Owners of mustachioed pets decide to castrate their cat for various reasons. For example, a cat constantly meows heart-rendingly, becomes uncontrollable during periods of sexual heat, and marks its territory in a house or apartment. In addition, castration or sterilization may have medical indications for such an operation. But still, this is the only way that will help you forget about your pet’s habits associated with the reproductive instinct.
In this case, it happens that after castration a cat wants a cat, showing sympathy for individuals of the opposite sex. To understand why a castrate continues to be interested in cats and tries to mate with them, you need to know when castration is performed and what the essence of this operation is.
Why is castration performed, at what age should a cat be castrated?
Castration is a fairly simple surgical operation during which the male gonads (testes) are removed. The operation is performed on cats at the age of 9-12 months, after the completion of puberty. Until this age, furry pets do not have sexual instinct.
Castration of a cat performed at an earlier age is fraught with serious consequences and complications. Until 8-9 months, the animal’s body is not fully formed. For example, a cat may have an underdeveloped urinary tract and inflammation often develops after castration. Any problems in the animal’s genitourinary tract will cause urethral obstruction, which can cause death.
The simple procedure is performed under anesthesia and does not pose any risks to the pet’s health, but requires serious postoperative care.
Castration is carried out:
- to reduce the aggressiveness of cats;
- if a domestic cat constantly runs outside during the rut and fights with other males;
- for medical indications (scrotal injuries, congenital pathologies, orchitis);
- if the cat constantly yells, attracting cats, marks the territory (apartment, entrance).
The main purpose of castration, like sterilization, is to deprive animals of reproductive function and to correct behavior in cats that are too temperamental.
To reduce sexual desire, of course, you can use special medications and sedatives. But you need to take into account that such methods can harm the health of a mustachioed pet, for example, provoke hormonal imbalance. Therefore, the surgical method is more preferable.
A little about castration of cats
The operation itself does not last long, but preparation for it may take longer.
It is easier to perform castration surgery for cats than for cats to undergo sterilization, because the cat has causative organs on the outside.
The doctor makes mini incisions near the scrotum and tightens the seminiferous tubules with special clamps, or the testicles are completely removed. Sterilization is a longer operation: the ovaries are removed, and sometimes the entire uterus, after which the cat must remain in a corset until the stitches are tightened.
Castration and sexual desire
Many owners believe that after castration a cat should not show interest in individuals of the opposite sex. In general, this is true, and after removal of the testes, males do not experience attraction to females. But there are also exceptions. Owners notice that some cats' behavior remains the same as before castration. Let's try to figure out why the cat continues to get excited.
As already noted, according to veterinarians, it is best to castrate cats at the age of 8-10 months. If the cat tasted all the delights of sexual life before the operation and had contact with females, the body begins to produce sex hormones. Moreover, not only the testicles are responsible for their production, but also the adrenal glands and the pituitary gland, which, remembering the sensations received, synthesizes the necessary substances. This is why castrated cats continue to want cats and try to mate with them.
Cats need to be castrated before the pet experiences the joys of sex.
Even if castration is carried out at 8-10 months, in young males after castration the body, in particular the adrenal glands, will produce testosterone for some time. It is this hormone that is responsible for the sexual desire of males, so for several months the pet will be interested in individuals of the opposite sex.
Another reason for this behavior of males can be called too early castration or a mistake by a veterinarian. During an operation performed at an early age, due to the incompetence of the surgeon, part of the testis may be preserved, which will produce sex hormones.
In addition, the veterinarian, due to inattention or inexperience, may not inform the owners that one testicle remains in the peritoneum (cryptorchidism). Therefore, if you decide to castrate a cat, do not skimp on the procedure; trust your pet only to experienced veterinarians with a good reputation.
Why does a neutered cat show interest in the cat?
The cat is clearly planning to do something with the kitty
There are many cases where cats that had been castrated for a long time again became gallant gentlemen when a fluffy person of the opposite sex appeared, or in the spring they behaved extremely depravedly with soft toys and the owner’s slippers.
The owners' reaction usually ranges from amazement to indignation at a poorly performed operation with claims against veterinarians.
However, whether such claims are justified is an ambiguous question.
Veterinarian's mistake
There may have been pilot error
If the veterinarian kept silent about the fact that the cat, whom he supposedly castrated safely, is a cryptorchid and that the second testicle remained in the abdominal cavity, this is a veterinarian’s mistake.
It is impossible for a specialist not to notice this fact, and, most likely, he will have to perform abdominal surgery, at the expense of the institution (veterinary clinic).
