Introduction. How is castration different from sterilization?
Many people, like me before, believe that castration is carried out for cats, and sterilization is carried out for female cats. In fact, these two procedures are completely different from each other. During sterilization, the animal's genitals are simply bandaged (for cats - the seminal ducts, for cats - the fallopian tubes). As a result, the genitals do not stop functioning, but continue to produce hormones, and animals can continue to mate. The only difference is that cats stop producing offspring. This method may be suitable for cats that live in garden areas and spend a lot of time outside the house, walking the streets. In this case, your cat will not shock you with her appearance “in position.” During castration, the animal's genitals are removed (for cats - testicles, for cats - ovaries or ovaries along with the uterus). The advantage of castration over sterilization is that the animal will not have serious illnesses related to the genitals, because they simply don’t exist! We chose castration because our cat does not leave the apartment.
At what age is it better to operate on an animal?
Our cat was neutered when she was 1.5 years old. There are many on the Internet different opinions about when is the best time to operate on an animal. I believe that it is not worth operating before the first heat, but it is also better not to delay it. After all, with age, cats and kittens find it increasingly difficult to tolerate general anesthesia.
Preparing for surgery.
First, you need to wait until the cat stops estrus, since surgery during this period can be dangerous to the health of the animal. 10-12 hours before surgery, you should not give your cat food. You should also make an appointment at the veterinary clinic in advance. Although you can be seen on a first-come, first-served basis, making an appointment at the veterinary clinic at a certain time will save you and your pet nerves. When you take the animal away and bring it back, it is advisable to place it on a sheet with which it is familiar. A native, “homey” smell will allow the cat to be less nervous and worried.
In the clinic.
Upon arrival at the clinic, our cat was thoroughly examined, the temperature was measured, weighed, the heart was listened to, and they were told that there were no contraindications. It is very important that a veterinarian examine the animal because some animals may not tolerate anesthesia. Then they took her away and told her to come back in 3 hours. All these three hours we were worried, thinking, “How is our kitty doing???” Then a call from the veterinary clinic, and the cheerful voice of the nurse: “Your cat has already woken up, is starting to get rowdy, come!” We arrived and saw how our beauty was being carried out. The eyes are round, wearing a blanket. But as soon as we put her in the carrier, she instantly calmed down and fell asleep. The doctor came out and explained that the seam should be washed every 2 days with hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine (we washed it with hydrogen peroxide). And she told me to come and remove the stitches in 12 days.
At home. Same day.
Upon arrival home, we took her out of the carrier, and the cat began to carefully walk along the corridor near the wall. Also, sometimes she seemed to “back away”, that is, she walked “butt forward”. Then, she quickly got tired and began to lie down. We lifted her onto a chair (you cannot let the animal jump on its own in the first days of the operation, since the pet may overestimate its strength and not make it to the jump, and there may also be uncoordination of the jump, i.e. it jumps onto the chair, but misses and falls), where she fell asleep and slept until the evening.
Then in the evening she went to her secluded place, where we gave her some water, and so the cat slept for about 12 hours the next day.
The next day after surgery.
After sleep, she got out on her own and began to walk around the house more boldly. She went to the toilet herself and drank water. Then she started trying to jump onto the windowsill, which of course she couldn’t jump on because it was too high. I began to follow her, but soon the cat gave up her attempts and went back to sleep.
In this photo the cat has such a lively look, I’m surprised at how I was able to catch her like that! After all, in fact, her mood was like this:
The next day.
The cat is recovering, an interest in life appears, and is already beginning to take an interest in the blanket she is wearing. She goes to the toilet on her own, drinks, and eats soft food.
Subsequent days.
Every day she returns more and more to her previous life, sleeps less, goes to the toilet well. But we still help her jump onto a chair/sofa, etc., but after 6-7 days she begins to cope with it herself. Photo of the cat 10 days after the operation, the blanket is still with us:
We wash the seams. We remove the stitches.
The seams are very easy to clean. You need to remove the blanket (there you will see a shaved tummy and a neat seam), wet a cotton pad with hydrogen peroxide and carefully, without pressing under any circumstances, rub it over the seam. 12 days after the procedure, we arrived at the clinic, where the stitches were removed and the cat was freed from the blanket! And now she no longer suffers from constant heat and lives a calm, neutered life!!!
