Benefits of spaying a cat: Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Pets | SpayUSA

Spay/Neuter Your Pet | ASPCA

By spaying or neutering your pet, you’ll help control the pet homelessness crisis. Millions of healthy dogs and cats are euthanized in the United States each year simply because there aren’t enough homes to go around. There are also medical and behavioral benefits to spaying (female pets) and neutering (male pets).

Here are some of the medical benefits:

• Your female pet will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying prevents uterine infections and decreases the incidence of breast tumors, which are malignant or cancerous in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.
• Neutering your male companion prevents testicular cancer and some prostate problems.

And behavioral benefits:

• Your spayed female pet won’t go into heat. While cycles can vary, female felines usually go into heat four to five days every three weeks during breeding season. In an effort to advertise for mates, they’ll yowl and urinate more frequently—sometimes all over the house!
• Your male dog will be less likely to roam away from home. An intact male will do just about anything to find a mate, including finding creative ways escape from the house. Once he’s free to roam, he risks injury in traffic and fights with other animals.
• Your neutered male may be better behaved. Unneutered dogs and cats are more likely to mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house. Your dog might be less likely to mount other dogs, people and inanimate objects after he’s neutered. Some aggression problems may be avoided by early neutering.

Spaying/neutering your pets is also highly cost-effective. The cost of your pet’s spay/neuter surgery is far less than the cost of having and caring for a litter.

Debunking Spay/Neuter Myths and Misconceptions

• Spaying or neutering will not cause your pet to become overweight. Lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your pet to pack on the extra pounds—not neutering. Your pet will remain fit and trim if you continue to provide exercise and monitor food intake.
• Neutering is not a quick fix for all behavior problems. Although neutering your pet often reduces undesirable behaviors caused by a higher level of testosterone, there’s no guarantee that your dog’s behavior will change after he’s neutered. Although the surgery will reduce the amount of testosterone in your dog’s system, it won’t eliminate the hormone completely. Neutering will also not reduce behaviors that your pet has learned or that have become habitual. The effects of neutering are largely dependent on your dog’s individual personality, physiology and history.

When to Spay or Neuter Your Pet

• For dogs: While the traditional age for neutering is six to nine months, healthy puppies as young as eight weeks old can be neutered.  Dogs can be neutered as adults as well, although there’s a slightly higher risk of post-operative complications in older dogs, dogs that are overweight or dogs that have health problems.
• For cats: It is generally considered safe for kittens as young as eight weeks old to be spayed or neutered. To potentiially avoid the start of urine spraying and eliminate the chance for pregnancy, it’s advisable to schedule the surgery before your cat reaches five months of age. It’s possible to spay a female cat while she’s in heat.

Talk to your veterinarian to determine the best time to spay or neuter your pet.

Helping Your Pet Before and After Surgery

Your veterinary clinic will provide pre-surgical advice that you should follow. In general, avoid giving your adult dog or cat any food after midnight the night before surgery. A puppy or kitten, however, needs adequate nutrition, and your veterinarian may advise that food not be withheld.

Your veterinarian can also provide post-operative instructions for you to follow. Although your pet may experience some discomfort after surgery, your veterinarian can take measures to control pain. Depending on the procedure performed, medication for pain may be sent home with your pet.

Here are tips for a safe and comfortable recovery:

• Provide your pet with a quiet place to recover indoors and away from other animals.
• Prevent your pet from running and jumping for up to two weeks following surgery, or as long as your veterinarian recommends.
• Prevent your pet from licking the incision site, which may cause infection, by using a well fitted Elizabethan collar.
• Avoid bathing your pet for at least ten days after surgery.
• Check the incision site daily to confirm proper healing.

If you notice any redness, swelling or discharge at the surgery site, or if the incision is open, please contact your veterinarian. Also call your veterinarian if your pet is lethargic, has a decreased appetite, is vomiting or has diarrhea or any other concerns following surgery.

Please visit our Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Programs page to find spay/neuter options in your area.

Other Ways to Help:

Health Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Cat

Neutering offers benefits to both you and your beloved companion. The benefit of neutering a cat? Fewer unwanted litters and fewer parental worries for you.

Neutering (or spaying) is the process by which your cat’s veterinarian renders her sterile. When male cats are sterilized, the process is called neutering. When females receive the same treatment, it’s called spaying (nonetheless, you can refer to either procedure as neutering).

