Let’s answer two more of Mrs. Kitty’s questions.

Is it true that you should keep a freshly-neutered male indoors for a week because he can still impregnate a female?

As I have mentioned twice in the last week, I would prefer that all cats were kept inside at all times. However, the answer to your question is yes. After the testicles are removed, it takes several days for all of the residual sperm to clear out of the pipes. During this time, a freshly-neutered male cat can still impregnate females.

It can take more than a week for the male’s testosterone levels to drop. During this time he will remain at increased risk of fighting, spraying, and engaging in other undesirable (from our point of view) behaviors.

What is the most common cause of sudden death in visually healthy young (2-5 years old) cats?

In outdoor cats, vehicular trauma is by far the most common cause of sudden death regardless of age.

But I’m guessing that you aren’t talking about the obvious.

In my experience the most common cause of sudden (and unavoidable) death in young cats is heart disease. Cats are prone to a syndrome called cardiomyopathy. This syndrome develops slowly but initially may not cause clinical symptoms. The first symptom of the syndrome may be sudden death.

Go to my website for more information about cardiomyopathy:

http://drbarchas.com/feline_heart_disease

Tomorrow: it’s time to talk about a dog.

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

• What Causes Heart Disease in Young Cats?
• Will Neutering my Cat Reduce his Aggression and Territoriality?
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Hi! A friend of mine brought his recently adopted three-year-old Pitbull King over this weekend. My friend contends King is neutered, yet you can clearly see his testicles. Is it possible he IS neutered? I have two dogs (neutered of course!), if King is not fixed, could this cause problems between all the dogs if he continues to visit? This visit went very well. Thank you!

Melissa
Buffalo, NY

Neutered dogs do not have testicles. A couple of things could be going on with King.

Dogs that are neutered early in life (as I imagine yours were) have their testicles removed when they are very small. The scrotum does not develop in these dogs. However, dogs that are neutered later in life will have fully developed scrotums prior to the surgery. After surgery their scrotums will be intact but devoid of testicles. Connective tissue and tied off blood vessels in the scrotum can sometimes look like testicles from a distance.

It also is possible that King is not neutered. I have known many animals who were declared to be neutered before the testicles descended from the abdomen into the scrotum. Often the people adopting the animal assume, wrongly, that it is neutered because no testicles can be found on the pet at the time of assessment. Here is an example: the other day a client brought a “spayed female” cat to my office for a check up. A glance under the tail revealed that the cat was in fact an intact male!

Since it sounds like King was adopted after the surgery supposedly took place, a vet should take a look at King to assess the situation.

Statistically speaking, intact male are more likely to be involved in inter-dog aggression. However, that does not mean that all intact males have trouble getting along with other dogs–most have no such problems. Testicles certainly are not the only cause of dog fights. I know this because I spend so much time treating female dogs that have been in fights.

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

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I took in a stray male cat, now approx. 7 1/2 mos.
old. He got his 1st shots, worming, fecal exam,
flea treatments. I would like to get him neutered
next week. The problem: He started attacking/now
relentlessly pursuing my three-year-old spayed female.
He has her so frightened, she won’t come out of
my bedroom. This started about 4 weeks ago. Will
neutering resolve this since he was a stray found
along a back road?

Gizzy
Kittanning, PA

Neutering your cat may help with the problem, but it is not guaranteed to solve it.

Cats, like humans, are territorial creatures. Actually, comparing cats’ territoriality to ours isn’t really fair to cats. Humans are much more territorial than cats. Humans often purposefully kill conspecifics (that is to say, other people) who who violate our territory (for instance, prowlers). Cats almost never go that far.

But cats certainly do try to reject other cats if they do not want them in their territory. And, in the case of your male cat, your home is his territory.

Testosterone is a hormone that helps to drive aggression and territoriality in some individuals. Neutering your cat will reduce his testosterone levels. This may help with the problem. Neutering your cat definitely is the first step I would recommend in dealing with this.

If the problem persists after your cat’s testosterone levels have decreased (which can take a few weeks), then I recommend that you implement a behavior modification protocol.

Try to create a core territory for your female cat. The simplest way to do this is to split the house into two sections divided by a door. The male cat will not have access to the female’s section, and vice-versa. Over time, the male may cease to consider the female’s portion of the house as part of his territory, and he may be less likely to harass her in her core territory once you decide to open the door.

I do not recommend squirting water at the male or punishing him when he harasses the female. This may only serve to rile him up, and it could cause him to attack her more aggressively.

Hopefully, over time the two will learn to live in peace.

Photo: Booger defends his territory against a heterospecific.

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

• Can Freshly Neutered Males Still Impregnate Females? And Why do Young Cats Suddenly Perish?
• Are Feeding Tubes Appropriate for Cats Who Don’t Eat?
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Dr. Barchas, is it true that if you neuter a dog
who is already 2 years old, it will not help him
marking inside the house?

Ana
Levittown, PR

If your new dog is not neutered, the surgery may help to reduce unwanted urine marking inside the house.

Neutering or castration involves removal of a the dog’s testicles. In adult dogs, testicles produce a hormone called testosterone. Testosterone helps to drive a number of behaviors in dogs including urine marking, aggression, sexual activity, and the desire to escape into the neighborhood in search of trysts.

If you have your new dog neutered there is a very real chance that his urine marking will stop. Neutering him is a very wise step in dealing with the problem.

However, I should warn you that neutering is not a cure-all. There is a chance that your dog’s previous owners never bothered to house train him properly. Or, he may have a medical condition, such as a urinary tract infection, that is causing him to soil the house.

I recommend that you have a veterinarian evaluate your dog for medical conditions that may be leading to house soiling. If he gets a clean bill of health, neutering him is the next step. If the problem still persists, you will have to implement a behavior modification (training) protocol to properly house train your new pet.

Photo: Freedom Star has no known record of house soiling.

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My female yellow Lab (about 17 months) is in heat
right now (second time). My male yellow Lab
(about seven years) is going nuts and not eating. Is
there any kind of hormone medication or something
to give him?

Jessica
Bozeman MT

I confess that I am hesitant to delve into this matter. It will lead to a discussion on spaying and neutering. The topic of surgical sterilization remains perpetually controversial.

However, Jessica, you have asked a good question. It would be very convenient if there were some sort of hormone, medicine or treatment that could prevent dogs and cats from mating with or responding to the opposite sex.

But there isn’t. Male dogs respond strongly to in-heat female dogs. At the current time there is only one way to prevent this response: surgical sterilization (spaying and neutering).

Intact dogs and cats are incredibly good at organizing trysts when they are in the mood. These encounters almost always lead to pregnancy. If your dog becomes pregnant, it will be your responsibility to find homes for the puppies.

In your situation, surgical sterilization is the only way to prevent an agitated male and a potentially pregnant female.

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

• Can Freshly Neutered Males Still Impregnate Females? And Why do Young Cats Suddenly Perish?
• Can Neutered Dogs Have Testicles?
• Should my Dog’s Stomach be Tacked to Prevent Bloat?
• What are the Side Effects of Steroids During Surgery?
• Why Does my Dog Have Patchy Bald Spots?