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Are there any proven health risks associated with NOT neutering?
Are there any proven health risks associated with NOT neutering?
I just really want to be informed and cover all bases. All the information I have gathered or articles that I have read thus far do not claim that any particular risk is 100% guaranteed if you do not neuter your cat. The only real problems I have heard that beckon neutering are testosterone and spraying -- that it calms aggression and lessens marking their territory. Am I not reading the right stuff or is there no REAL danger in not neutering? -- -Lost Remove the extra words to reply by e-mail. Don't e-mail me. I am kidding. No I am not. |
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Are there any proven health risks associated with NOT neutering?
On Fri, 16 Nov 2007 03:10:24 -0600, "-Lost"
wrote: Are there any proven health risks associated with NOT neutering? I just really want to be informed and cover all bases. All the information I have gathered or articles that I have read thus far do not claim that any particular risk is 100% guaranteed if you do not neuter your cat. The only real problems I have heard that beckon neutering are testosterone and spraying -- that it calms aggression and lessens marking their territory. Am I not reading the right stuff or is there no REAL danger in not neutering? Intact males tend to be more agressive and get into fights if not neutered. They will try to escape. If you let them outside, they will end up n more fights, so you can expect more vet expenses associated with those injuries. Intact males are also harder to keep at a good weight and good coat. They tend to be skinnier, and they can get a condition called stud tail which means that they release a lot of a hormone just above the tail, making it really greasy. They definitely require more work, and they can be a real pain in terms of behavior and mess. We had an intact male for about 2 years before we neutered him. He was horrible. He attacked the other cats and dogs anytime they tried to get on his person's lap. He sprayed all over the place. We didn't have outdoor cats before him, but with all the damage, we let him go out during the day to spray outside instead. Our neighbor stole him and gave him back. He also attacked raccoons (they backed down from him). I think he must have gone into their territory, because he disappeared when he was about 4 years old. We never found him. I think his life would have been a lot different if we had just neutered him. Unfortunately, at that time, my mom was a backyard breeder and wanted to keep him intact. (She did quit after his first litter.) Intact females will eventually go in heat all the time, which can drive a person insane. They are also more likely to get cancer. And they will also try to escape more, especially if there are males hanging around outside, trying to get at her. If you are planning to breed him please have him tested for diseases that can be present even if they don't show. Which tests will depend on the breed. Just about any cat should have thir heart checked. Many breeds have genetic testing that can show the likliehood of heart and kidney problems. |
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Are there any proven health risks associated with NOT neutering?
There are real risks of reproductive cancers if a cat is not neutered
or spayed. This is in addition to the risks of the cat losing their home because of the uncontrollable yowling and spraying and fighting. These behaviors work in the wild; when we ask the cat to stay with us and be our pet, it's a favor to the cat to keep them from expressing their wishes in this way. If we wonder what the cat thinks, it should be clear; a life in an environment they are not made for (our modern civilization) that is nasty, mean, brutish, and short, or a pampered life as a beloved pet. They don't miss it. As human as they act, there are no cat porn magazines and they lose all interest in unhomely behaviors. |
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Are there any proven health risks associated with NOT neutering?
Suddenly, without warning, -Lost exclaimed (11/16/2007 6:40 PM):
Are there any proven health risks associated with NOT neutering? I just really want to be informed and cover all bases. All the information I have gathered or articles that I have read thus far do not claim that any particular risk is 100% guaranteed if you do not neuter your cat. The only real problems I have heard that beckon neutering are testosterone and spraying -- that it calms aggression and lessens marking their territory. Am I not reading the right stuff or is there no REAL danger in not neutering? Ah, NOW you've done it. Long thread, coming up! I think you're looking at it backwards though. What risk is there in getting them neutered, aside from the slight danger inherent in any operation? Not much, I think, though I've never had a male. But it sounds like an intact male makes a very poor housecat! The danger for males seems to be more in how testosterone changes their behavior, than in the health risks (like higher risk of certain cancers, I think). I bet if a survey was done, intact males don't live nearly as long as neutered ones. It's the same with horses. If he's not breeding material, neuter him. If you don't plan on breeding, neuter. Your neighbors will thank you as well! jmc |
#5
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Are there any proven health risks associated with NOT neutering?
