Yes, male cats often change after being neutered, typically becoming calmer, less aggressive, and less prone to roaming or spraying due to reduced testosterone, though their core personality usually remains, and some habits (like marking from stress) might persist until hormones fully leave their system (1-2 months). While they may become more affectionate, their playfulness and activity levels generally stay the same, but you might need to manage appetite to prevent weight gain.
Neutering does tend to calm a cat down, but he'll still have baby energy. You'll need to play with him a lot, but really your other cats are adults and they'll teach him how to play nice in their own way. It's hard to say how he'll be as an adult, cats are individuals.
Male cats who are neutered are less likely to fight and defend their territories. Diseases are less likely to be spread, and fewer injuries will happen because they aren't fighting, which leads to much happier and healthier male cats.
Will a neutered cat still try to mate? In some instances, yes, a neutered cat will still retain sexual urges and try to mate. If a male cat is neutered later in life, he'll still have testosterone in his system that can induce sexual activity. It may take weeks or several months for the testosterone to leave the body.
Neutered cats are more 'homebodies' and may eat much more, in addition to having a slightly reduced metabolic rate. This means that, combined with less energy expenditure from no longer roaming and looking for mates, some cats may put on weight.
In summary, for most healthy cats, the optimal age for neutering falls between 8 weeks and 6 months, with 5-6 months being a very common and effective sweet spot. This timing leverages the benefits of early development for surgery while preventing undesirable behaviors and safeguarding against serious health issues.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), spaying female cats before their first heat cycle can reduce the risk of mammary cancer by 91%, while neutering male dogs prevents testicular cancer altogether.
After neutering, male cats will experience certain behavioral changes, including reduced aggression, roaming, and spraying, as well as better litter box habits and increased affection.
For neuter procedures, it typically takes your cat 5 -7 days to recover. It's important to monitor for any of the signs above and contact your vet if you notice any lingering or worsening symptoms. While they are healing, do not let your cat run, jump, or play with other animals.
My vet clinic likes to neuter kittens around 5-6 months old. Neutering too young can make a small cat-testosterone helps growth, after all. And that can cause issues later on in life, esp since male cats can get urinary stones and block.
But as far as mellowing out, they usually do around 10 months. At least that's what the vet told me with my boy cat, who was insane when he was a kitten and has mellowed out a lot with age. They're both adorable. Sometimes you have to schedule play times.
When choosing an owner, it will rely on its instincts to choose the right one. The primary way of doing this is through vibrational matching. It works the same way as we like to spend time with people who are on the same vibrational level as us. It is the same between us and our pets.
Occasionally after surgery, cats and kittens can have an adverse behavioral reaction to anesthesia. Behaviors you may see include, but are not limited to: hissing, growling, and swatting and may be towards people or other animals including their family members.
An e-collar (or cone) is highly recommended to prevent your pet from licking or chewing at the surgery site and must remain on 24 hours a day for 7-10 days. Excessive licking or chewing can lead to complications such as infection or even additional surgery to repair any damage.
After your cat has a neuter procedure, it usually takes about 5-7 days for them to recover. During this time, you should keep an eye out for any signs of trouble and contact your vet if you notice any lingering or worsening symptoms.
Even after this time, your cat can still get sexually aroused and get an erection, but it will be less frequent and won't last for as long. Cat erections are caused by sexual stimulation. They're most common in entire male cats but it's not uncommon for neutered cats to get aroused.
Do not allow your pet to lick, scratch, or chew the incision. If this occurs, an Elizabethan collar (E-collar) must be used to help prevent potentially serious post-operative complications. Male dogs and cats can still impregnate an unsterilized female up to one month after surgery. Please keep a close eye on your pet.
The Neutering Procedure
There are a lot of nerves, so there can be a lot of pain associated, and cats and dogs usually don't show their pain very well. But just like in humans who have been spayed or have had vasectomies, it is a painful procedure.
Some of the signs that your cat is masturbating, or has the intention to include:
You can spay or neuter your cat at any age, but we recommend the procedure when your kitten is anywhere from 12 weeks to 6 months old. Kittens typically recover quickly, and usually get back to romping with a minimum of fuss.
Other than reducing sexual behaviors, spaying or neutering your cat is unlikely to change the cat's basic personality, though male cats might become more docile following neutering. Cats' playfulness and general levels of activity, excitement, and vocalization do not typically change following spay/neuter surgery.
Neutering a male dog involves complete removal of a dog's testicles under general anaesthetic. This is also known as castration. It is not a vasectomy. It does not stop him from being bouncy or change his basic personality.
Corporate vet chains have said there are a variety of reasons why vet costs have increased – including advances in treatments, rising running costs and demands from pet owners for higher standards.
Dogs spayed or neutered can have LH levels up to 30 times higher than normal. Elevated LH may affect the thyroid, urinary tract, immune system, and even cancer development.