Neutering is a safe procedure which has become commonplace in veterinary practice for over 30 years. The following are some common questions we're asked about neutering.

When can a female cat start reproducing?
Puberty usually occurs at around five to eight months in cats, although it can happen as early as four months depending on the breed of cat. We recommend neutering both male and female cats from an early age. However, it is important to note that the vet responsible for your cat will specify when they are prepared to carry out the neutering operation - usually at around four months of age. Your vet will consider each case on its own merits. Cats Protection’s current policy is to neuter pet cats from four months and ferals from weaning age.

Will the cat get fat?
Neutered cats need less food after surgery, so you will need to reduce their daily food intake after they are neutered. Neutering in itself doesn’t make cats fat.

What aftercare will the cat need?
Your vet will advise you how to care for the cat after surgery. In most cases cats are ready to come home the same day. Most will need to be kept in for a few days after surgery and in some cases they may need to be taken back to the vet’s surgery for stitches to be removed 10 days after surgery.

How can I tell if my kitten is male or female?
To tell if your kitten is male or female, you will need to lift the tail and look at the back end. Both sexes will have two holes but on a female the holes will be fairly close together, whereas on a male there will be a space where the testicles will develop.

What behavioural signs does an unneutered tom display?
Unneutered toms tend to be larger and generally more confident than neutered males. They tend to maintain a large territory area, as they will cover a large area looking for females that are coming into season. Because it is so important for toms to maintain a large territory to reproduce, they are more likely to fight with other cats and leave urine spray marks inside or outside.

The benefits to neutering are massive:

• Financial - Neutered cats cost less to feed and are less likely to get sick or injured, saving you money
• Social - There are too many unwanted cats in the UK, we don’t need more. Neutering also reduces cats’ likelihood to roam, fight, spray and otherwise be a nuisance
• Health-improving - neutered cats are generally healthier.