Early castration and sterilization of cats

It may seem that interest in early castration of cats has arisen quite recently, but in North America this has been done for more than 25 years. Early castration is understood as castration at the age of 8-16 weeks, instead of the usual 5-7 months.

This is especially true of pets from shelters, which are castrated before being transferred to new owners. Surgical castration is generally considered to be the most effective method of birth control of dogs and cats. Studies have shown that despite financial encouragement, animals taken from shelters have at least one litter before castration in a new home. Although before the transfer of animals from the shelter, new owners are checked, they are paid for the castration of an animal taken into the house, or a discount is made for such an operation, and the castration condition is prescribed in the contract and controlled by the staff of shelters, despite all this, owners who agree with the idea of castration are often less than half. As a result, more than 1/3 of cats and dogs entering shelters are the result of unwanted mating.

In 1993, the American Veterinary Medical Academy recommended early (at the age of 8-16 weeks) castration/sterilization of dogs and cats in order to control the number of their populations. Since 1993, the American Association of Veterinary Clinics and the American College for the Study of Animal Reproduction have also approved the provision on early castration.

The study of the issue

Surprisingly, such a not new and widespread operation as pet castration has been very little studied. There is practically no scientific data regarding the optimal age of castration of cats or dogs. Agricultural or laboratory animals are usually subjected to early castration. The most obvious reason for the castration of cats and dogs at the age of 5-7 months is the convenience of the operation (the organs of the reproductive system are large enough, the body is full of strength) and, as a rule, there are no complications after surgery. Questions of the safety of surgery and anesthesia for young animals are also open, both because of the little-studied characteristics of the body of young kittens and puppies, and the impact on them of various methods and types of anesthesia. Another cause for concern is the possible undesirable consequences of early castration, which can manifest in adult animals: small size, obesity, changes in behavior and diseases of the genitourinary system.

A common misconception that early castration increases the predisposition of cats to urethral obstruction or diseases of the lower genitourinary system is based on incorrect and outdated studies (Engle, 1977). Studies conducted over the past 10 years have shown the baselessness of this kind of misconceptions. It is quite clear that diseases of the lower genitourinary system are not associated with early castration, but depend on a number of factors, including nutrition. Obesity also depends on many reasons: diet, physical activity, breed characteristics, status status of the animal. Studies (Root, Johnston, Olson, 1996) conducted among non-neutered animals and animals neutered at an early and normal age have shown that castrates need fewer calories, and obesity may be associated with overeating. Neutered cats, regardless of age, need calories 28% less than non-neutered cats, and neutered cats - 33% less than non-neutered cats. The physical development of cats is androgenically dependent. Therefore, a decrease in muscle mass will occur regardless of when the cats are neutered.

At the University of Florida (Stubbs and others, 1996), studies were conducted on the growth characteristics of the skeleton of cats of three groups: not neutered, neutered at 7 weeks and at 7 months. The ends of the radial bones usually close at the joints (stop growing) after puberty, at the age of 14-20 months. It is assumed that sex steroids are necessary for the proper development of cartilage tissue. A delay in the closure of the growth zones of the radial bones was observed in castrates of both groups. However, the difference in the length of the radius /ulna bones in cats of all three groups was insignificant and fit into the framework of individual characteristics of the organism.

According to other studies on the growth of radial bones in early neutered animals conducted at the University of Minnesota (Root and others, 1997), the length of radial bones in cats neutered at 7 weeks and 7 months is longer compared to non-neutered. Therefore, castration at the age of up to 7 months will delay the time of closure of the radial bones. Thus, instead of causing a suspension in growth, early castration can lead to both normal growth and an increase in the size of the growing organism. It is possible that the delayed closing time of growing bones may lead to an increased risk of fractures, but to date no such studies have been conducted.

The University of Florida conducted research on urethral pressure in neutered cats. There was no negative effect of early castration on urethral functions. The diameter of the urethra was almost the same, and the penis could completely come out in cats of all three groups. The external genitalia of neutered cats and cats, regardless of age, remained underdeveloped compared to non-neutered animals. According to the results of other work conducted at the University of Minnesota and devoted to early castration (Root, Johnston, Johnston, Olson, 1996), it was also found that there is no significant difference in the diameter of the urethra (to the prostate and in the penis) in cats of all three groups. It also turned out that in non-neutered cats by 22 months, the penis could completely come out, in castrated cats at 7 months, this was observed only in 60% of cats, and the penis could not completely come out in cats neutered at the age of 7 weeks. The prepuce fold is an androgenically dependent membrane in its development that binds the mucosa of the prepuce and the penis. The long-term consequences of incomplete penis exit in cats have not been studied. Behavioral characteristics were similar in both groups of castrates. Non-neutered cats showed less attachment to humans and greater interspecific aggressiveness. The castrati did not show indifference to cats or cats. The muscle and fat mass of castrates of both groups was similar and was higher than that of non-castrated animals. Howe and others (2000) observed 263 neutered cats from shelters for 37 months. Cats were divided into two groups – neutered at the age of 24 weeks and after. Telephone surveys of new owners were conducted, medical cards were taken into account. It turned out that the cats who underwent early castration were not sick more often and adapted to the new home in the same way as the others.

Today, early castration is more practiced in animal shelters than in conventional veterinary practice. Basically, breeders, and not ordinary pet owners, turn to veterinarians about early castration. Many breeders now prefer to sell already neutered kittens.

According to the latest information received from breeders, about 70% of them believe that the possibility of early castration is very important for them (Little S, unpublished data, 2000). It has also become possible to carry out early castration of kittens simultaneously with surgical intervention for medical reasons (for example, hernia removal).

Conditions for early castration and sterilization of cats that increase the safety and effectiveness of anesthesia and proper surgical intervention (Susan Little, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Canada):

1. The kitten must undergo a full medical examination, be vaccinated and dewormed a few days before the operation; castration should be postponed if developmental abnormalities are detected, for example, a cryptorchid cat.
2. All doses of medicines should be calculated exactly according to the weight of the kitten (up to one hundred grams of live weight).
3. In order to avoid hypoglycemia, the kitten is not fed 3-4 hours before surgery, and then given a little food after an hour after coming out of anesthesia.
4. Keeping a kitten together with littermates before surgery in a warm, calm environment, with minimal handling, reduces the likelihood of complications after surgery and stress levels; the use of intramuscular injections is preferable than intravenous for the same reasons.
5. Drinking 50% glucose solution to kittens who have been out of anesthesia for a long time or do not eat on their own after leaving it.
6. In order to avoid hypothermia during the preparation and conduct of the operation, the kitten should not be kept on a cold surface (preferably on a heating pad); the minimum necessary area of the skin should be shaved; alcohol-containing disinfectants should be avoided or heated solutions should be used; the temperature should be measured rectally at the end of the operation; after castration, the kitten should be kept in a warm place - on a heating pad or under a lamp (however, thermal burns should be avoided).

The ideal age for castration is 8-16 weeks. The question of castration before puberty has been acute for many years. Thanks to this, a lot of scientific research, independent studies and some unconfirmed data have accumulated. The Animal Welfare Society of Medford, Oregon has finally decided to sterilize/castrate all its animals before they are attached to families. Why?

A source: https://www.oldbluzcoon.com