It’s hard to accept, but there aren’t enough homes for the cats currently in need of adoption. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), 3.4 million cats enter shelters every year. By neutering your cat, you’ll help reduce the overpopulation of this feline community. More importantly, however, spaying and neutering helps your cat live a healthier, longer life.

The Benefits of Neutering & Spaying

Prevents Diseases

Spaying your female cat before her first estrous cycle (going into “heat” or being able to breed) greatly reduces her risk of cervical cancer and eliminates her risk for ovarian cancer. Because removing the ovaries reduces the levels of hormones that encourage the growth of cancerous tumors, spaying reduces your cat’s risk of mammary cancer as well.

Keep in mind there are other diseases resulting from natural cat behavior when they mate. Feline leukemia and feline AIDS are two diseases spread through the bites of infected cats to other cats, according to the VCA Hospitals (these diseases are different from human AIDS and leukemia, and cannot be transmitted from cats to people). By reducing your cat’s urge to fight over mates and territory, you’ll also reduce her chances of contracting these incurable diseases from other cats.

Reduces Fights

Unneutered male cats are driven by hormones to seek mates and defend their territory against intruders. So, two or more unneutered male cats in the same household can spell trouble. Fights tend to break out, especially if there’s a female cat in heat nearby. By neutering your cats, you’ll reduce their aggressive instincts.

Reduces Risk of Roaming

When female cats go into heat, both her hormones and instincts are urging her to find a mate. And if she’s your only cat, she’ll try to escape every time you open the door so that she can find one. Remember that males are also driven by hormones and the mating instinct, and will try their best to escape for the same reason. Both males and females are at risk outdoors of being injured as they cross roads and highways to mate. By neutering your cat, you’ll reduce this wanderlust and find they’re happy to stay put in the safe, comfy spot next to you on the couch.

Cleaner Home

Male cats spray their urine on vertical surfaces to mark their territory. And while the pungent odor of an unneutered cat’s urine alerts other males that there’s another guy nearby who has claimed the area as his turf, it tells females he’s waiting for his opportunity to mate with her. An unneutered male cat in your house can be a messy business. Neutering a cat reduces or eliminates the urge to spray, and if they do, the scent should be much more mild.

Female cats also pass bodily fluids when they go into heat. These fluids also contain scents to alert males that a fertile female is nearby. By spaying your female cat, you’ll eliminate the same problem.

When It Should Happen

Your cat’s vet will recommend the optimal age at which she should be neutered. In general, most vets prefer to neuter a cat around the age of sexual maturity.

What to Expect

The surgical neutering procedure is done in a vet’s office under general anesthesia. Your vet will explain it to you and give you specific instructions for pre- and post-operative care. Expect to withhold food and water from your cat the night before surgery and to bring your cat to the veterinary office by a particular time.

During surgery, your cat will be given an anesthetic so they won’t feel or be aware of what’s happening. For male cats, a small incision is made on the testicles, and the testicles are removed. The incision is closed with either dissolvable sutures or surgical glue. Male cats can usually come home with you the same night unless there are complications or special concerns. If so, your vet will tell you if you can pick your male cat up the same evening.

Female cats have a larger incision to remove the ovaries and/or the uterus. Because this is a larger incision in the abdominal cavity, she’s are usually kept overnight for observation. Your cat can usually go home the next day.

Some vets fit the cat with a cone or Elizabethan collar, a paper or plastic sleeve that fits around the neck like a funnel. This keeps your pet from scratching, biting, or licking at the surgical site while it’s healing. Most cats do not need special medication or after care. If your vet wants to see your cat again after the surgery, however, be sure to bring her in on time.

Will My Cat Be Different?

Probably not. After neutering, your cat will return to her old, playful self very quickly. Rest assured she’ll still be the same cat you’ve always known and loved.

Feeding Cats Post-Neutering

Some cats gain weight more rapidly after neutering, so it’s important to make sure kitty is kept active and fed right. Hill’s® Science Diet® Adult Perfect Weight contains the right blend of nutrients and calories needed to help your cat maintain her optimal weight.

The benefits of neutering a cat far outweigh any drawbacks. Yes, it can be scary to bring your beloved pet in for surgery, but your concerns going in are small and well worth it when you consider the higher risks of unwanted kittens, escaping outdoors and getting into trouble with other animals. If you haven’t already done so, talk to your vet about having your cat neutered.