Cost of the operation .
The operation cost us 2500 rubles. The price includes the procedure itself (1800 rubles), medications(200 rubles), postoperative blanket (106 rubles), catheter with installation (130 rubles) and small items - gloves, syringes, cotton wool and a disposable diaper.
Finally I want to say that I definitely recommend castration of cats, as it prevents cancer of the genital organs in the future, is much safer than hormonal drugs and saves you and your pet from unnecessary nerves. The only disadvantage of castration, which, unfortunately, did not bypass us, is excess weight. But we fight it, run after a laser pointer and consume less fat in our diet.
At an appointment with a veterinarian, it becomes obvious that pet owners are sometimes not sufficiently informed about castration and sterilization of their pets. Most often, our visitors believe that only cats and males are spayed, but females - cats and females - are spayed. In this article we will figure out what the difference is, how castration differs from sterilization and why it is necessary.
The difference between castration and sterilization
So, the term " castration“ means the complete removal of the sex glands from the animal’s body - in males (males and males) these are the testes, in females (cats and females) these are the ovaries. Castration provides the effect of complete sexual rest for the rest of your life. After the operation, the animal will not have any needs, desires or opportunities to engage in full sexual activity. Most veterinary clinics perform this exact procedure, even if for some reason in the price list it is designated as “sterilization.”
Sterilization(from the Latin “sterilisatio” - sterile) in veterinary medicine of small domestic animals is used extremely rarely and mainly for some experimental developments. The procedure involves ligating (ligating or soldering) the oviducts in females and the spermatic cords in males. After this, the animal becomes unable to reproduce its own kind (due to the inability to give an egg or sperm to external environment during coitus), but remains just as active in terms of sexual hunting.
Sex hormones continue to be synthesized in the gonads, released into the blood, and all manifestations of sexual behavior ( bloody issues in females, the cries of cats, increased activity or aggressiveness of males and female cats) remain unchanged.
From the point of view of the convenience of family life and the health of the animal, the operation to sterilize the animal is absolutely pointless. Therefore, when an owner asks a veterinarian to sterilize a cat, we always discuss the nuances of the operation and decide that the gonads (in this case, the ovaries) should be removed.
Khomutinnik Ekaterina Igorevna Chief veterinarian. Specialization: soft tissue surgery, abdominal and thoracic surgery, endosurgery.
How is castration done?
The essence of the operation is that the gonads (sex glands - ovaries in females or testes in males) must be completely removed by the surgeon. This can be done in the standard way, by cutting the abdominal wall with a scalpel and removing the glands, or endoscopically.
When performing laparoscopic castration, access to internal organs carried out using endoscope ports. A camera with a light and endoscopic instruments are inserted into small holes in the abdominal wall through ports. The surgeon performing the procedure watches the progress of the operation on a television screen.
Endoscopic castration, along with other endoscopic procedures, belongs to the category of minimally invasive (low-penetration) operations. Unlike classical castration, after laparoscopic castration there is not a long suture left on the animal’s abdominal wall from a scalpel cut, but two or three small holes. Sometimes they are covered with one suture of thin threads, sometimes they are sealed with special medical glue.
Endoscopic castration- a modern method that allows you to reduce surgical risks and the duration of the post-operative period to a minimum. This method is especially relevant for large breed bitches that have a fairly deep abdominal cavity - it is physically difficult for a surgeon to pull a large uterine horn into the cavity of the surgical wound in order to remove the ovary, which causes strong tension on the ligamentous tissues and increases the risk of surgical bleeding. With endoscopic operations, such problems do not arise, because surgical instruments can be brought to any organ of the abdominal cavity without changing its natural position.
Preparing for castration
Regardless of which method of surgical intervention the animal owners choose, they need to prepare for castration. Firstly, any animal must be hungry for at least 10 hours. This is associated with anesthetic risks. During anesthesia, stomach contents can enter the respiratory tract, causing suffocation and aspiration pneumonia (inflammation of lung tissue due to foreign substances). Secondly, if an older animal is sent for castration, or has a history of any organ pathologies, as well as dogs and cats of certain breeds at risk (brachiocephalics, toy breeds, British, Persians, Maine Coons, etc.) , we recommend a preliminary study of the function of the cardiovascular system at an appointment with a cardiologist.
