A cat's parotid glands are usually located below the cheekbones, and these parotid glands are part of the cat's production of olfactory signals and individual information. When cats feel happy, satisfied, or think a place is their territory, they may rub their parotid glands against objects to release a special pheromone that marks territory or expresses intimacy. However, cat sterilization surgery usually does not directly affect the function of the parotid gland.
Cat sterilization surgery, whether castration for males or oophorectomy for females, is primarily aimed at preventing reproduction and helping to regulate the cat's behavior and health. In general, this surgery does not directly affect the function of the parotid gland in cats.
However, some people may observe some changes in the behavior of some cats after the spay/neuter procedure, including a decrease in rubbing behavior. This is not because the function of the parotid gland is directly affected, but more because of the changes in the cat's sex hormone levels after the sterilization procedure, which leads to changes in behavior.
Testosterone levels in male cats drop after neutering, which may reduce their strong territorial marking. As a result, some male cats may reduce their rubbing behavior after being neutered, but this does not mean that the function of the parotid gland has changed, but rather because of the change in the cat's behavior.
On the other hand, female cats may also have an impact on sex hormone levels after being neutered, but their parotid gland function is usually not significantly affected. They may maintain rubbing behavior to mark their territory or express emotion, but they may be less frequent or have a change in behavior.
Overall, cat sterilization does not directly stop the function of the parotid gland. The parotid gland is an important part of the cat's body, and neutering will not affect this physiological function. However, cats' behaviour may be altered by changes in hormone levels after surgery, which may indirectly affect their rubbing behaviour, but not because of changes in the function of the parotid gland itself.