Contributor Bio

Jeanne Grunert

Jeanne Grunert is a book author, blogger and freelance writer from Virginia. She cares for six rescued cats and a rescued dog named Shadow on her 17 acre farm in Virginia.

Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Cat

Author: Dr. Lisa Goldstein

Published: April 29, 2021

Our mission is to help save dogs’ and cats’ lives through our educational content. To support our efforts, this page may contain affiliate links. We earn a commission for qualifying purchases – at no cost to you.

Many of us who have cats as pets choose to have them spayed or neutered. There are some owners, however, who are uncomfortable with the idea of having their cat “fixed.” They may feel it is unnatural or cruel. This article hopes to explain the medical, behavioral, community, and cost benefits of having your cat spayed or neutered.

Recent controversies have come up about medical and behavioral pros and cons regarding when and why to spay and neuter a dog. This type of controversy is not common for cats. There is no medical reason not to spay or neuter your cat. Contrary to some beliefs, spaying and neutering will not make your cat lazy, fat, or predispose them to urinary issues.

Benefits of Spaying Your Female cat

Spaying refers to removing a female cat’s uterus and ovaries, technically called an ovariohysterectomy. This prevents her from being able to reproduce and means she won’t have heat cycles. During a spay surgery, a cat is under anesthesia for 15 to 45 minutes and under the care of a skilled veterinarian. Any sort of anesthetic procedure comes with risk, but pre-anesthetic bloodwork can rule out any risks that may warrant delaying the spay. After the surgery, your cat will need to take it easy for 10 to 14 days while the incision heals.

No Unwanted Litters

The most obvious benefit of spaying is that the female cat cannot get pregnant. An intact female cat can produce multiple litters a year and has an average of four to six kittens each time. Spaying greatly helps to reduce the number of cats and kittens in shelters that need homes, which reduces the number of cats that are euthanized due to overpopulation. And pregnancy and birth carry their own risks. A cat may have difficult labor and need a C-section. A common myth is that a female cat will become more friendly if allowed to have kittens. This is not true and further contributes to the pet overpopulation problem.

A Calmer Cat

A spayed cat is also a calmer cat because she will not have a heat cycle. When a cat comes into heat she is receptive to mating with a male cat. A typical heat cycle lasts 6 days. She may bleed from her vulva, become very vocal and demanding, as well as attract every male cat in the neighborhood to your home and backyard. This can be especially annoying if you have multiple cats in your home. Some cats react aggressively when they see other cats outside. They may start to spray and urinate in the home to mark their territory. It can also create stress and lead to other behavioral issues like vocalizing excessively or even fighting with cats inside or outside the home.

Better Health

When spayed prior to 6 months of age there is a 91% reduction in the risk of mammary cancer. If done between 7 and 12 months of age the risk is reduced by 86%. There is only an 11% reduction when spayed between 1 to 2 years of age and no benefit is seen if the spay performed after 2 years of age. Spaying also prevents an infection called pyometra — where the uterus becomes filled with pus. This life-threatening and emergency surgery must be performed to remove the uterus. Spayed cats also live an average of 39% longer than unspayed cats.

When Should You Spay Your Cat?

It is best to have your cat fixed before her first cycle, which can happen as soon as 5 months, but happens most commonly between 6 and 8 months of age. A cat should weigh at least 2 lbs. before being spayed.

Benefits of Neutering Your Male Cat

Neutering is the sterilization of a male cat by removing his testes through a small incision in his scrotum. This procedure is very quick, your cat may be under anesthesia for 15 to 30 minutes but the actual neuter itself takes only a few minutes. The extra anesthesia time is for cleaning and preparation of the neuter site and recovery time. The incision does not need stitches and usually heals in a few days but your cat will need to take it easy for about a week to ten days.

No Unwanted Litters

A single intact male cat can mate multiple times in a month — or even multiple times a day! This can lead to dozens of litters in a month. Male cats will constantly be seeking out female cats in heat as the instinctual drive to reproduce is hardwired in their brain. This, of course, will contribute to the pet overpopulation problem and overcrowded shelters.

Less Medical Issues

Intact male cats that live outdoors have a life span on average of only two years! Unneutered male cats tend to roam farther from their home. Neutering a male cat can reduce this desire to roam by up to 90%. This can decrease his chances of being hit by a car or other injuries.

Indoor cats live an average of 17 years, while outdoor cats live an average of 2 to 5 years.

Not only will an intact male cat be looking for prospective mates, but they will also fight other male cats to establish dominance. This can lead to abscesses, bite wounds, and lacerations requiring expensive veterinary care. Fighting is one of the most common ways that cats contract two deadly diseases: Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV or feline aids) and Feline Leukemia (FELV), both of which can be transmitted through bodily fluids such as blood and saliva.

Just as spaying a female cat greatly reduces the risk of reproductive cancers, neutering a male cat prevents testicular cancer because that organ has been removed. When a cat is neutered before 6 months of age the occurrence of abscesses (most often from wounds obtained by fighting with other cats) and urine spraying are decreased.

Less Behavioral Problems

Intact male cats will also mark their territory by spraying urine not only in your home, but around the outside of the home, on your walls, shrubs, and doors. The urine of intact males is extremely strong and pungent. This can attract other male cats and lead to worsening of the marking behavior. When a cat is neutered his urine is not as strong and his desire to mark territory is lower. And, as noted above, roaming and aggression towards other cats are reduced.

When Should You Neuter Your Male Cat?

Male cats can be neutered as young as eight weeks of age but this is usually only done this early in a shelter setting prior to being placed up for adoption. Most male cats should be neutered before sexual maturity to prevent unwanted behaviors like spraying, aggression, or mounting. A cat usually reaches sexual maturity at six months of age but can mature as early as four months old. A good window of time for neutering your cat is when he is between three to six months old. A cat should weigh at least 2 lbs. before being neutered.

Are There Any Negative Aspects of Spaying and Neutering?

Myth: Weight Gain

There is a myth that spaying or neutering a cat causes them to gain weight. This is simply not accurate. While there is a slight decrease in metabolism due to the lack of hormones it is not the sole reason that a cat may gain weight afterward. Inactivity and excessive caloric intake cause weight gain. This can easily be managed by a proper diet and appropriate exercise.

Every pet is different and the amount you feed will depend on your cat’s particular daily activity level and specific dietary needs. Your veterinarian can help you decide on the correct amount to feed your cat as they enter adulthood. Making sure that your cat gets lots of enrichment and playtime is also helpful to prevent weight gain.

Financial Considerations

The procedure of spaying and neutering does cost money. This depends on where you live and if you choose to go to a full-service veterinary clinic or a low-cost spay and neuter hospital. It can cost between $300 to $500 for spay and up to $200 for cat neuter at a private veterinary hospital. A spay and neuter clinic can cost as little as $50 to $75 for a spay and often $30 to $50 for a neuter. Often spay and neuter organizations are able to provide these services at a reduced rate due to their nonprofit status or veterinarians volunteering there to help address the pet overpopulation issue.

Having your cat spayed or neutered will save you money on future veterinary bills. Your male cat will be less likely to fight with other cats, avoiding bite wounds that can lead to abscesses. The cost of an abscess surgery can be in the hundreds of dollars. And your female cat will not have uterine infections or mammary tumors. Surgery to remove mammary tumors can be up to one thousand dollars. Additionally, your cat will be less likely to spray urine, saving you costly trips to the veterinarian trying to figure out how to deal with this behavior.

Spaying and Neutering Benefits Indoor and Outdoor Cats

Indoor-only cats do live longer lives than indoor/outdoor cats. But if you choose to let your kitty outside then it is even more important to have them spayed and neutered. Aside from also extending their life span, they will fight less, have a decreased chance of cancers, and will not be contributing to the cat overpopulation problem.

You also won’t have to worry about your female coming into heat. The process of going through a heat cycle is stressful on a female cat’s mental and physical state — not to mention your own. It can create anxiety and periods of extreme vocalization that may stress out you, your family, and any other animals in the home. In the same way, a male cat that is intact may become stressed if he smells a female in heat nearby. He may vocalize, spray urine, and become aggressive to other cats in the household.

Spaying and neutering helps to make sure that your cat lives a longer, happier, and healthier life.

The truth about cat spaying

Sterilization of cats is an operation to remove the reproductive organs of females (ovaries, uterus), due to which the animal’s sexual attraction to the opposite sex disappears and the ability to breed is completely lost.

Why sterilize animals?

Surely, everyone who kept or keeps a cat in his house sooner or later faces a problem when, from a calm, balanced pet, at one fine moment, the animal turns into a constantly screaming and screaming creature for days and nights. Such a time for the owners becomes a real test. Sleepless nights, constant meowing make the owners face a choice – what to do with a helpless animal, because listening and looking at all this becomes unbearable.

Is there an alternative?

Some run to the nearest pet store for “magic” pills or drops, after which, as if by magic, the animal quickly calms down and the owners again have a calm and joyful life. Other owners, seeking help from a veterinarian, give the cat a hormonal injection that suppresses the occurrence of sexual arousal for a long period of time from 3-6 months to 1 year. And finally, some of the owners, in my opinion the smallest part of them, turn to veterinary clinics for a cat sterilization operation.

Do cats need to be spayed?

Let’s figure out which choice is preferable. Puberty in cats occurs at 7-8 months of age. For some, this period begins at an earlier age, at 5-6 months. At this time, the gonads (ovaries) of the cat begin to actively secrete sex hormones into the blood – estrogens . Under their action, the cat develops that “abnormal” behavior that we are all used to seeing and which worries the owners so much. Depending on the temperament of the animal, the duration and activity of the period of excitation can vary and usually range from several days to 1-2 weeks. During this period, all the reproductive organs of the animal, at the call of nature, begin to prepare for conception and gestation. If the cat does not mate, then it calms down, and in her body one sex hormone is replaced by another – progesterone , thanks to which happy calm days come in her life and in the life of the owners. It is customary to say about such a cat that she “missed”. The number of such “vacations” can reach several times a year, although it is generally accepted that cats are dicyclic animals (the manifestation of the sexual cycle is observed 2 times a year). Such a period in the life of a cat is biologically very difficult and makes the animal experience great stress. Constant “empties” throughout the life of the animal and interruption or change in the course of the sexual cycle, as many owners prefer to do, using “magic” pills or drops, or a hormonal injection, adversely affect the pet’s health in adulthood, and sometimes in the first years of life.

All this leads to irreversible consequences and the emergence of such terrible diseases as endometritis, pyometritis (purulent inflammation of the uterus), glandular cystic hyperplasia of the endometrium, ovarian cysts, malignant tumors , etc. To avoid the above problems with the health of cats, most veterinarians insist for cat spaying operations. This is an absolutely harmless surgical procedure, the quality of the result of which depends mainly on the experience of the doctor.

From all of the above, the conclusion suggests itself: when you get a kitten or an adult cat, decide for what purpose you take it. Or it will be a caring mother for future offspring, but then a huge responsibility for the fate of the kids will fall on your shoulders, so that when they grow up they will find reliable owners who will take care and love them. Or the cat will become just a good and faithful friend for you and waiting for offspring from her is not included in your plans. In this case, make sure that your cat lives a calm, healthy and happy life, for which it is necessary to perform an operation to sterilize the animal. Do not harm the health of the animal by using contraceptives and dooming him to excruciating suffering and possibly death.

At what age is it better to have surgery?

So we have determined that the operation to sterilize cats is not only harmless, but also beneficial for those animals that are not used in breeding. Let’s now deal with the question of the favorable time for the operation. This is one of the questions that is often asked by visitors to our clinic who are planning to have their animal operated on. There is an opinion among a large number of pet owners, breeders and veterinarians that any cat in its life should bring offspring at least once in order to feel healthy and happy for the rest of its life. Based on my own experience and the opinion of most veterinarians, I want to assure you that this is not the case. Moreover, early sterilization has a beneficial effect on the health of the cat and even prolongs her life. The optimal age for the operation of a young animal is from 5-6 to 7-8 months. This is the period of life before the first signs of puberty appear. In simple terms, until the moment when the cat started rolling on the floor, loudly and protractedly meowing and trying to run away into the street.

Preparatory period

The process of the preparatory period will differ in the age and physiological state of the animal. Here we can distinguish the period before puberty, the period after puberty at a young age, the period of mature and old age.

At a young age, when the cat has not yet experienced all the delights of puberty, by the time of the sterilization operation, it must be clinically healthy, it must be vaccinated against infectious diseases no later than 3-4 weeks before the operation, and it must also be sustained on a 12-hour fasting diet.

At an older age, after the onset of puberty, it is preferable to perform a sterilization operation during a calm state of the animal, when all the symptoms of arousal are not pronounced, so as not to expose the pet to additional stress. The animal must also be clinically healthy, vaccinated, maintained on a 12-hour starvation diet.

As for the preparation of a mature and elderly animal, this process, as a rule, takes more time and effort for both the owner and the pet itself. By this time, many cats have hidden pathologies of the body, which, during an external examination, the doctor may not reveal, and therefore not assess the degree of risk to the health and life of the animal. In order to protect the animal from the undesirable consequences of the operation, the doctor prescribes a more detailed examination, which includes: clinical blood test, biochemical blood test, urinalysis, ultrasound, ECG, x-ray . Based on the results of the examination, provided that there are no hidden pathologies, the surgeon makes a decision on the appointment or refusal of the operation. If the decision is made in favor of the neutering operation, then immediately before it, the cat is also kept on a 12-hour starvation diet.

Features of the sterilization operation

The preparatory period is over, the cat is healthy, vaccinated, has passed all the necessary tests and is maintained on a 12-hour starvation diet. Only after that the animal is sent to the operating table. During the operation to sterilize cats, all the rules of asepsis and antisepsis are observed – surgical instruments and material are boiled and disinfected. The operating room is disinfected, the operation is carried out strictly in sterile gloves. The doctor gives the animal several injections, after which it falls asleep. The surgical field is being prepared (the necessary section of hair is shaved off, followed by disinfection, a sterile napkin is applied). The operation begins.

There are two ways of surgical access: in the middle part of the abdomen (along the “white line”, below the navel), with a layered incision of the skin, subcutaneous tissue and peritoneum; in the lateral part of the abdomen, with an incision in the skin, subcutaneous tissue, stratification of muscles and fascia, an incision in the peritoneum. In our clinic, such operations are usually carried out “along the white line”. This is due to the ease of access to the operated organ, the large volume of the operated area, and good, even healing of the incision. The operation is performed either with the removal of only the ovaries (ovariectomy), or with the removal of the ovaries and uterus (ovariohysterectomy). The choice of one method or another is mainly related to the age of the animal. If the cat is young, has not given birth, and best of all, if it has not reached puberty, then the first method is used. But if the animal is in a mature or old age, repeated births have been noted, then the second method is preferable in order to reduce the risk of cancer and purulent diseases in the uterus in the future. The operation was carried out successfully, the surgeon stitches, a bandage is put on the animal – a postoperative blanket. To prevent postoperative complications, an anesthetic and antibacterial drug is placed. Such an operation to sterilize cats, from anesthesia to suturing, takes an average of 30 to 45 minutes.

Postoperative period

The operated animal must be placed on a waterproof bed, as it, being under anesthesia, does not control its physiological processes. Until the cat wakes up, you need to constantly (every 7-10 minutes) moisten her eyes by closing the eyelids. Otherwise, the cornea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe eye may dry out and inflammation will occur. At home, the cat should be placed on the floor in a well-ventilated room. From the end of the operation to the awakening of the animal, an average of 30 minutes to 2-3 hours passes. Immediately after the cat regains consciousness, it will most likely rush to go somewhere, try to jump to a high place, or hide in secluded places. Don’t let her move too much, let alone jump. Some owners keep the pet in their arms throughout the entire awakening period.

After anesthesia, animals often freeze, so it is better to cover them with a sheet or a light blanket. Feeding on this day should be completely excluded, but water should be constantly. The first day after the operation is the most responsible for the owners, so it would be better if on this day the rest of the affairs are postponed and all attention is paid to the cat. From the second day, as food for the animal, it is best to use ready-made dietary highly nutritious feeds from premium or super premium companies: Royal Canin, Proplan, Hills, thanks to which the work of the gastrointestinal tract is restored, the general condition improves and the animal quickly recovers.

Also, the next day after the sterilization operation, the animal must be given an anesthetic injection and treat the sutures with an antiseptic agent (hydrogen peroxide 3%). Stitches should be treated daily until the doctor removes them. The sutures are removed 8-10 days after the operation. During this period, the cat should be in a blanket to prevent licking and gnawing of the seams. At first, while the animal is in a bandage, it may feel uncomfortable, constantly lie down, try to take it off, some animals move back. After removing the blanket, which usually happens after removing the stitches, the activity and mood of the pet is fully restored.

Sterilization, in most cases, does not in any way affect the character and behavior of the animal, but some owners note that animals become calmer, gentler and more affectionate.