Preliminary medical examination allows you to identify all anesthetic risks and prevent unpleasant consequences.
Postoperative care
After castration, we recommend that owners carefully monitor their pet for a week and limit physical activity.
After surgery, bitches and cats in the clinic are given a special fabric blanket made of breathable materials to prevent stitches from licking. Males are recommended to wear a plastic collar. It is necessary to wear such protection for 7-10 days, depending on the animal’s temperament and individual characteristics organisms that affect the healing of sutures. Cats do not usually need to wear a protective collar.
We recommend treating the seam after castration once a day with a solution of Chlorhexidine and blot it dry, removing crusts, with an ordinary gauze cloth. Thus, postoperative care is kept to a minimum. If the surgeon made a removable suture, the ligatures (suture threads) must be removed 10 days after the operation. If the suture is intradermal, it is made with self-absorbing threads and there is no need to go to the clinic to remove the sutures at all.
After castration, the level of sex hormones in the blood decreases quite quickly, causing all manifestations of sexual desire, which caused inconvenience to the owners. Animals become calmer, more docile, males tend to show less aggression towards other males, and male cats have a reduced tendency to wander. The only thing you need to remember is that castrated animals gain excess weight more easily. This can be easily avoided by switching your pet to special food for neutered animals and carefully regulating daily feeding rates.
It is advisable to carry out castration before the first signs of sexual heat (6-9 months). This maximally prevents diseases of the reproductive system in males (prostatic hyperplasia, orchitis) and females (endometritis, neoplasms of the mammary glands). But, if for some reason you do this in early dates It was not possible, in any case, you should not delay the operation for a long time - castration and the postoperative period in the first years of the animal’s life are easier to tolerate by the body.
We believe that a dog or cat of any breed whose owners do not plan to breed or is not of any breeding value should be neutered by the end of the first year of life. This makes it possible to prevent diseases of the reproductive system of pet animals and reduce the number of stray animals in our country.
what is “better” to choose
Sooner or later, owners of domestic cats begin to think about castration/sterilization of their pets, since by doing this they not only save their pets from more problems, but even prolong their life...
True, a fair share of cat lovers often mistakenly interpret the above-mentioned concepts, believing that males are usually castrated, and females are sterilized. But in fact, these processes are in no way related to the gender of animals, but imply different kinds surgical intervention, which ultimately leads to one result - cats and cats lose their ability to reproduce.
What is the difference?
So, when castration the gonads are completely removed from the animal’s body (in males – the testes, and in females – the ovaries), as a result of which the pet is provided with complete sexual rest for the rest of its life. After the operation, the animal will not have any desires and needs, as well as the ability to engage in full sexual activity.
And here sterilization, in turn, is rarely used in veterinary medicine for small pets, as it involves ligating (that is, ligating or soldering) the spermatic cords in cats and the oviducts in cats. After such an intervention, animals lose the ability to reproduce, while maintaining sexual activity, since sex hormones continue to be synthesized in their gonads. So it turns out that from the point of view of the health of the animal and the convenience of life for household members, sterilization of cats and female cats does not make sense at all, because all the nuances of their sexual behavior remain unchanged (increased activity, screaming, aggressiveness, etc., etc.) .
Technically, an operation to sterilize domestic cats is quite possible, but it is usually used for medical indications in the process of treating some disease.
Preparation
As for the castration procedure, you need to thoroughly prepare for it:
- firstly, the pet must be hungry (that is, not eat food for at least 10 hours before the operation);
- secondly, it is best to conduct a preliminary study of the function of the cardiovascular system (especially in aged animals or with any pathologies) in order to reduce all possible risks to a minimum.
Castration of a cat
Self surgical intervention in cats, in this case, it is done as follows: first, the animal is injected with anesthesia, the hair on the scrotum is shaved off and the skin is treated with special products, after which a small incision is made to remove the testicles, and then this same incision is sutured. Typically, such an operation takes no more than 15 minutes, and postoperative sutures do not require any processing or removal.
Castration of a cat
In cats, the entire castration process is more complicated, since the operation in this case is abdominal, that is, the uterus and ovaries are removed through a deep incision in the groin or abdomen. Surgical manipulations last 30-40 minutes, after which the wound is sutured, and the animal is dressed in a special blanket or collar that prevents the seam from licking and scratching.
