Spaying or neutering our feline friends undoubtedly brings benefits, but also changes that, if not managed properly, can become problems. The right diet is a fundamental cornerstone in caring for our cats after neutering.
BENEFITS OF STERILIZATION
Let’s start by saying that nearly all domestic cats, male or female, are sterilized in adulthood, unlike dogs. Without going into detailslet’s examine the benefits of neutering our cats
Male: Sexual maturity in outdoor cats is expressed through wandering behavior and frantic searching for females, sometimes staying away from home for days. Fights with other males over territory and females. Marking territory with intensely persistent-smelling urine sprays. Additionally, fights or mating increase the risk of spreading infectious diseases such as FIV and FeLV
Female: From sexual maturity, female cats go into heat continuously in a couple of periods per year. Heat-related behaviors are evident, with restlessness and constant vocalization (even at night). Female cats may also escape to find a male. They are also more prone to mammary tumors if not sterilized, pyometra (uterine infections), and unwanted pregnancies.
So ultimately veterinarians recommend sterilizing cats to reduce the risks linked to reproductive activityand improve cohabitation with them.
WHAT DOES STERILIZATION MEAN?
Neutering in animals consists of making an animal unable to reproduce, in animals, by suppressing sex hormones. Surgically removing the testicles in males or the ovaries in females, or pharmacologically (chemical castration) — this latter method is rarely used in cats.
A female cat female is sterilized around 6-7 months old while the male is usually sterilized later, around 8-11 given the influence of testosterone on muscle mass and the urogenital system
ARE THERE ALSO POSSIBLE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES?
Sterilization causes hormonal changes that reduce the basal metabolism. Additionally, these cats become more sedentary since they no longer roam to seek mates or defend territory. These cats’ energy needs can drop by 15 to 30%, so it’s important to reduce the calories in their food to prevent these cats from gaining weight.
Reduced metabolism and weight gain are the primary downsides. Obesity is a predisposing factor for other conditions such as diabetes, pancreatitis, and common lower urinary tract diseases (FLUTD). These conditions, the most well-known being cystitis, can be obstructive or non-obstructive. Male cats are far more prone to obstructive cystitis, which is very dangerous. In cystitis, cellular debris and bladder crystals that form mix with urine to create a slurry, the most common cause of mechanical urethral obstruction (PLUG) and thus the dreaded bladder blockage. In such cases, kidneys can suffer severe damage because increased bladder pressure stops renal flow. In female cats, which have a larger, shorter urethra, this event is very unlikely, leading to non-obstructive cystitis.
SO WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?
Give a food with reduced energy density, high-quality protein sources and formulated to maintain physiological urinary pH. It should be noted that good-quality wet food often has these properties but if preferred, we can choose sterilized cat food from shelves.
Keep as many litter boxes as there are cats (one extra is better).
Encourage water intake (water fountains, adding water to food). Encourage play and environmental enrichment to avoid sedentary behavior and boost metabolism
Bibliography
-Factors associated with hematuric struvite crystalluria in cats (J. Feline Med Surg. 2019 Oct;21(10):922-930)
– Current perspectives on the optimal age to spay/castrate dogs and cats (Vet Med (Auckl). 2015; 6: 171–180)
Dr. Simone Falci