Find out the cost of sterilizing cats at the ZooVet Veterinary Clinic.

Spaying cats: pros and cons, care after spaying

What is the difference between cat spaying and castration?

In view of the frequent confusion and substitution of concepts, it is worth clarifying that during the castration of a cat, all reproductive organs are removed. Sterilization, on the other hand, is a limited manipulation to exclude the reproductive functions of a cat. In this article we will talk about what is the sterilization of a cat in a general sense.

There are 3 methods of sterilization of cats:

• surgical;
• chemical;
• implant insertion.

Surgical spaying of cats

Surgical spaying is an operation that removes the ovaries (in nulliparous cats) or removes the ovaries and uterus (in parous cats or to prevent various diseases).

The optimal age for spaying cats is 5-7 months. Depends on the breed of the animal and individual characteristics. Your veterinarian will determine the best time to have your cat operated on.

Castration or neutering of a cat, what to choose?

There are 3 options for the operation:

• The classic method is a dissection along the white line of the abdomen, which is located below the navel. Through an incision 3 cm long, the ovaries and uterus can be removed by direct access to the organs of the animal. The seam after sterilization of a cat by this method heals within 10 days, during this period the cat must be in special clothes – a blanket.
• Through the lateral incision. The abdominal cavity is incised to the side of the midline by about 1 cm. This type of operation is suitable for tubal ligation, or if it is impossible to perform the operation in the classical way. A cat after sterilization by this method recovers much faster, the risk of complications after surgery is reduced.
• Laparoscopy. With this method, a small puncture in the abdominal wall is enough to remove the uterus and ovary. This method requires special equipment, with the help of which the operation is performed and every action of the doctor is recorded in real time. Laparoscopic sterilization of cats is the least traumatic, so the pet’s full recovery occurs in a few days.

All of the above methods are performed under anesthesia. The cat after anesthesia after sterilization is under the supervision of a doctor for several hours, after which it is sent home.

Chemical sterilization of cats

This method refers to the use of hormonal drugs to suppress the sexual instinct. It can be tablets or drops. Depending on the composition of the drug, suppression of desire in cats can last from 1 month to six months. The veterinarian in exceptional cases may prescribe a single use of such drugs and will never recommend their use on a permanent basis. The reason for this is simple: regular use of hormonal drugs in cats can cause digestive, endocrine and neurological disorders, and the worst thing is oncological pathologies.

Implant use

Biocompatible implant is a drug that is injected into the subcutaneous layer and is released slowly over six months. It is a temporary sterilization agent, sometimes used as an alternative to castration, more often before medical castration. The most common drug for such sterilization of cats in Moscow is suprelorin.

Advantages and disadvantages of cat spaying. Why sterilize a cat?

Veterinarians agree that neutering is necessary for all cats, except for breeding cats. Weighty arguments in favor of the operation are the following facts:

1. The cat becomes more docile and calm.
2. Increases the lifespan of the animal.
3. Reduces the risk of developing oncological diseases of the reproductive system.

However, there are contraindications to the operation. For example, animals with heart pathologies or impaired renal function. In addition, during any operation there is a risk of complications during rehabilitation.

Preparing for cat spaying

As with any operation, cat spaying requires preliminary preparation. First of all, you need to know that absolutely healthy cats are allowed for the operation after antiparasitic treatment (at least 14 days before the operation) if they have all the vaccinations required at this age. In addition, the cat needs to do a number of tests:

• blood test;
• Ultrasound of the reproductive system;
• ECG.

In some cases, a respiratory examination or x-ray may be required. The operation is performed on an empty stomach, you can give the animal a drink no later than 3 hours before the operation.

Care of the cat after spaying

To reduce the risk of complications, it is important to follow all the recommendations of the veterinarian in the first days after the spaying of the cat. The health of the animal in the future depends on this. If the cat is prescribed antibiotics or other drugs, it is important to follow the schedule for taking them.

Particular attention should be paid to the pet’s nutrition at this time. The first feeding is allowed 8 hours after the operation. The food used is familiar to the cat, but the portions need to be slightly reduced. Sometimes a cat may vomit after surgery. A single vomiting is a variant of the norm; in case of repeated cases, it is better to consult a doctor. The reason for visiting the veterinarian is also the refusal of the cat from food and water for more than one day.

