starting strength gym
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 23

Thread: Should I neuter my cat?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2024
    Posts
    14

    Default Should I neuter my cat?

    • starting strength seminar december 2024
    • starting strength seminar february 2025
    • starting strength seminar april 2025
    Hey Rip,

    I remember watching one of the podcasts where you said you wouldn’t neuter your dog (if you had one, and I don’t know if you do) because you are a responsible dog owner who can control your dogs actions, and see no reason to mess up their hormones.

    I, on the other hand, recently adopted a male kitten. I was wondering your opinions on neutering a cat rather than a dog.

    I have heard that it decreases aggressive behavior, eliminates spray or urine marking (big one). I haven’t really heard any negatives of neutering.

    What are your opinions on this?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    North Texas
    Posts
    54,828

    Default

    I'm not a fan of cats. Consider euthanasia instead of castration.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    2,492

    Default

    You haven't heard any of the negatives because your cat doesn't speak English.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Paradise Valley, BC
    Posts
    2,013

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Rippetoe View Post
    I'm not a fan of cats. Consider euthanasia instead of castration.
    You must not have mice. Our cat kills a mouse almost every day and leaves the gut pile on our porch to let us know he has been busy. Our dogs keep the bears and coyotes away (we live on a farm). Love them both!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Posts
    299

    Default

    The push for neutering of male puppies promoted by shelters, pounds and the "Humane" Society in the 1990's for the sake of "population control" resulted in a veterinary industry of ACL repairs on adult male dogs. This is a secondary effect of the hormone imbalance Rip mentioned when the neutering occurs before the dog is mature. I don't know if cats have the same problems other than the marking mentioned. I've got an old neutered mouse-killing tom that has shown no side effects. The downside of any outdoor cats is their destruction of native songbirds and other wildlife.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2021
    Posts
    926

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Lost and Found View Post
    The downside of any outdoor cats is their destruction of native songbirds and other wildlife.
    Here in Wisconsin several years ago, a member of the State legislature proposed legalizing the hunting of feral cats under a small game license. Said rep cited a UW study on estimates of songbird kills per annum by feral cats as support.

    The author of the study got nastygrams, hostile voice mails, and even death threats, as I recall, and went to the press to point out that A) he had nothing to do with the hunting proposal, B) his study was years prior, and not commissioned for the proposal, C) he didn't support the hunting of feral cats, and D) furthermore, his study also pointed out that songbird reproduction is very responsive to predation and other pressures, hence songbird populations were essentially unaffected by the cats' hunting.

    The proposal never passed. It was an amusing issue, though.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2023
    Posts
    324

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Jason Donaldson View Post
    Here in Wisconsin several years ago, a member of the State legislature proposed legalizing the hunting of feral cats under a small game license. Said rep cited a UW study on estimates of songbird kills per annum by feral cats as support.

    The author of the study got nastygrams, hostile voice mails, and even death threats, as I recall, and went to the press to point out that A) he had nothing to do with the hunting proposal, B) his study was years prior, and not commissioned for the proposal, C) he didn't support the hunting of feral cats, and D) furthermore, his study also pointed out that songbird reproduction is very responsive to predation and other pressures, hence songbird populations were essentially unaffected by the cats' hunting.

    The proposal never passed. It was an amusing issue, though.
    Maybe just focus on fixing the potholes now.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2021
    Posts
    926

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by heinz83 View Post
    Maybe just focus on fixing the potholes now.
    It's a toss up whether the potholes will be fixed first or the stupid politics will stop first. I suspect it'll be the potholes...but that's just a case of "never" vs. "never ever".

    At least the weather is a major factor for the potholes. There's no such excuse for the politics.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Kent, UK
    Posts
    441

    Default

    Our male cat just died at 11. He was a good cat. Made friends with our cockerpoo pup when we brought him home. Killed lots of mice (amongst other animals). I still miss him.

    He was neutered as a condition of his adoption. The big thing thing that you mentioned that would want to make me neuter a male cat is spraying. I don't know if they all do it or whether it's trainable.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    North Texas
    Posts
    54,828

    Default

    starting strength coach development program
    Quote Originally Posted by gadders View Post
    I don't know if they all do it or whether it's trainable.
    Train a cat??

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •