Myths about neutering cats
We do not have to argue at length about the general benefits of neutering. Whether it is the prevention of the breeding of stray or unwanted kittens, health or behavioural benefits, neutering is always beneficial. Even so, there are people who claim otherwise. This opinion is usually based on a lack of relevant information or is burdened by one of the many myths that fundamentally complicate education. In this series, we will present the most common myths that we encounter on a daily basis and that are deeply rooted in our society despite the current information age. Few activist issues are shrouded in as many myths, half-truths and untruths as cat neutering. Most of these legends originate from the original place of occurrence, i.e. villages. But that does not mean that urban areas are exempt from this scourge. On the contrary, a lot of these preconceived notions are accepted even in cities, and the reason is that one prefers to rationalize one's own uninformed and tendentious habits. The origin of these myths stems from the classic ignorance not only of the issue of arbitrary reproduction within the village homesteads, but above all from the understanding of the animal as an object or a means of self-benefit (catching mice, the presence of a companion). Such an approach does not really allow for an effort to understand the animal and provide it with the necessary care. And so, from generation to generation, a complex of these outdated views has been passed on, which are so firmly entrenched in our society that even the most advanced age, full of revolutionary knowledge, is unable to effectively reverse this paradigm. In the following articles, we will go through at least the most traditional and entertaining myths about cats and neuters, which we will directly supplement with relevant information from long-term practice.
Myth 1: Neutering is against nature. In order to be fair, we should find a consensus on what is in the interest of nature and what is on the contrary so-called """"against nature"""". If we use this argument, we should understand the broader context in the sense that most human activity is against nature, even if it is simply coexisting without any major burden on the planet. Human activity will always have an indelible impact on the environment and nature, so it is a paradox to mention castration when humanity commits far worse acts on a daily basis, which are of course legitimised by systemic and societal interests. If we agree that neutering is in some way against nature, we should also be able to evaluate the so-called 'least evil', because if we put the prevention of neutering in one bowl and the killing of kittens or the disposal of animals in another bowl, then neutering still comes out as the most gentle, humane and economical solution. Neutering is first and foremost a reduction in man-made suffering.
Myth 2: A cat should have kittens at least once in its lifetime. This myth sounds like some horrible gender cliché full of reproductive predestination. There is no logical justification for thinking such a thing either, and this motivation probably stems from a tendency to humanize animals and assign them human characteristics or conscious needs. Although cats are defacto machines programmed by nature to reproduce, there is no reason why a cat should have to have (indeed there is no health or other benefit) kittens, even once. Just go at it mathematically. One litter will produce 1-12 kittens, which, assuming they grow into adult cats, should each have at least one litter of 1-12 kittens according to this myth. This approach would defacto legitimize unwarranted breeding, and anyone can easily calculate how many animals would be subjected to unnecessary suffering in the form of hardship, inadequate or no care, and further endless breeding over a year or more. The rhetorical question remains, what good is at least one litter to a cat (human) when often most or all of the kittens are killed or otherwise disposed of (both are criminal offenses)? Humans are responsible for their animals and if they allow their cats to breed, they should take care of them and their offspring.
Myth 3: If you neuter, do so after the first heat or at one year of age. This myth is probably one of the most common, or at least the most commonly passed on and adopted. This is due to the fragmented professional community, which is practically divided into two parts - veterinarians who are lifelong learners and are able to reflect new findings in veterinary medicine, and veterinarians who hold a certain opinion that they are not willing to change. In other words: for a long time it was taught in schools that a cat must be sexually and/or constitutionally mature to be neutered. Under the weight of this information, the myth still abounds among people today, and is accepted by some breeders and all those who trust the vet implicitly as an unwavering authority. The opposite of neutering after the first estrus is the so-called early neutering, which can be done depending on weight as early as between 3-4 months of age, which many people call cruelty, while subjecting the cat and kittens to further suffering does not seem to be cruelty, as it is an established practice. But the fact remains that there is no study that has been able to prove the """"defectiveness"""" of neutering at an early age, and the health benefits are also not negligible - see better reaction of the young organism to the procedure, avoidance of hormonal changes and strain on the organism during estrus, etc. And while many domestic doctors stick to the old teaching formulas, everywhere in the world early castrations are performed quite routinely and without any outraged public opinion. Eventually though, if you are a good talker, you can try to persuade the vet to neuter the animal earlier because of fears of early or hidden estrus, which is not infrequently the case with a five-month-old animal, so that in practice a 6-7 month-old kitten may already have a litter of its own.
