Undescended testicle/cryptorchidism is now added to the list of the health problems we have had to deal with in our cats. Malteser has asthma, our lovely girl Emmy had epilepsy. Well, Treacle was one testicle short of a package!
Feline Undescended Testicle/Cryptorchidism
What Is Feline Undescended Testicle/Cryptorchidism?
Feline cryptorchidism is when one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum. The testicles originate in the belly area of a kitten. They gradually descend into the scrotum, usually in place by the time the kitten is two months old.
In some cases, the testicles don’t descend or get part of the way and stop. If both testicles fail to descend it is known as ‘bilateral cryptorchidism’, if it is only one it is known as ‘unilateral cryptorchidism’. It is a rare condition, said to affect less than 2% of male cats and then often in exotic breeds such as Persians. It can be an inherited condition. You can read more than you ever want to know about this feline undescended testicle/cryptorchidism here.
We discovered that poor Treacle, one of Scrappy’s kittens, and at the time seven months old, had unilateral cryptorchidism when he went in to be neutered.
The Dangers of An Undescended Testicle
Untreated, a cat with this condition would not be in any discomfort or have any pain until a crisis arises and there are two main ones.
- The undescended testicle floats around in the abdomen. Sometimes it can twist causing something known as ‘testicular torsion’ which is extremely painful for the cat and comes on suddenly.
- The other main problem is a risk of tumors and testicular cancer that may start to show as behavior change.
Treatment
The only treatment is surgery to find and remove the undescended testicle (in Treacle’s case). On the discovery of cryptorchidism the simple neutering surgery we were all expecting became major abdominal surgery akin to spaying a female.
In fact poor old Treacle had a larger scar than his three spayed sisters we had operated on at the same time. He had six metal clips holding the wound together and had to recuperate for 12 days until the clips could be removed. He had pain killing injections and antibiotics of course. The prognosis for the future is good now the surgery has been done.
Getting Used To The Idea
The night before Treacle went in to be neutered I had cuddled him and told him that once this was done he could come in the house more regularly. He already was coming in for ‘visits’ to get Stevie Mouse and Emmy used to the idea they were going to have a new brother.
The morning I had to catch Treacle and his brothers Rolly and Rabby, I opened the front door. Treacle calmly walked in the front door, got in the cat carrier and sat down. Like he was ready to go. He really is a dear little chap.
It was quite a shock when I went to pick them up and the Vet told me about Treacle I have to say. He was on the operating table when they discovered the problem. But as surgery is the only solution for it they had to go ahead with the bigger operation.
Recovery From Undescended Testicle/cryptorchidism
Treacle was a complete pain during recovery. He managed to pull out two of his metal clips when my back was turned. I found him with blood everywhere so another dash to the vets where they just re-stapled the wound. It meant he had to wear the collar of shame (ie a surgical collar) until the clips came out! I kept him in a case in the kitchen until after the clips were removed.
Treacle is now fully grown and healthy (apart from the horn he grew on his head…).
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I adopted a two year old cat from a friend that was not neutered, he was already starting to spray in the house so I brought him immediately to get neutered and the vet examined him first and said only one testicle was showing and he would need surgery to get the other one out, when I picked him up after surgery the vet said he couldn’t find the second testicle so he only neutered one, my cat is still spraying and acting like a cat that is not neutered and I’m not sure what to do. He already went through the surgery on his stomach, do you think it’s possible that the vet just didn’t see the second testicle? Thanks for any help you can give me.
Hi Susan, I can only speak from my own experience as written, the vet had real trouble finding Treacle’s missing testicle as it wasn’t where it would be expected. I can’t say if your vet missed it or not, I think you need to go back and double check with him. I will say one thing re the spraying behaviour, there can be so many reasons for that. I wrote another blog about one of my cats called Thomas who was neutered late (about the same age as yours) and he continued to spray etc – my vet said it was learned behaviour as he had lived as a full male cat for several years before being neutered. This may not be the same problem for your cat of course but your comment reminded me of it. Good luck with your boy.