The cat population is too large, so good cat owners are obliged to castrate their male cats. Many cat owners do not neuter their cats because they think male cats will not carry babies. However, your cat may mate with female cats around your home and increase the cat population. If you have a male cat, and are still unsure whether he has been neutered or not, here are steps that can help you confirm it.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Doing Your Own Check
Step 1. Position the cat's body
When examining your cat, you should be able to see the buttocks area and observe the pubic area. Turn the cat's bottom toward you. Then, raise the tail so that the pubic area is visible. If the cat struggles, get someone to hold your cat.
- You can stroke the cat's back and say softly so that the cat lifts its tail. This way you don't have to hold the tail and the cat is calmer.
- You should also put on a pair of latex gloves before touching the cat's pubic area. Look for gloves that are thin enough so that your hands can still feel the texture of the cat's body.
Step 2. Brush the cat's fur if necessary
If your cat's fur is very thick, you may need to brush it aside so you can see the cat's pubic area. Open the cat's paws when the fur has been parted to see the cat's penis and anus.
- Do it carefully and don't press too hard. Don't let your cat get hurt.
- If the cat has short hair, this step is not necessary because the cat's penis and anus will be clearly visible.
- If your cat is docile and calm enough, you may be able to stretch your cat. The trick, try to hold the cat's nape and turn his body. This will keep the cat from moving and keep your hand away in case the cat struggles.
Step 3. Examine the cat's testicles
Neutered cats no longer have testicles because they have been removed. Therefore, you can feel this area to check if the cat has been neutered or not. Look for the cat's testicular sac (located under the tail and anus and above the penis). You will find a small pouch and try to feel its contents. If there's a hard ball inside, the cat still has testicles and hasn't been neutered. If the pouch is empty, the cat is most likely neutered. Usually the cat's scrotum also appears to have been shaved.
- If no pouch is visible, the cat may have been neutered for more than a month and the pouch has thinned out.
- If you only find one testicle, the cat has been neutered.
- This method is not 100% reliable. In young cats, the testicles have not descended yet. It is also possible that the cat has cryptorchidism, which is a condition that prevents the testes from descending downwards.
Step 4. Measure the distance between the cat's anus and penis
There are other ways to check if a cat has been neutered. Raise the tail, measure the distance between the cat's anus and penis. If the distance is more than 2.5 cm, the cat is most likely neutered.
If the cat is young, the distance is more than 1 cm
Part 2 of 2: Alternative Check Method
Step 1. Look in the cat care document
If you are buying or adopting a cat for petting, ask for any files that may come with your cat. This file can be in the form of a certificate or letter from a veterinarian stating that the cat has been neutered.
Don't be afraid to ask. If the shop or adoption place you visit doesn't provide the files, ask if the cat you're about to adopt has been neutered or not. This question is natural and is your responsibility as the responsible owner
Step 2. Check the cat's ears
If no information was available when you adopted a cat, or if your pet cat is a stray cat, you can check the cat's interior for tattoos or ear clips. These two signs are given after the cat is neutered.
Having a tattoo on the ear doesn't mean the cat has been neutered. Look for the letter 'M' which means the cat has been microchipped
Step 3. Look at the fur on the cat's underside
When you pick up the cat, look at the fur around the cat's underside. Cats that have been neutered have hair that looks like they have been shaved or is shorter in length than the rest of the fur. This happens because the vet must shave the body part before castration.
This method is also not 100% reliable. So, try to do this method along with other methods
Step 4. Observe if the cat's urine has a strong odor
Male cats that have not been neutered pass urine that smells very strong. If your cat is passing urine that smells like it, it's likely that she hasn't been or has just been neutered.
Step 5. Ask the vet
If you've tried everything and are still unsure, ask your vet for a definitive answer. Veterinarians have ways of examining cats that you can't.
