There is a great deal of debate on this question, but the general
consensus is that yes, this can affect the cat or dog's personality. It
depends on how old they are though. If you neuter an animal, you are
taking away a source of hormones from its body. (In a male, it's called
testosterone, in a female, estrogen). These hormones affect the
animal's personality.
In a male dog, testosterone makes them agressive, it makes them
defend their territory more against other animals, and it makes them
more active, or energetic. When you neuter them, they become more
quiet, less agressive, and in some cases they may gain a little weight
because they are less active. In females, you don't see a change in
personality as much, but they will not want to breed with other cats
and they can't have kittens.
If the animal is older, it will have a larger effect, since the
hormones have had more of a chance to get into and affect the body -
there is more of a change when you take the hormones away. That is one
of the reasons why it is best to neuter the animal when it is young.
-Kim-
(published on 10/22/2007)
