Castration is an operation in which both testicles are removed. The operation is not difficult and the cat can go home the same day.
Castration does not change a male cat's personality except to tone him down and reduce or eliminate his sexual impulses and the aggressive behavior that accompanies them. His hunting instincts are not affected. He often becomes more affectionate and more oriented to the company of people.
A neutered male is much less likely to wander and become involved in cat fights. In most cases spraying, with its accompanying unpleasant smell of male cat urine is eliminated.Most veterinartians believe that the best time to castrate a male is when he is six to seven months old, at which time he is sufficiently mature so that his growth and bone structure are not adversely affected, but sexual behavior, if present at all, has not become ingrained.
If a male is castrated before six months, or specifically before his secondary sexual traits appear, his penis could remain small. This might predispose to urethral obstruction.
When an older male is castrated, and expecially if he has mated, his sex drive may remain unchanged, but this is not common.