Myth 4: Neutering has an adverse effect on the physical development of the cat. This statement is most often based on the alleged impact on the constitution of the body or on the development of the urethra, so again we are in conflict with early neutering. As far as stature is concerned, we have confirmed from our own experience that early neutered cats are, on the contrary, larger and sturdier, with a better quality coat. This is logical, because a cat that does not have to put energy and nutrition into the reproductive process reliably saves it for its own growth, bone and coat nutrition. Of course, the rhetorical question of why someone who is indifferent to cats would address their growth is offered, but it is such a commonplace that paradoxical arguments are used in the discussion. As far as urethral development is concerned, this argument is again resorted to by vets who have a problem with early neutering. They argue that an early neutered animal has an underdeveloped urethra, so that it suffers from urinary stones etc. But exactly the opposite is true, a cat that has urinary stones never has them because of a narrow tube, so the primary reason for the stones needs to be addressed here, not referring to unrelated neutering. However, a very real reason has come to us from many sources as to why vets don't want to neuter small animals, and it's because it means more work with a smaller tract than an adult cat.
Myth 5: Neutering does not apply to cats. It normally takes two to reproduce, a cat is not self-pollinating, so it takes both cats and kittens to produce offspring. However, while a cat will only gestate once during heat, a skilled alpha male cat will manage several successful couplings on the same night. An unneutered cat is likely to roam, fight, mark territory and, when in contact with other cats, may carry a number of often fatal feline diseases.
Myth 6: A neutered cat will become lazy and stop hunting mice. The cat is a natural predator in body and soul and hunts anything that moves, and it's far from just mice. Cats hunt for two reasons, either as a source of food, but more often for fun. The idea that a cat would lose interest in both food and entertainment seems highly unlikely, so again it seems like a tendentious excuse for its own irresponsibility. On the contrary, we can say with near certainty that a neutered cat will reduce its range of movement in the field, so that it is more likely to hunt in the vicinity rather than on the other side of the village where it may be exposed to further danger. The excuse for not hunting mice, more than anything else, points to the opportunistic relationship of man to cat, where this argument reveals the fact that a cat that does not catch mice becomes useless to man.
Myth 7: Cat behaviour changes after neutering. This is not a myth, but a welcome fact. And it is also one of the reasons why neutering is also done, especially for cats. They have specific behaviours, not only in heat, such as marking the """"territory"""" (which can also mean your living room in the case of indoor cats or marking the outside of your house in the case of outdoor cats) or fighting in courtship. Neither manifestation is anything to write home about, so one can be grateful for these secondary behavioral changes rather than using them as a neutering counterargument. An unneutered cat is capable of walking up to 15km in a single night, during which time it faces many pitfalls and dangers, whereas a neutered cat stays at home and moves primarily in """"its"""" territory.
Myth 8: All multiplying kittens are rehomed. Some countries are so progressive that they require neutering of all cats that are not destined for pet breeding, subject to the breeding regulations of the respective organisations. Even in our own circles, anyone who allows a cat to breed unconceptually is seen as a common breeder, even though they may not directly meet the definition of a breeder. Most people commit such breeding because of irresponsibility, ignorance and the viability of these myths that legitimise cat breeding as something quite normal or even cute. The truth is that every kitten so ""produced"" takes the place of another abandoned cat from the street or shelter. All those who knowingly or unknowingly breed are partly responsible for the dismal situation on the streets, in shelters and in temporary homes. Last but not least, such irresponsible people put mostly unneutered animals out of their hands, which contribute to a vicious cycle with their reproductive cycle and newly added, unwanted kittens.
Myth 9: Neutering is expensive. So are some cars. When arguing that neutering is expensive, it would be helpful to define what one considers expensive and then put it in the context of what one normally spends money on. How much does a new mobile phone cost or how much do you invest in cigarettes per month In this context, the cost of neutering does not seem so expensive after all. Plus, there is no need to get spayed or neutered at the most expensive vet around. Just like when you are choosing a product or service, you do your research on prices. Some neuters can be many times more expensive than others, but you can't find out without asking. Our goal is to arrange as many veterinary clinics as possible at the most affordable prices for anyone interested in this procedure.
Myth 10: Neutering is not necessary, contraception is sufficient. Did you know that after using contraception in cats, side effects such as uterine inflammation, cysts, mastitis or tumours could occur in some cases. Consider whether a one-off investment in neutering is more beneficial in many ways.
Myth 11: Municipalities do not address neutering or education because they have responsible citizens who do not breed, kill kittens or dispose of animals. If that were the case, shelters wouldn't be bursting at the seams, there would be no need for spay/neuter programs, and we certainly wouldn't need to write articles like this. It would be useful if every municipality could get involved in educating its own citizens as soon as possible and offer them solutions that will lead to an improvement in the general awareness of the problem and also to an improvement in the responsibility of citizens.
Luboš Kristek