Cryptorchid

Cryptorchidism means that a testicle has not descended into the scrotum. In kittens the testicles normally settle in the scrotum within the first weeks or months of life. If one or both are missing at a few months of age, the cat is called a cryptorchid. The testicle may sit under the skin of the groin or stay inside the abdomen. One testicle is retained more often than both.

A cryptorchid male still produces hormones, so he may spray, roam and show tomcat behavior, and he can be fertile if one testicle is in place. A testicle left inside the body is warmer than normal, which damages it and raises the risk of tumors and twisting. Vets usually advise surgery, and the condition is thought to run in families, so affected cats are generally not used for breeding.

Treatment is a neuter that removes both testicles, including the retained one. Finding a testicle inside the abdomen takes longer and needs an incision in the belly, so the operation costs more than a standard one. Ask your vet to check your kitten's testicles at the first visits and at each wellness exam.