Cat Guide

• • Cat and kids
  • Your cat's language
  • Finding a lost pet
  • Good habits
  • Neutering - the facts
  • Settling your cat into her new home
  • Spraying - the facts
  • Taking care of older cats

Unless you plan to breed, most experts encourage owners to neuter their female cats. The operation is straightforward, but will not be covered by pet insurance policies.

The benefits 
Neutering will reduce any aggressive tendencies, so they are less likely to get into fights with neighbourhood cats. They are also less inclined to wander and stray. It also reduces the desire in a neutered male to spray inside his home.

Timing
Just before puberty, at around five months old is the preferred time for most vets to carry out the proceedure. Older cats can also have the operation, but it can only be carried out when they are not in season.

The operation
In the male it involves a general anaesthetic and a small incision through which the testicles are removed. The operation in the female is more invasive. Both ovaries and uterus are removed under a general anaesthetic on a day-patient basis. The cat returns around 8 days later to have the stitches removed.