Other reasons
Cat owners often prefer vasectomy and chemical sterilization. In the first case, the testes are not removed, but only the spermatic cord is ligated. Despite the low-traumatic nature of this technique, this procedure is not very effective and does not give long-lasting results. After some time, in any case, sooner or later, males will manifest sexual instincts and the only way out is to carry out a repeat operation, complete castration.
Before making a decision to castrate a cat, we recommend that you learn in more detail about the methods, consequences, and possible risks of the chosen method.
Reasons for desire
When, after castration, an animal walks and pesters cats, the reason for this behavior may be that the pet had time to go on a spree before the operation. At the physiological level, the cat will not be able to lose interest; after the procedure, sex hormones will continue to be produced. In this situation, the animal will continue to scream and mark its territory.
In addition, attraction may be associated with unscrupulous surgical intervention. Animals often suffer from cryptorchidism, as a result of which one testis is located in the scrotum and the other in the abdomen. Experienced veterinarians immediately identify the pathology, but unscrupulous doctors may not notify the owner about this. The desire may also be due to a small amount of time after the procedure. For some animals, adaptation takes about 7 days, while others last for about 2 months.
Behavior of cats after castration
As a rule, if the castration operation is carried out according to all the rules, the cat’s sexual instincts gradually disappear over the course of several weeks or months. The duration of this period depends on the individual, physiological characteristics of the body, age, and temperament of the cat.
At first, if the cat has already had contacts with females, the male may show interest in the cats and even try to cover them. Although interest will not be expressed as clearly as before the operation. There's nothing wrong with that. Of course, in veterinary practice there were isolated cases when a castrated male mated with a cat, and she gave birth to offspring. But this is an exception to the rule and most likely this is explained by a violation of the rules of castration.
Some owners of cats who have preserved their sexual instinct do not take any measures if, for example, there is a female in the house who, for one reason or another, should not have offspring. Contact with a castrated cat has a calming effect on the cat and does not harm its health.
It is also worth considering that if two or three males live in a house and one of the pets is unsuccessfully castrated, a “he-she” relationship often develops.
QUESTION
My 1.5 year old neutered cat (neutered at the age of 10 months) continues to breed. Usually it falls on a cat, she is also sterilized. It feels like the cat is raping the cat. In addition, he also makes landings on things. At the same time, it does not mark. How is it possible that he exhibits sexual behavior if he does not have testicles? Is there something wrong with him?
What to do if a cat wants a cat after castration
If a castrated cat continues to get excited at the sight of a female, shows anxiety, wants to constantly walk, leaves marks in the house or apartment, consult a veterinarian. The specialist will select hormonal medications and sedatives to correct your pet’s behavior.
If the cat gets very angry, shows aggression, begins to meow heart-rendingly or pesters females living in the same apartment, spray water on it or distract its attention with a treat or toy. This will not cause any harm to the pet, but will moderate its ardor.
As sedatives, cats can be given “Kot Bayun”, “Stop-stress”, “Xylazin”, “Fitex”, “Fospasin”. Regarding the choice of medications, dosages, and frequency of administration, consult your veterinarian.
The main reason for the preservation of the sexual instinct in cats is incorrect or untimely castration.
If the operation is performed according to all the rules, there is no need to worry if the cat shows interest in females. Be patient. Over time, the behavior of a mustachioed pet stabilizes. The cat will become calmer, more peaceful, and hormonal levels will normalize. To make the male calm down faster, surround the cat with affection, care, and attention.
Remember all
Mating cats
If the cat is an adult (over a year old) and has already had matings, then there is a possibility that he will never forget about this experience, and the corresponding aspects of behavior will be preserved.
However, it is impossible to predict such a development of events; not all cats are so temperamental, and most of them, after removal of the testes, forever lose interest in amorous affairs. And, if castration was carried out according to all the rules, then claims can only be addressed to nature itself.
The specialist was obliged to warn about this, but, unfortunately, a warning cannot serve as a guarantee of “insurance” against such a development of events. The owners will most likely have to come to terms with this feature of the cat’s behavior and solve the problem every time it appears.
Chemical castration of a cat
If the owners chose chemical castration or vasectomy instead of a banal surgical solution to the problem, well, the risk is a noble cause, but they won’t have to drink champagne this time, since all other castration options, except the classic one, give half-hearted and unstable results.
In this case, they will only have to blame for their short-sightedness and misplaced pity. The solution may be to carry out full castration, but there may not be a 100% result.
Can a neutered cat mark territory?
