stress. In particular, when male cats reach sexual maturity, they mark their territory (spray behavior) with urine that has a strong smell, and fight over females.

At PetLife, it is a one-day procedure in which a small incision is made in the center of the scrotum and the testicles are removed. Suture removal is generally not required. In case of cryptorchidism, two incisions will be made which will possibly require an overnight hospital stay. Your pet will be returned wearing a cone to prevent licking of the incision site.

What behaviors can be prevented?

  • Spray behavior (about 90% prevention)
  • Reduction in urine odor
  • Aggressive behavior

When should I neuter my cat?

At PetLife, we perform castration from around 5 to 6 months of age, when the cat reaches sexual maturity. The testicles develop near the kidneys within the abdomen and normally descend into the scrotum by about 2 months of age. If both testicles descend normally, castration can be done with a single incision. If either testicle fails to descend to the scrotum and remains in the abdominal cavity or groin, it is called cryptorchidism. In this case, we recommend castration particularly because there is a high possibility that undescended testicles will become tumors. In cats diagnosed with cryptorchidism, there will be two incisions, and depending on the situation, we may suggest that your pet stays in the hospital for one night.

What is included in the castration cost?

Blood test on the day of surgery, X-ray examination, fluids, surgery fee, hospitalization fee (if necessary), cone.

*Please contact us as the cost varies depending on the weight of your cat and condition of the testicles.

What is the flow of surgery?

Dinner by 21:00 the day before. No snacks after this but it’s OK to drink water.

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On the day around 7:00, refrain from giving water

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9:30 Visit the hospital without eating breakfast (check-in)

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Blood test, X-ray test

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Surgery, fluids

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Pick-up during evening consultation hours (around 5pm)

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Rest for about a week with the collar (cone) on so as to prevent your pet from licking the wound.

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Visit the hospital to check the wound after 7-10 days.

After surgery…?

For the next 2-3 days, your pet may be quieter than usual, but that’s okay, please let them rest at home. It is okay to feed them as usual. Please don’t allow your pet to lick the wound, and keep the cone/collar on for a week. It is important that your pet doesn’t lick the affected area or get it wet.

 

Is it easy to gain weight after surgery?

In addition to the fact that a cat’s growth rate begins to slow around the time they are ready for surgery, your pet may be more likely to gain weight due to the impact of neutering on your cat’s metabolism, which affects how much food they eat. Within 2 days of the procedure, your cat’s appetite may increase by up to 20%! This means your cat’s daily calorie intake must be managed carefully post surgery, and as kitten food is very high in calories, switching to adult cat food or a low calorie post-neuter product is a good idea.