It is worth noting that females can be castrated not only in the standard way, but also endoscopically - when several small incisions are made on the abdominal wall, through which endoscopic instruments and a camera with a light are inserted. The surgeon controls all his actions through a display that displays an image of the operation progress. But such an operation, of course, will cost more.
Recovery after surgery depends on the individual characteristics of the body of a particular animal, which is why it can take different times. As a rule, after anesthesia, cats and cats leave within 2-4 hours, and fully come to their senses after about one day.
The gonads are surgically removed, but during sterilization they remain and continue to function. This is the main difference. A cat without castration means that the spermatic cord will be damaged or ligated, due to which sperm will not be able to enter the vas deferens. As a result, the cat becomes infertile when the gonads are fully functional. Surgical sterilization is called a vasectomy.
It is important to note that vasectomy does not reduce the production of sex hormones.
That is, the animal continues the territory, demands the cat, sings songs and behaves aggressively. In addition, sterilization does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore, in most cases such an operation does not have any value, since The point of all this is to change behavior, not just stop reproduction.
In total, there are several that have significant differences. All surgical interventions are performed under local anesthesia.
Bloody methods of castration
They are so named because the scrotum must be opened. Divided into two types:
- Private method. Only cut upper layer scrotum - skin. The lower layers are not touched, due to which the passage into the abdominal cavity does not open, which is very important for some pathologies. The lower layers are tied at the base of the scrotum and cut off in a single complex.
Read also: A cat’s temperature after castration: symptoms of increase, causes, methods of measurement
- Open method. All layers of the scrotum are dissected and the testis is removed. The simplest and most common operation. The spermatic cord is tied at the base of the scrotum, after which it is cut off along with the testis and epididymis.
Bloodless castration method
It is so named because this technique does not require opening the scrotum. The main goal of the operation is to destroy the nerves and vessels of the spermatic cord, as a result of which the testes gradually atrophy. For destruction, special forceps, clamps, scissors and other tools are used, of which there are a lot.
The main advantage is the speed and simplicity of the operation, since it does not require actual surgery. This shortens the postoperative period, and also reduces the risk of complications. The disadvantage is the insufficient guarantee of castration and cessation of hormonal activity of the sex glands.
Vasectomy
During a vasectomy, the scrotum is cut, which makes the operation similar to the bloody methods of castration. However, the main difference is that During surgery, not the entire spermatic cord is destroyed, but only the vas deferens. The vessels and nerves remain undamaged, so the sex glands continue to function.
During the first few months, conception is possible, so the cat must be protected from communication with cats. The operation cannot be performed during the period of sexual hunting.. The risk of restoring reproductive function is very small and amounts to no more than 0.1%. When fertility returns, a vasectomy can be repeated.
A serious drawback is the complexity of the operation, since the cat’s testes themselves are small, and here it is also necessary to separate the vessels, nerves and vas deferens. Not every veterinarian will undertake a vasectomy, and the risk of failure (fertility preservation or accidental castration) is quite high.
When a small kitten appears in the house, the life of the family changes. Everyone is touched by how smart his eyes are, what sensitive ears he has, how soft and pink his paws are, and how funny he is when he falls on his side.
Over time, the kitten grows to become a real cat. He doesn’t lose his cuteness: his family still admires his belly, his tail, and his ability to fit only two long activities into his daily schedule: “lying on the sofa” and “lying under the sofa.” But upon reaching the age of 7-8 months (puberty), the owners notice the pet’s unusual behavior: the always obedient and exemplary kitten begins to mark corners, and the most silent cat screams tirelessly, and how loudly too! All these are signs that the kitten has reached adulthood and has developed a sexual instinct.
What to do when your pet goes through puberty?
If the cat is not intended for procreation, then there is only one answer to this question: castrate or sterilize. Only surgical intervention makes it possible to deprive a pet of its sexual instinct as effectively and without risks to the pet’s health. All other methods, such as tablets, are extremely dangerous for animals and, moreover, do not bring the expected result.
Why is this necessary?
It is strictly forbidden to allow an uncastrated or unsterilized animal to roam. Don't console yourself with the thought that your cat is living a full life. They produce kittens - kittens that no one wants, no one loves, who will be doomed to live their entire lives in fear in conditions big city. And they themselves will give birth to new kittens. Constant childbirth for a cat (and without your control, the cat will give birth at least twice, and maybe even four times a year) does not bring not only joy, but also no benefit. Childbirth is stressful for the body, and regular childbirth guarantees the cat an unpleasant “bouquet” of diseases.
