I love this guy.
If it’s an unnecessary surgery, why get it?
If I was a cat, I wouldn’t want someone to cut off my balls.
He is two years old, I live in an apartment on a high floor.
When I research or ask why to get him neutered, the reason is spraying, or seeing a female cat.
Those don’t/won’t happen.
My roommate says it will calm him down as he loves to play at all times of day, and he humps a stuffed toy.
Please explain why I need to get it.
Brief Answer:
Your reasoning for avoiding neutering is based on the highly visible, yet not exclusive, behavioral symptoms of an unneutered male cat – spraying and roaming.
However, neutering an intact male cat, even one who lives exclusively indoors and has not yet sprayed, is essential for profound health and long-term behavioral reasons that extend far beyond simply stopping marking.
Medically, leaving him intact places him at direct risk for testicular cancer and various perianal diseases which are costly and life-threatening.
Behaviorally, the testosterone coursing through his system drives the high-intensity, constant play and the humping behavior, which is a stress-driven outlet that will likely intensify and potentially escalate into redirected aggression or territorial spraying later, despite his current indoor status.
Neutering him now will calm the hormonal drives, stabilize his temperament, and prevent serious medical issues, providing a healthier and more relaxed life, which is a necessary surgery, not an unnecessary one.
Detailed Answer:
I understand your empathy and reluctance regarding what feels like an unnecessary surgery.
However, as an expert in feline health and behavior, I must emphasize that neutering is not optional for indoor male cats; it is a critical, proactive component of feline wellness that provides both significant medical and behavioral advantages, even if he is currently spray-free.
Medically, the most compelling reason to neuter him immediately is health.
An intact male cat carries a lifelong risk of developing serious, costly, and painful conditions.
Testicular cancer is a direct risk eliminated by neutering.
Furthermore, the high levels of testosterone predispose him to a higher incidence of perianal adenomas, perianal hernias, and prostate issues later in life, all of which require complex, expensive veterinary interventions and sometimes emergency surgery.
Preventing these serious health issues is the single most cost-effective reason to proceed with the routine neuter procedure now.
Behaviorally, while he has not yet sprayed, the fact that he is two years old and intact means he is an “unexploded behavioral bomb.” Territorial spraying is driven by testosterone; while he may not feel the need to mark his territory yet, any future stressor – a strange smell, a change in your routine, or even seeing a cat through the window later – could trigger this behavior, which is notoriously difficult to reverse once started.
Your roommate’s observation is correct: the high-energy, constant play and the humping of a stuffed toy are classic signs of elevated hormonal drive and anxiety seeking an outlet.
Humping is a frustration and dominance behavior.
Neutering will lower the testosterone levels, leading to a calmer, more focused cat who can still enjoy play but without the frantic, hormonally charged intensity.
A calmer cat is a less anxious cat, which is the foundational principle for preventing all stress-induced behaviors like inappropriate elimination or spraying.
You are investing in his future mental and physical health by opting for this medically advised, minimally invasive surgery now.
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