Why neutering male cats is crucial for their health, according to an Oklahoma vet

Veterinarian Rebekah Hartfield is sharing an important message for cat owners: neutering male cats can help prevent life-threatening medical emergencies.

Dr. Hartfield joined News On 6 to explain why some male cats are more prone to urinary blockages and what pet owners need to watch for.

Common and Dangerous Conditions in Male Cats

One of the most serious issues veterinarians see in unneutered male cats is a urinary blockage, which prevents the cat from being able to urinate.

“So a big problem that we see, especially at my urgent care, is cats that are getting blocked,” Dr. Hartfield said. “What this is is a urethral obstruction, and this basically means they can't urinate, they can't pee. And this is a medical emergency.”

Although it can happen to female cats and neutered males, she said it's most common in male cats that have not been neutered.

Warning Signs to Look For

Dr. Hartfield explained what symptoms pet owners should watch for.

“Big symptoms, especially on indoor cats, is going to be they're going to be using that litter box a lot,” she said. “They're going to be using it very frequently. They'll notice small areas of urination. So just small amounts. They may even notice some bloody urine as it progresses.”

If the condition worsens, it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. But one of the most noticeable symptoms is vocalizing.

“This hurts,” she said. “The cat is in significant pain, and that is one of the biggest symptoms, other than the bloody urine and frequent urination, that they'll see because they are so painful.”

Treatment and Hospital Stay

Treatment starts with an urgent trip to the veterinarian.

“The treatment, of course, starts with diagnosing it, taking it to your veterinarian, and what they're going to feel is almost like a firm, hard baseball in their abdomen,” Hartfield said.

She said veterinarians typically take X-rays to check for bladder stones and rule out other causes before sedating the cat and placing a urinary catheter.

“These are extremely painful… we would have to place a urinary catheter and get that cat to urinate,” she said. “Once that's done, then we would probably start on IV catheter with fluids, antibiotics, pain medicine. For sure, maybe some muscle relaxants, different things to help.”

Hartfield emphasized that this is not a one-day fix.

“This is a urinary catheter for several days in the hospital and doing that for at least three to four days, depending on how your cat responds.”

Post-Op and Recovery

Dr. Hartfield said follow-up care is just as important to ensure recovery and prevent complications.

“What we're checking is we're doing another urinalysis,” she said. “We're checking that urine to check for any bladder stones, checking for inflammation, blood in that urine and making sure that he's healing properly.”

They also monitor kidney function and electrolyte levels, as the blockage can affect multiple systems in the body.

“With an imbalance of electrolytes, this can lead to heart conditions,” she said. “So we've got to make sure that all of that is normal.”

Prevention Through Neutering

Dr. Hartfield recommends neutering male cats around 6 to 8 months of age.

“Neuter your pets, that's super important,” she said. “I did mention that cats that are neutered can also get this, and so, you know, be aware that your male cat could also have some urinary issues and sometimes just reducing the stress in his environment can help them help prevent this as well.”

Clinic Milestone and Gratitude

Hartfield also shared that her clinic recently marked an important achievement.

“So my urgent care, Hartfield Veterinary Clinic in Mannford, just celebrated its one-year anniversary,” she said. “I just want to say thank you to the community, not just Mannford, but surrounding areas that use me on the weekends. I’m just, I’m so happy that I can be available to people that need me on the weekends. Thank you so much for all of their support.”

Pet owners can find more information or contact Dr. Hartfield through her website: doctorhartfield.com.