On Fri, 16 Nov 2007 03:10:24 -0600, "-Lost"
wrote: Are there any proven health risks associated with NOT neutering? I just really want to be informed and cover all bases. All the information I have gathered or articles that I have read thus far do not claim that any particular risk is 100% guaranteed if you do not neuter your cat. The only real problems I have heard that beckon neutering are testosterone and spraying -- that it calms aggression and lessens marking their territory. Am I not reading the right stuff or is there no REAL danger in not neutering? There is a real risk of more kittens. There are already plenty of cats around that have to be killed, so why increase the numbers? If we ever have a cat shortage, feel free to let some breed. |
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Are there any proven health risks associated with NOT neutering?
"-Lost" wrote in message ... Are there any proven health risks associated with NOT neutering? I just really want to be informed and cover all bases. All the information I have gathered or articles that I have read thus far do not claim that any particular risk is 100% guaranteed if you do not neuter your cat. The only real problems I have heard that beckon neutering are testosterone and spraying -- that it calms aggression and lessens marking their territory. Am I not reading the right stuff or is there no REAL danger in not neutering? cancers Preventable by Spaying/Neutering Female OVARIAN CYSTADENOMA cystic tumor, often benign but can grow to a moderate size. Possible cure with ovariohysterectomy. Preventable by spaying. EPITHELIAL (i.e., carcinoma), and sex-cord stromal (i.e., granulosa cell tumor, Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor, thecoma, and luteoma) tumors. Preventable by spaying OVARIAN ADENOCARCINOMA: malignant tumor of the ovary. Can be prevented by spaying female cats. GERM CELL TUMOR: include dysgerminomas and teratomas, tumors from embryonic-type tissues in the ovaries. Malignant. Ovariohysterectomy, chemotherapy and radiation will be needed for a cure. Preventable by spaying. UTERINE LEIOMYOMA: the most common uterine tumor found in female cats. This tumor originates from smooth muscle within the uterus, and is usually benign. Usually no outward symptoms are visible. Ovariohysterectomy usually produces a complete cure. . Preventable with spaying except in very rare circumstances. UTERINE LEIOMYOSARCOMA: malignant cousin to leiomyoma, will invade and spread inside the abdomen, often before diagnosis. Can cause notable abdominal enlargement among other symptoms. Ovariohysterectomy and chemotherapy poorly effective. Preventable with spaying except in very rare circumstances. UTERINE FIBROSARCOMA: very invasive malignant cancer, more common in other areas besides the uterus. Can be treated if caught early but often it will have already invaded other tissues (metastasize) before diagnosis. Ovariohysterectomy and chemotherapy are possible but mostly ineffective if metastasis has occurred. . Preventable with spaying except in very rare circumstances. UTERINE ENDOMETRIAL ADENOCARCINOMA: A very common uterine tumor, usually occuring in old cats. This tumor will metastasize but will remain inside of the uterine body to make complete removal possible if caught early. This tumor can metastasize to lungs, heart, abdominal organs and the brain. Preventable by spaying. MAMMARY GLAND NEOPLASIA: the third most common type of tumor in female cats comprising as many as 20% of all tumors the queen may have. Can be almost completely prevented by spaying before the first heat as these tumors are highly hormone dependent. Cats spayed after 2.5 years of age have a risk or incident rate 7 times higher than cats spayed before the first cycle. Most tumors occur in cats 9-11 years of age and are found primarily in the breasts closer to the tail. Male SERTOLI CELL TUMOR: usually small and benign but can grow very large as part of a retained testicle. Can produce estrogen, which is the most severe effect of the tumor, causing liver and bone marrow damage. Often curable if caught early or chemotherapy may be needed. In cats with high estrogen levels surgery can be risky. Neutering is preventative. PROSTATIC ADENOCARCINOMA: malignant tumor, seen more often in cats that have not been neutered. This tumor causes enlargement of the prostate gland; prostate gland enlargement will often be quite irregular. Also, this tumor can cause urinary tract blockage, weakness, pain, bleeding from the penis, and weight loss. Spreads to areas inside the pelvis and sometimes other organs. There is no treatment effective towards a cure but neutering may slow growth of the mass. This tumor is rarely seen in castrated males, neutering considered preventative. |
#7
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Are there any proven health risks associated with NOT neutering?
