Many owners fear the sterilization or castration of animals. Someone does not see the need for the operation, and someone fears the procedure itself. And very in vain. Indeed, medical technologies are developing more and more every year, and the field of veterinary medicine also cannot but boast of new developments. Sterilization of cats and castration of cats is a fairly simple operation that can be performed on any four-legged patient. The need for a procedure often arises not only in outbred animals, but also in purebreds, for example, in Scottish fold cats.
Why is a procedure necessary?
Castration to the Scottish cat is necessary if the animal constantly marks the territory in the house. As you know, the smell of cat urine has its own characteristics, it is impossible not to notice it, and sometimes even strong detergents for alcohol can not cope with this trouble. If it is not possible to satisfy the sexual need of the cat, then castration is required. After this procedure, the urine of cats has a less pungent smell, moreover, animals stop dirtying interior items and only visit the tray. The same applies to females. The Scottish girl is unlikely to mark, but the owners will definitely not like the night cries at the door.
If the animal is not offered a sexual partner, then he has a high risk of developing serious diseases up to oncology. In cats in this situation, breast and ovarian cancer is most often detected, in cats - prostate cancer. Abstinence can cause other diseases of the genitourinary system: infections, inflammation, urethritis, prostatitis. Many owners solve the problem with hormonal pills, however, in fact, the problem is not solved.
Pills reduce the desire of animals, but the risk of the above-mentioned dangerous diseases does not disappear from this.
Advantages and disadvantages
The following will help the owner decide to perform an operation for his pet data.
- As already noted, sterilization and castration cats significantly reduces the risk of serious pathology of the genitourinary system.
- It has been proven that sterilized cats live longer than give birth. The fact is that during the birth the animal loses its health and strength, because the cat has to give birth several times a year, and the average life span of the fold Scottish is 10-14 years. Sterilization can prolong the cat’s life for 3-4 years.
- The risk of losing a pet is reduced. Now the animal, which nature calls to the street, will not wait at the door for the right moment to escape. This is especially true for residents of the upper floors. Often cats in search of a partner run away through windows and balconies, and this can be dangerous for their life and health.
- If a Scottish Fold pet has not found a partner of the right breed, then you have to knit a pet with a representative of inappropriate blood. This leads to offspring of no value. Kittens will be difficult to sell or distribute, outbred individuals often find themselves on the street. Sterilization will reduce the number of stray animals.
Before enrolling an animal in a veterinary clinic for castration or sterilization, it is worth considering some of the risks this procedure carries.
- After surgery, animals, especially cats, begin to gain weight quickly due to hormonal reasons. Choosing the nutrition of a castrated cat requires a serious approach. To maintain the health of the animal you have to buy expensive feed.
- During sterilization, the cat is anesthetized. If the animal has problems with the heart, then it may not tolerate the effects of anesthesia. Therefore, before the procedure, a complete medical examination is required.
- If an external suture is used during sterilization, then the next few days the cat should be in blanket. The owner needs to make sure that the pet does not catch on the bandages, does not remove the blanket and does not lick the seams.
Suitable age
Of great importance when performing the operation is the age of the pet. If the procedure is carried out too early, the overall development of the animal may be somewhat depressed, since sex hormones at a young age affect the growth process of Scottish kittens. Too late a procedure does not always relieve the cat of the habit of marking territory, and in some cats the estrus continues, although they are no longer able to give birth to offspring.
The optimal age of the cat for castration is 10-12 months.
Such a Scot is already considered sexually mature, that is, sex hormones by this time had fulfilled their function in the development of the animal, and the elimination of their action will not affect the cat's health. You can carry out the operation later.
Sterilization of females is carried out at about the same age. At 10-12 months, the cat has already gained strength and will now be able to undergo surgery without complications. At a later age, sterilization is possible, but it is worth considering some risks.
- If your cat has already had sex, then the pituitary gland takes on the function of the ovaries to produce hormones, which means that even after sterilization, the hormonal background of the animal may be impaired.
- In late age there is a likelihood of developing postoperative complications. A young Scottish woman is easier to tolerate anesthesia and the procedure itself, it will quickly restore skin integuments, and the risk of developing an infection is also reduced.
Care
Do not be alarmed when, after the procedure, the veterinarian gives you a half-asleep animal in an almost unconscious state.In this form, the pet can be up to a day - this is the effect of anesthesia. It is better to leave the sleeping cat on her favorite couch, but always on the floor. Gradually, the cat will begin to recover, first it will have a coordination disorder, and if it wakes up on a hill, for example, on a window, it can fall to the floor and be injured. By the way, animals are not recommended to be fed before surgery.
If the owner neglected this rule, then the pet departing from anesthesia will begin to tear to the floor, which means that the owner will have a lot of cleaning.
The mandatory rule in the postoperative period is peace and warmth. In no case do not leave the cat just sterilized on the balcony or on the terrace - this can even lead to death. Make sure that the animal does not lick the wound area. If sterilization was carried out by an intradermal suture, then a blanket cat is not needed. If it was an external suture, then a special blanket is put on the animal, and after about 10 days the owner will again have to visit a veterinarian to remove the sutures.
If the operation was performed by the laparotomy method, then from the second day it is required to treat the stitches with antiseptics and ointments.
After the operation, each owner must change the diet of the pet. For example, for cats, the daily portion is recommended to be reduced. The menu should be supplemented with fiber and boiled meat. If the owner prefers to feed the pet with special food, then these should be premium and super-premium products. It is recommended that you consult a veterinarian regarding nutrition issues for a particular animal. The doctor will not only advise the products of the most suitable manufacturer, but also individually calculate the daily feed rate.
About cat sterilization, see below.
