Ragdoll Cat Forums

Cody is almost 6 months old and in the UK this is the time when neutering is normally carried out. I am finding it really hard to make the decision of whether to neuter him or not.

I think it will probably be best if I did do it and these are my reasons:-
(1) I do not wish to breed from Cody
(2) Males tend to spray when they remain unneutered.
(3) Males tend to wander in search of a female when unneutered.

But
I may change my mind and want to breed from him. I have had so many people say what a wonderful and rare cat he is being a chocolate mitted variety. I also don't want to put him through anaesthesia as some cats (very few) don't make it thru.

I am wondering how long I can leave it before I decide what to do. After all, it has been mentioned in literature that Ragdolls take a long time to mature (up to 4 years) so perhaps I have a bit more time to decide.

Has anyone else on this site been in this predicament?

There are several aspects to respond to here, but I'm going to stick to this one and others can talk about the other aspects.
In terms of spraying and maturity, when it's said that Ragdolls are slow to mature, they mean in terms of reaching full size NOT in terms of the time until reaching sexual maturity. As far as anything that I've ever heard, they reach sexual maturity at the same age as other cats. And a male cat is most likely to never spray if he's neutered before he reaches sexual maturity and starts the habit of spraying, so waiting is risky (one of several reasons why...).

There is NO GOOD REASON not to neuter unless you plan to breed - and to do that you had to have purchased your ragdoll on the breeding registry. If you did not purchase him on the breeding registry then you have no rights to breed him therefore no reason not to neuter him. THey may be slow to mature size wise, but not sexually - and he'll be spraying before you know it, and once he starts, you're going to have a hard time getting him to stop even if you do neuter him at that point.

I think it is easier on them to do it while they are young. Breeding is something you should have been thinking about for a very long time and specifically purchased him for that intent. I would definitely neuter. Breeding is not something that should ever be taken lightly as it is a huge undertaking.

This is a joke, right?

Breed him to whom? Neither mitted nor chocolate are rare and any breeder who wants them can get them. There are fewer chocolates/lilacs because there is less interest in them.

He and you will be happier with him neutered and there is no reason to breed him.

Speaking as someone who has just gotten her male Ragdoll neutered, Gabriel was his old self by the next day. The primary reason I got Gabriel neutered was the spraying issue. I got my girl spayed at the same time.

I hear what you are saying about not wanting to put him through the anesthesia. I opted to have pre-op labs on the same day so that the vet would have that information available to her in regards to the anesthesia. It was an added expense. Yet, I felt that it was worth it.

By the way-Cody is gorgeous!!

Thank you for your opinions. I disagree with JanH's tho because chocolates are rare in the UK but not in some countries. Believe me, chocolates are difficult to obtain here and very costly at that. The mitted ones are more common here. I am not sure what Katleen's point was either.

Thank you Winston, TeresaK, Iluvragdolls and Missnino for your constructive responses. Based on what you have said, I am going to Neuter him despite opposition from friends, breeders and suchlike in the UK. My love and interest is for the cat only and for the benefit of his health and happiness. He will always have my utmost care. I had a similar dilemma with my white persian girl but decided to have her spayed after her second calling.

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Okay I have done it, the pre-op appointment is set for Monday, 25th January with the actual op next day. I feel so nervous for him, I was shaking when I rang the vet.

The vet has said I must not feed him for 12 hours prior to the op - Cody will yell the house down. He always eats little and often.

It is one gene. There are many confirmed chocolates at this point that are of breeding quality and one can DNA test to confirm a breeding candidate carries the gene(s). If there is a demand for them there is no problem in producing them. If the UK wants MORE, then they can get them from Europe and the US. There are some breeders who specialize in chocolate and produce at least carriers in every litter. It is true that some pet owners may want chocolates and have to search for them. However, that is because breeders are not that interested in working with them. If there was a real demand, then breeders would add them - and can easily get them if wanted. There are more than sufficient breeding quality chocolate kittens to meet worldwide demand for them. One does not have to breed pets to provide them - and breeders would not be interested in breeding with kittens produced in that way.

So, neuter your guy and enjoy him as a pet only. He and you will be happier that way.

(01-18-2010 10:02 AM)glitterball Wrote: [ -> ]Thank you for your opinions. I disagree with JanH's tho because chocolates are rare in the UK but not in some countries. Believe me, chocolates are difficult to obtain here and very costly at that. The mitted ones are more common here. I am not sure what Katleen's point was either.

Thank you Winston, TeresaK, Iluvragdolls and Missnino for your constructive responses. Based on what you have said, I am going to Neuter him despite opposition from friends, breeders and suchlike in the UK. My love and interest is for the cat only and for the benefit of his health and happiness. He will always have my utmost care. I had a similar dilemma with my white persian girl but decided to have her spayed after her second calling.

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Okay I have done it, the pre-op appointment is set for Monday, 25th January with the actual op next day. I feel so nervous for him, I was shaking when I rang the vet.

The vet has said I must not feed him for 12 hours prior to the op - Cody will yell the house down. He always eats little and often.

That's a great decision and one you won't regret I don't think. Cody is a cutie and hopefully you won't have any problems with the neutering. We'll be here for you!!