"-Lost" wrote in message
... Are there any proven health risks associated with NOT neutering? I just really want to be informed and cover all bases. All the information I have gathered or articles that I have read thus far do not claim that any particular risk is 100% guaranteed if you do not neuter your cat. The only real problems I have heard that beckon neutering are testosterone and spraying -- that it calms aggression and lessens marking their territory. Am I not reading the right stuff or is there no REAL danger in not neutering? The real danger is that he *will* get out. A queen in heat is detectable a *long* way off and as soon as those hormones start surging he'll be out the door like a shot before you even see him coming. Not being used to outdoors any more, and in his headlong rush to a rendevous, he'll be in danger of traffic, dogs, and all the other assorted dangers of the outdoors that people here will list over and over given half the change (the only reason I'm not is the arthritis in my hands). Even if he isn't killed by his adventure, he'll be adding to the overpopulation of cats the results in thousands of them being euthanized (or dying more horrible deaths outside) daily. Hugs, CatNipped -- -Lost Remove the extra words to reply by e-mail. Don't e-mail me. I am kidding. No I am not. |
#8
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Are there any proven health risks associated with NOT neutering?
Response to Meghan Noecker :
Am I not reading the right stuff or is there no REAL danger in not neutering? Intact males tend to be more agressive and get into fights if not neutered. They will try to escape. If you let them outside, they will end up n more fights, so you can expect more vet expenses associated with those injuries. Makes sense. snip We had an intact male for about 2 years before we neutered him. (1) He was horrible. He attacked the other cats and dogs anytime they tried to get on his person's lap. He sprayed all over the place. Ugh... so it is highly likely that his constant attacks are due to him having his doo-dads. *sigh* snip I think he must have gone into their territory, because he disappeared when he was about 4 years old. We never found him. (1) I think I'm confused. He backed down raccoons WITHOUT his doo- dads? Or this was before he lost 'em, or... ? I think his life would have been a lot different if we had just neutered him. Unfortunately, at that time, my mom was a backyard breeder and wanted to keep him intact. (She did quit after his first litter.) What is a backyard breeder? I'm guessing someone who is not an official breeder? Or something like that? snip If you are planning to breed him snip Ooooh, HECK no! I can hardly stand one -- especially THIS one. Thanks for all the great tips though. That's definitely got me one step closer to the ultimate decision. I want him to be so much better than what he is but I hate that I have to mutilate him to do it. -- -Lost Remove the extra words to reply by e-mail. Don't e-mail me. I am kidding. No I am not. |
#9
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Are there any proven health risks associated with NOT neutering?
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#10
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Are there any proven health risks associated with NOT neutering?
Response to jmc :
Am I not reading the right stuff or is there no REAL danger in not neutering? Ah, NOW you've done it. Long thread, coming up! Hehehe. Well, I DO try and think of good ones. Sometimes I forget to do my homework and sometimes I just don't understand -- so I definitely build up the good ones for you lads/lasses. I think you're looking at it backwards though. What risk is there in getting them neutered, aside from the slight danger inherent in any operation? More than fair point. My only reasoning behind not doing it is I hate to cut things off of animals. I just don't believe anything that cannot communicate their desires should have their freedom manhandled in such a fashion as to lead to their ultimate appendage removal. That is why even after HORRIBLE attacks that Gabby still has his claws. The group let me in on what really happens in a declaw and when I was done crying I explained to the family it simply wasn't an option. Not much, I think, though I've never had a male. But it sounds like an intact male makes a very poor housecat! Right. But it does look like I am going to have to make a choice in this direction. I figured I could handle the spraying and was basically using no health risks as a crutch to not do it. The danger for males seems to be more in how testosterone changes their behavior, than in the health risks (like higher risk of certain cancers, I think). I bet if a survey was done, intact males don't live nearly as long as neutered ones. It seems though that aggression really is a number one reason to neuter... so I don't know... Thanks for the tips, jmc. -- -Lost Remove the extra words to reply by e-mail. Don't e-mail me. I am kidding. No I am not. |
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