Castration and sterilization are humane. Yes, this is an operation, yes, this is surgery, and yes, after this the pet will need additional care for some time. But at the same time, you do not poison your pet with poisonous pills, do not torment your pet with unmet needs, and do not breed kittens on the streets.
An unrealized sexual instinct in a pet is truly torture. This doesn't happen to people, but you can imagine what your pet might experience if you drink a lot of liquid and are unable to go to the toilet. It's not a pleasant feeling, and your pets definitely don't deserve it. And, besides, in the absence of fertilization, the cat’s hormonal levels constantly increase, which ultimately results in a number of very serious diseases, including cancer.
Advantages of castration and sterilization:
The risk of many serious diseases is significantly reduced.
The cat stops marking his territory.
The animals stop screaming and imitating sexual intercourse.
The pet's lifespan increases.
The cat becomes calmer and more flexible.
The pet does not need to go outside, which means it will not get lost, fight, get hit by a car or get into any other trouble.
The endless appearance of new and new kittens stops.
Improves appearance and the well-being of the pet.
The cost of maintaining a pet is reduced (it consumes less food, it does not get injured or sick, which means there will be no need to regularly take it to the veterinarian).
What is the difference between castration and sterilization?
Yes, these things are not the same thing. When castration occurs, the organs responsible for reproduction are completely removed (testicles in a cat, ovaries and uterus in a cat). When castration occurs, the animal's sexual instinct disappears. When sterilized, animals become sterile (they stop producing offspring), their genitals remain in place and continue their standard work, and instinct is still present.
Both of these methods deprive you and your pet of problems associated with the sexual sphere (if, of course, the sterilized animal has the opportunity to have sexual intercourse whenever it wants). However, it is necessary to take into account that castration is still a more humane method: it deprives pets of hormonal imbalances associated with sexual desire, aggression, stress and risks caused by “walking”. And sterilized pets still mark their territory and suffer from heat. The health and standard of living of a neutered pet is higher, not lower, as some people mistakenly believe.
When is it necessary to spay or neuter your pet?
It is highly advisable to have surgery before your pet reaches puberty. Early castration of animals, performed when they reach the age of 6-8 weeks, is becoming increasingly popular. Sexual maturity occurs at 7-8 months, and by this time it is very desirable to have an already spayed or sterilized animal.
How to care for a cat after surgery?
Provide your pet with a bed in a place where he won’t fall off. The best place is on the floor. Getting up and down on chairs and sofas at this stage can be too difficult for your pet. Place a cloth or oilcloth under your pet, whatever you mind: there is a risk of involuntary urination. Cover all undesirable places where the cat could hide and hide: it should always be visible and comfortable. Don't let him climb up - most likely, the animal will not have enough strength for this, and it will fall.
If your pet starts to feel chills, take him in with you, cover him with a blanket or cover him with heating pads (they can be replaced with bottles of warm water). Be prepared for the cat to start vomiting, make sure that it does not suffocate. If necessary, treat the seams with hydrogen peroxide. If your pet tries to lick the stitches, put a blanket on him. Be sure to give your pet something to drink at night, but don’t be afraid that at first he will have an aversion to food. The next day, as a rule, the pets begin to eat a little and their strength is restored.
Do not disturb your pet, let him rest. Be there and look after him, but don't try to involve him in games. And be sure to follow all recommendations given to you by your veterinarian!
If something is bothering you, or if your pet is feeling very sick or shivering, it is better to play it safe and consult a veterinarian. Call him and describe your pet's condition, and he will definitely tell you what to do.
After castration and sterilization, the animal becomes much calmer and more attached to its owner. The words that the operation leads to obesity in the pet are not true. Cats do not lose their desire for games and active pastime, but they stop getting involved in fights. If you give your pet attention and play with him, his weight will not change.
The pet must actually undergo surgery good doctor, which will not harm his health in any way. With proper post-operative care, your cat's health will quickly recover and he will feel better than before. Keeping a pet will only bring you joy, he will feel it and will certainly thank you for your care with regular caresses and purrs.