what is neutered cat

A neutered cat is a male cat that has undergone a surgical procedure called neutering or castration, which involves the removal of the testicles under general anesthesia through a small incision into the scrotum. Neutering is the most common method for animal sterilization, and it is usually performed to prevent the births of unwanted litters, which contribute to the overpopulation of unwanted animals in the rescue system. Neutering can also alter behavior, making cats less aggressive and decreasing the likelihood of cat bite abscesses or contracting Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV, or cat “AIDS”) from cat fights. Neutering can reduce the risk of health problems like testicular cancer. Neutered cats do not roam as frequently as their intact counterparts, which reduces the risk of injury from cars, wild animals, and toxins. Neutering increases life expectancy in cats: one study found castrated male cats live twice as long as intact males, while spayed female cats live 62% longer than unspayed females.