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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / January 2005Time to remove testes?
Hi, My cats are five and a half months old and I have just felt discrete testes the size of a small pip or a tiny pea inside their sacs. I know some vets won't operate until cats are 7 months old and others are willing to do it as early as 4, however, I am inclined to believe that removing their testes too early does interfere with the whole chain of hormonal reactions, involving a number of seperate organs, and, thereby, the development of further organs and ducts, the diameter of the urinary tract being one example. Can anybody give me authoritative advice on this matter or refer me to an authoritative source online? Thanks. Nell. Now is the right time before they start spraying. Gail > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Nell. I agree with Gail. I know my vet does it at the age of four months. > Now is the right time before they start spraying. > Gail [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > > > Nell. > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > the development of further organs and ducts, the diameter of the urinary > tract being one example. Outdated myth! So is "early age neutering stunts growth". In fact cats neutered early (8-12 weeks) are often *taller* than cats neutered at 6-7 months. The sex hormones affect the distal radial growth plate closure at the ends of the long bones. The earlier the hormones are removed, the longer the bones grow.. There is also no difference in uretheral diameter or pressure between cats neutered early and cats neutered at 6-7 months. Most of the vets who oppose early age neutering haven't done it because of their unfamiliarity with surgery and anesthesia on pediatric cats and dogs. EAN wasn't taught in vet schools until fairly recently although its been performed in cats and dogs for >30 years. Early age neutering is *less* traumatic for cats with virtually no bleeding and quick recovery times. These advantages are even more pronounced in female kittens - who up and playing within minutes and eating within an hour after surgery! > Can anybody give me authoritative advice on this matter or refer me to > an authoritative source online? http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/reports/early-neuter.html Google "early age neutering" and "prepubertal gonadectomy". You'll find volumes of information --- and literally *no* adverse effects - providing the vet follows well established protocols for surgery and anesthesia in pediatric kittens. Phil. "I have found my love of cats most helpful in understanding women' --John Simon Feline Healthcare: http://maxshouse.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Feline_Health_and_Behavior/ > Outdated myth! So is "early age neutering stunts growth". In fact cats > neutered early (8-12 weeks) are often *taller* than cats neutered at 6-7 > months. The sex hormones affect the distal radial growth plate closure at > the ends of the long bones. The earlier the hormones are removed, the longer > the bones grow.. Oooh, that jibes with what I learned about Castrati in that Ann Rice novel. (Okay, yes, that's a pretty pathetic "factual reference," but she does seem to do a lot of research for her historical novels.) According to her book, castrati were unusually tall, with long arms and legs, for the same reason. Makes sense. I wonder if this is also the case in females. Different hormones, though I know females produce some amount of testosterone too ... interesting subject!  Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/reports/early-neuter.html Thanks, Phil, for your advice, and especially for the reference above. Very helpful. I think I'll have their "pips" out this week. Nell. > > http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/reports/early-neuter.html > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Nell. Smart play, Nell. The Humane Society of the United States, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Cat Fanciers Association, and many other animal welfare organizations all agree with your decision. Long time myths and mis- and outdated information are very difficult to dispell. Its difficult to make a decision based on facts when its hard to tell which are the facts and which are myths and misinformation. I did a lot of research and actually watched several early age neuters before I voted to approve the policy for my shelter. After witnessing the ease and speed of the procedures and the kittens' rapid seemingly painless recovery, and lack of any documented adverse effects, I voted a resounding "Yes". EAN is especially beneficial for young females because they have much less abdominal fat and muscle. This results in much less tissue trauma, quicker healing and much better visualization of the organs. In males, the procedure is so quick and simple that sutures aren't required or even necessary! Also, you'll reduce the chances of him spraying later in life if he's neutered before his instinct to spay kicks in. Once a cat develops a spraying behavior its very difficult to resolve. Rest assured that you're doing the best thing and the right thing for your cat (and you). Best of luck, Phil. "A kitten, in the animal kingdom, is like a rosebud in a garden" Feline Healthcare: http://maxshouse.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Feline_Health_and_Behavior/ > > I think I'll have their "pips" out this week. > Smart play, Nell. Thanks, Phil. Rang the vet this afternoon. Was told to give them no food or drink after 7pm this Wednesday, they go in for their ops the next morning (Thursday) at 9am, and I can pick them up in the afternoon. Does this sound right? How much? US$40 each! You might find the following interesting. In 1991 I returned to Kuwait following the Gulf War. Arab countries are full of stray cats. GENERALLY, Muslims do not care for cats. GENERALLY they are treated like vermin. Hence, Kuwait and Saudi (where I have also lived) are teeming with terrified and diseased strays, that spend their lives in the vicinity of outdoor rubbish bins. Along come Yanks and Brits, like us, and we feel sorry for them, rig up boxes (you know, like you did as a kid, with a stick underneath and you on the end of a string!) and catch them. You took back to the Gulf all sorts of medicines everytime you returned to the West on holiday, to stamp out their diseases, get them into condition, but how to neuter them? In 1991, in Kuwait, there were NO vets dealing with domestic animals. Punchline: what did we do? Those of us working at the university, or in medical capacities, filched anaesthetic, and we did the job ourselves on the kitchen table! It was slightly stressful because of all the cloak and dagger business involved, but it didn't cost US$40 per cat, I can tell you! Now, thankfully, there ARE several vets in Kuwait dealing with domestic animals (Philoppini generally), though, still, in the waiting room, owners of cats are Westerners, and owners of dogs and birds are Kuwaiti. Thanks again. Nell. > Rang the vet this afternoon. Was told to give them no food or drink > after 7pm this Wednesday, they go in for their ops the next morning > (Thursday) at 9am, and I can pick them up in the afternoon. Does this > sound right? Yup. Francis is going in Friday morning at 7:30, and is to be NPO since 8:00 PM the previous evening (which will be tough, since he's used to snacks on demand). I'll pick him up around 6:00 PM on Friday evening to bring him home. > How much? US$40 each! Cheap. The assistant at my vet's office quoted me $150 when I asked, but I think she might have been looking up "spay" rather than "castrate." Priscilla Signature"It is very, very dangerous to treat any human, lowest of the low even, with contempt and arrogant whatever. The Lord takes this kind of treatment very, very personal." - QBaal in newsgroup alt.religion.christian.episcopal |
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