A step towards an adorable Tomcat

If you have a male cat and do not wish to breed him, get him neutered to keep him safe and healthy.
Tomcats…vulnerable to fights
Many intact Tomcats come to the Blue Cross Shelter with severe bite wounds that result from fights with other male cats. These wounds, frequently, develop into abscesses and become infested with maggots. These wounds can also become infested with viral diseases that prove fatal to the cat, without proper and timely veterinary care.
Puberty issues…
Tomcats attain puberty at 6-8 months and develop some undesirable changes in their behaviour. They become territorial in nature and start to mark their territory by spraying urine indoors as well as outdoors. The urine has a strong odour which is difficult to remove. The cat will start enlarging his territory and this would often result in fights with other male cats. An un-neutered male cat will also start roaming to look for female cats in heat. It is believed that a male cat can detect and follow the scent of a female cat for seven miles!
A roaming male cat can get into fights with other male cats and also the chances of the cat getting lost are high.
A solution…
You can protect your feline friend from attacks by other male cats by neutering him. Neutering is necessary if you want your Tomcat to grow into a healthy and an adorable adult. Neutering male cats also cuts out the risk of testicular cancer and decreases the incidence of prostate and anal tumours.
Shun the myths…
Neutering does not alter the basic personality of your cat. He doesn’t suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered. On the other hand, he will become more loving and contented.
(Sudhersena is volunteer at the Blue Cross since 1998 and an avid animal lover, owns nine cats and three dogs. She is associated with a number of animal welfare campaigns and programmes. For further information, contact: Blue Cross of India, 72 Velachery Road, Chennai –32 or e-mail at bci@bluecross.org.in )