The Day We Dreaded – Neutering Gogo 🐾

The day we had been quietly dreading had finally come.

Neutering Gogo.

For days leading up to it, something had clearly changed in him. He would sit near the door and yodel endlessly, especially at night. We later realised it was likely because there was a female cat in the building in heat.

The constant meowing didn’t just disturb our sleep—it worried us deeply.
It wasn’t just noise. It felt like discomfort. Restlessness. Something he couldn’t understand or control.

That’s when we decided to consult our vet.

After examining him, the vet suggested neutering. Gogo was at the appropriate age, and medically, it was the right step forward. But emotionally, it was not an easy decision.

We were told clearly—this wasn’t just a procedure.
We had to be prepared before, during, and after.

The Night Before

Gogo wasn’t allowed to eat for 6–8 hours before the surgery.

For a cat who had access to food 24/7, this was extremely difficult.

That night is something I still remember vividly.

He kept coming to me.
Meowing. Asking for food.

And I couldn’t give him anything.

We didn’t sleep at all. Every time he looked at me, it felt like I was failing him. At one point, I almost gave in. Watching him feel hungry—my own little baby—was heartbreaking in a way I hadn’t experienced before.

The Morning of the Procedure

The next morning, I took him to the vet.

They checked all his vitals and then sedated him. Handing him over in that moment felt heavier than I had expected.

After the surgery, he was kept under observation for 5–6 hours while the anaesthesia wore off.

I was allowed to see him right after he came out of the operation room.

And something I will never forget—
my boy tried to get up and crawl towards me.

Even in that state, he recognised me.

I stayed with him the entire time, sitting by his side, waiting for him to recover enough to go home.

The Longest Night

Even after coming home, the challenge wasn’t over.

He was not allowed to eat for another 12 hours.

And once again, he kept asking for food.

He tried to crawl towards his food station with whatever little strength he had left. Watching that was incredibly difficult. We just couldn’t explain to him why we were stopping him.

We took turns just to keep an eye on him.

Eventually, we tucked him gently between our clothes in the wardrobe—surrounded by familiar scents—and he finally drifted off to sleep for a few hours. In that moment, it felt like he had found a small pocket of comfort, and for us, those few hours were nothing short of relief after an emotionally exhausting day.

The Days After the Procedure

Post the procedure, Gogo had to wear an E-collar at all times—and trust me, he absolutely hated it.

It made him disoriented and uncomfortable. He slept more than usual, partly because even simple movements felt unfamiliar and difficult.

We were also asked to apply ointment to the surgical area, which he disliked even more. There were moments when he would hiss and growl, something we rarely saw in him. It wasn’t anger—it was discomfort, confusion, and a reaction to something he didn’t understand.

Those days required patience. A lot of it.

But slowly, things began to change.

Over time, Gogo became calmer.
His appetite returned.
His energy came back.

And then, gradually, he was himself again.

In fact, even better.

He became more playful, more relaxed, and seemed to enjoy his days a lot more than before.

Benefits of Neutering Cats at the Right Age

• Reduces excessive vocalisation (like yowling/yodelling)
• Prevents unwanted mating behaviours
• Lowers the risk of certain cancers and infections
• Reduces aggression and territorial behaviour
• Decreases the urge to roam or escape
• Helps prevent unplanned litters and supports overall animal welfare

How It Feels Looking Back

Even today, when I think about that experience, it brings a sense of pain and heaviness.

We chose to put him through something he didn’t understand.

But we also know—it was the right decision for his long-term health and well-being.

Because sometimes, being a pet parent means making difficult choices… not because they’re easy, but because they’re necessary.

He trusted us without question, even in pain—
and that’s a responsibility we carry every single day