The correct answer is no. However, here you need to find out 2 things: whether the cat is really neutered and whether he is really marking his territory. It is quite possible that the pet simply has a habit of relieving itself in the wrong place.
Signs that a cat is marking territory:
- his urine has a strong unpleasant odor (the main symptom);
- the animal pees mainly on vertical surfaces;
- the pet behaves restlessly, constantly asks to go outside, screams, “demands a cat”;
- the cat's appetite decreases, and he becomes restless, aggressive, scratches furniture (more often, more strongly than usual).
If such signs are observed, then the operation was unsuccessful. It is quite possible that the cat turned out to be cryptorchid, that is, one testicle was not removed, since it was in the abdominal cavity. The surgery will have to be repeated.
Normal urination and marking are two different things. By marking territory, the cat tells the animals that he is the owner of this territory. In addition, the marks attract females. At the time of sexual heat, the pet's urine changes composition due to hormones, its smell becomes extremely unpleasant and strong. Cats also love to leave marks on their owner’s things. Shoes suffer most often, because they have the smell of someone else’s territory, and the pet wants to make them “his own.”
When marking territory, the cat pees exclusively on vertical surfaces. He does this so that the smell spreads further. Also, his instincts tell him that urine is quickly absorbed on the soil, so he needs to defecate on vertical objects. If your pet pees on horizontal surfaces and the smell is weaker than before, then most likely the reason is not the animal’s sexual instinct.
Do cats want a cat after sterilization?
In fact, in many veterinary clinics the term “sterilization” means castration of animals, so first check with your veterinarian whether the cat’s ovaries will be removed during the operation or not.
Indeed, such an intervention in the animal’s body as sterilization implies that as a result the cat will lose exclusively its reproductive function. That is, she will periodically go into heat and will retain the ability to have sexual intercourse with a male. Another thing is that as a result of mating, the cat will not become pregnant and will not bear kittens, because she will actually become infertile.
If a veterinary clinic performs castration rather than sterilization of a cat, then its ovaries are completely removed. As a result, the cat no longer goes into heat or heat.
If your pet is free-range - for example, you live in a private house - then in order to prevent the unwanted appearance of kittens, you can have her sterilized, which is easier and faster. For an indoor cat that does not go outside at all, castration is more suitable.
Other reasons for ongoing sexual behavior
Besides the continued presence of sex hormones in the body immediately after castration and the continuation of established habits, there are a number of other reasons why your cat may continue to want to mate after the procedure. It's understandable that you might view this as evidence that your cat still wants to mate, but in most cases there is actually a much more innocent explanation.
In cats, kicking is sometimes associated with stress and, interestingly, it can even occur in cats that have never exhibited this behavior before because they were neutered at a young age. This type of stress-induced shock is quite common when a family goes through a major change, such as getting a new pet.
Some experts have suggested that this behavior may be a form of attention seeking, with the cat seeking some kind of reassurance from you. However, it could also be a sign that he has an excessive amount of energy, perhaps due to agitation or as a result of lack of physical activity.
If you bring a younger kitten into your home, there is a chance that your older cat may pin down the kitten and hit it. Again, some owners panic, thinking this is a sign that their cat still wants to mate, but in reality this is a behavior that teaches the young kitten his place in the hierarchy. It can also be used to teach a young kitten not to do something, although this is more common in cats.
Moreover, urine spraying and wandering are also associated with the desire to mate. Although neutering helps, it is possible that this behavior may still continue and it is currently not entirely clear why this is the case.
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If the cat walks alone
Owners of unneutered cats who let them outside feel like they are doing a good deed by letting their pet run around and socialize with other cats.
Such people forget about the many dangers that await a cat on the street:
cars that can seriously injure or kill an unwary cat; flayers and simply cruel people who can kick a pet; scattered poisoned dog food that a cat might try; various infections, including those dangerous to people; hungry packs of dogs; fights with other cats, in which the animal may lose an ear or an eye.
In addition, most owners do not want to think about the fact that free-ranging pets reproduce uncontrollably.
Cat owners do not feel involved in the increase in stray animals, because all problems with kittens lie with cat owners, who either get rid of the kittens right away, or let them grow up and throw them away. This exacerbates the problem of homeless animals, and all animal owners who allow animals to roam are guilty of it.
Is it possible to let a domestic cat outside?
Veterinarians and animal welfare experts advise releasing
take your cat
outside
only if you can provide her with a safe place to walk - for example, a courtyard fenced on all sides, and with a fence that the cat cannot overcome.
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