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<\/p>\nWhen you have a male kitten, you must make the important decision about whether to get him neutered. It can be helpful to know the differences between neutered and unneutered males. There are significant behavioral differences, as well as medical reasons, that may convince you to get your cat neutered.<\/p>\n
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How physically different a neutered male is from an unneutered male depends on the age at which he is neutered. Other than the lack of testicles in a neutered cat, cats that are neutered before reaching sexual maturity<\/a> won\u2019t develop hormone-related physical changes. Males neutered before turning 6 months old have small heads and overall stature and don\u2019t develop smelly tail glands and penile barbs. They tend to be less muscular than their unneutered counterparts.<\/p>\n Males that are neutered after 12 months of age or that have reached sexual maturity will retain a few of the physical traits of an unneutered male cat, but they will lose most of them over time. Intact males have strong-smelling urine and large scent glands near their tails. Neutered cats also tend to be cleaner than unneutered cats overall.<\/p>\n Male cat behavior differs significantly between neutered and unneutered males. Neutered males stay close to home. While a small percentage will spray and mark their territory, the behavior is much less common in neutered males. Most will stop the behavior once testosterone is removed from their system, if they develop the behavior at all.<\/p>\n Neutered male cats aren\u2019t as aggressive toward other male cats, but fights can still happen, particularly if you have a male neutered in adulthood. As they spend less time fighting, they are less prone to infections and infectious diseases.<\/p>\n Neutered males have no sexual interest in females and thus get along with them. Neutered males are also similar to female cats in their grooming behavior. As they don\u2019t feel the need to spend their time finding a mate, they groom frequently and keep their coats clean. Since they don\u2019t develop smelly anal glands, they are more pleasant to share a home with.<\/p>\n The most obvious physical sign that a male cat is unneutered is the appearance of testicles. These are located under the tail. In some cases, male cats are cryptorchid<\/a>, meaning their testicles remain inside the abdomen and are not visible from the outside. This is rare, but it does not impact the cat’s behavior. Cryptorchid cats should be neutered to avoid the higher risk of testicular tumors.<\/p>\n Whether a tomcat\u2019s testicles are out or in, they produce testosterone. The presence of this hormone dictates the physical differences between neutered and unneutered cats. Tomcats are generally larger and more muscular, with thick heads and necks. They also produce a distinctive smell from the large glands near their tail.<\/p>\n These scent glands give tomcat urine a strong, unpleasant odor. Since unneutered cats mark their territory frequently, you will become familiar with the smell if you own an unneutered male.<\/p>\n Tomcats are incredibly territorial and mark their territory constantly. Unfortunately, they do this through urine spraying.\u00a0In addition to territorial behavior, tomcats have strong urges to roam in search of a mate. The \u201chome range\u201d of an outdoor tomcat is enormous, and they sometimes wander for miles in search of a female.<\/p>\n If they can\u2019t wander because they\u2019re kept indoors, they can become vocal and restless.\u00a0Tomcats display extreme aggression toward each other. If you\u2019ve never experienced a catfight, it\u2019s essential to know that they are vicious, and injuries are common.<\/p>\n Since their primary goal is to find a female, tomcats are more unkempt than other cats. They pay less attention to grooming and are dirtier than their neutered counterparts.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s go over the pros and cons of having the procedure done.<\/p>\n The biggest reason not to neuter your cat is that you plan to breed him. If you plan to do so, it\u2019s essential to breed responsibly so you don\u2019t contribute to the already high population levels of homeless cats. You must keep your tomcat confined and prevent him from roaming when you don\u2019t intend to breed.<\/p>\n Some people have concerns about the neuter surgery<\/a> and choose not to have it done. However, the surgery is considered a safe, routine procedure. It\u2019s important to discuss your concerns with your veterinarian and get answers to any questions you may have.<\/p>\n Having your cat neutered reduces his risk of developing prostate and testicular cancer. He will also be at less risk of getting injured and contracting an infectious disease because he\u2019s less likely to roam or get into fights.<\/p>\n Generally, male cats left unaltered are more likely to be hit by a car, attacked by a predator, or exposed to dangerous viruses like feline leukemia<\/a>.\u00a0 Neutered male cats generally live 5 years longer than unneutered males.<\/p>\n Neutered males tend to be more pleasant to have around than unneutered ones. Their urine doesn\u2019t smell as bad, they\u2019re unlikely to spray, and they are content to live indoors without becoming noisy and restless.\u00a0Neutered males smell better and keep themselves cleaner. They are also more likely to get along with other cats, whereas neutered males either fight with other males or stalk females to breed.<\/p>\n If a neutered male cat gets outside by accident, he usually stays close to home. If he wanders a bit, he will come back sooner, and he won\u2019t create unwanted litters of kittens around the neighborhood.\u00a0For the purposes of keeping a pet cat, a neutered male makes a better companion.<\/p>\n A common myth surrounding neutered male cats is that they become fat and lazy. This is not true. While they may be lazier than unneutered males because they aren\u2019t roaming the countryside in search of a mate, they are just as active as any other cat.<\/p>\n As long as you feed your neutered cat appropriately<\/a> and give him an adequate amount of exercise and mental stimulation, he will not be fat and lazy. As an owner, it is your job to ensure that your pet\u2019s needs are met. Weight is a product of calorie intake and energy output. If these factors are balanced appropriately, you shouldn\u2019t be concerned about your cat becoming overweight.<\/p>\nBehavioral Differences<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Male](\"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Male-marble-cat-lying-in-cat-bed_Iva-Vagnerova_Shutterstock.jpg\")
The Physical Appearance of Neutered Males:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Behavioral Characteristics of Neutered Males:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nOverview of Unneutered Male Cats<\/h2>\n
Physical Differences<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Behavioral Differences<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Physical Appearance of Unneutered Males:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Behavioral Characteristics of Unneutered Males:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nShould Male Cats Be Neutered?<\/h2>\n
When Not to Neuter Your Male Cat<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Medical Reasons to Neuter Your Cat<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Practical Reasons to Neuter Your Cat<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Debunking Myths About Neutered Male Cats<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nQuick Comparison of Neutered vs. Unneutered Male Cats<\/h2>\n
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