Fix it and forget about it. You are doing your community and yourself a
favor by neutering/castrating the cat! Yes, the cat will change; although
every animal is different, there are some factors in all cats that change
once it is neutered. Neutering makes for a better pet, removing the hormonal
factors and associated behavior of a sexually active pet. Once neutered,
cats are usually very affectionate and more predictable in their behavior,
although not all the time. Results vary, but some of the prevailing symptoms
of castration are: less prone to wandering, more affectionate, less
aggressive, less territorial, more social with other felines and healthier.
Males will also decrease their desire to spray and mark everything within
their territory, but it wont stop the spraying all the time. For most
owners, keeping a non-castrated cat in the house is not possible. Cut its
balls off and get on with your life. It's just a cat! You can always get
another!

Fix it and forget about it. You are doing your community and yourself a
favor by neutering/castrating the cat! Yes, the cat will change; although
every animal is different, there are some factors in all cats that change
once it is neutered. Neutering makes for a better pet, removing the hormonal
factors and associated behavior of a sexually active pet. Once neutered,
cats are usually very affectionate and more predictable in their behavior,
although not all the time. Results vary, but some of the prevailing symptoms
of castration are: less prone to wandering, more affectionate, less
aggressive, less territorial, more social with other felines and healthier.
Males will also decrease their desire to spray and mark everything within
their territory, but it wont stop the spraying all the time. For most
owners, keeping a non-castrated cat in the house is not possible. Cut its
balls off and get on with your life. It's just a cat! You can always get
another!

Neutering is the right thing to do, no ifs ands or buts. With hundreds of
perfectly good cats and kittens being killed daily around the country, it
is simply irresponsible to bring more kittens into the world.
Neutered male cats are extremely loving and homey, you will not regret this
decision.

neutering is the right decision for you, for the community and for your pet.

For you, because you wont have to put up with spraying, catterwalling, and
the territorial scratching that intact males do.  Also, intact males stink..
its smells like a strong urine smell.

for the community.. cause you wont be making a ton of more cats.  You'd be
amazed how many cats just two intact cats can make in a year.  Around here
all the shelters are busting at the seams with cats and kittens

For your pet, because he wont be fighting to protect his territory or to
mate with those in heat.  He wont roam as much, thus reducing his risk of
being hit by a car or eaten by another animal.  also pets that are left
unaltered have a higher risk of cancer.

Its completely irrisponsible to have an unaltered cat these days.

Thanks to everyone for your sincere replies; I'm grateful that you cared.

I disagree with Iso that "It's just a cat," and "you can always get
another," but I  was getting too sentimental. Getting PJ neutered seemed
like a big step and I do love the little guy.

Well, it's done. I took him at the appointed hour, and the kind nurse fussed
over him and took down the information they didn't already have. They let me
see him once more before I left; he was in the back in a "cat condo" with
other patients who were also getting fixed. His cage door said "CASTRATION."
PJ didn't have a clue...which made all my fears and sympathies worse. Guy
thing, I suppose.

The vet's called me at home very early; they'd changed the surgical schedule
and he was ready to go home. I returned with a doped-up, unresponsive tomcat
who just lay there unmoving for hours, answering me with flicks of his tail.
Gradually, he roused and got a bit to eat. Then he started checking his
places: behind the kitchen wastebasket, on top of the piano, etc. Mostly
he'd wobble a few steps, collapse and stay put. Finally, this evening he
accepted a snack and then grabbed my wrist and mildly chomped my hand.

I'm joyous; PJ's back.