After sterilization of cats, the seam must be protected from bacteria, for this it is important to put a blanket on the cat, treat the wound in time and correctly. Even with a slight deterioration in health, you should contact your veterinarian.

In most cases, with proper care, cats return to their normal measured life after 10-14 days, forgetting about the operation. Not only the statistics of doctors speak in favor of the sterilization of cats, but also the reviews of the owners.

Emergency spaying of cats

Spaying cats, despite the advice of a veterinarian, is a voluntary act of the owner of the animal. But in some cases, to save the life of the animal, the cat undergoes an emergency operation. These include:

1. Uterine rupture during childbirth.
2. Detection of neoplasms of the reproductive organs, including during pregnancy of a cat.
3. Threat or presence of severe bleeding after lambing.

When is the operation not allowed?

Along with recommendations on the timing of the operation, there are also restrictions. So, sterilization of cats is not carried out:

1. During estrus. During this period, the hormonal background changes and the operation can cause a number of diseases. In addition, the animal’s immunity is weakened at this time and the recovery time can increase significantly. It is best to carry out the operation 2-3 weeks after the end of estrus.
2. During pregnancy. During this period, only emergency sterilization is allowed due to the inability to bear kittens or the detection of a serious illness in a cat.
3. After lambing. If the cat does not feed offspring, then sterilization can be carried out one month after birth, otherwise not earlier than 60 days. Exceptions are reasons for emergency sterilization.

How much does it cost to spay a cat?

The cost of spaying a cat depends on many factors:

• sterilization method;
• operation complexity;
• presence of complications;
• use of additional drugs, etc.

After consulting a veterinarian, determining the method of sterilization and where the rehabilitation period will take place (care in a veterinary clinic or at home), you will be given the exact price of sterilizing a cat.

Some clinics provide free neutering of shelter and stray cats for humane animal control.

Benefits of spaying a cat at home

Benefits of spaying a cat at home

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Benefits of spaying a cat at home

A pet is happiness and an outlet in your home. When you come home from work, you want to take a break from the hustle and bustle, and your beloved cat will help you with this, which will gently and gently climb into your lap, begin to purr, calming you. It would seem that it could be more beautiful, but there comes a moment when, after coming home from work, you may be met by a not quite affectionate and obedient pet, and the cat’s beginning of puberty is to blame, and we will talk about this in more detail.

Many factors influence the age of puberty in cats:

• housing conditions;
• animal weight;
• diet;
• climate.

As a rule, the first signs of puberty in a cat appear at 6-9 months, but there are cases of earlier maturation, since each organism is individual. How, after all, to determine the moment when your pet has already become quite an adult, and this can be done by some signs.

Signs of puberty:

• characteristic purr, the cat begins to purr a lot, making a peculiar, unpleasant and inviting sound;
• changes in the behavior of the cat, she rubs more at your feet, caressing and rolling on the floor;
• trembling, pressing the body to the floor;
• reduced appetite or complete refusal to eat;
• swelling of the genital mucosa.

The period of sexual hunting in cats is also varied, on average it lasts from 10 to 12 days and can be repeated several times a month, bringing great inconvenience to you and your family members.
Unrealized natural instincts are harmful to the health of the cat. The hormonal background is constantly jumping, which leads to frequent mood swings of the animal, there is also a risk of oncological diseases of the genital organs, mammary glands, ovaries, inflammation in the uterus (pyometra) may occur. Just think that if you sterilize a cat before the first estrus, you can 100% protect your pet from these terrible diseases! If you sterilize a cat after the first estrus, then by 90%, and if after the second estrus, then the risk of these diseases is reduced by 70%.
Most owners consider it inhumane to do sterilization and give various hormonal drugs that inhibit nervous and endocrine processes. They do not even think that by doing so they harm their pet and increase the risk of developing tumors and inflammation of the mammary glands and genital organs. Often there are owners whose cats have been diagnosed with pyometra or a tumor, but they are surprised and say that they were given a hormonal pill only once, they simply did not have the strength to listen to these cries! Once is enough for a cat to develop dangerous gynecological diseases.
The conclusion is obvious that by sterilizing your pet, you will protect it from dangerous gynecological diseases and return harmony and tranquility to your home. After all, the character of your cat will change for the better, it will become calm, and again you will be met by an affectionate, gentle cat from work.

1. The most important thing is to calm down.
2. Call the veterinary call service VetSchastye at 8-499-390-22-38 or 8-926-671-21-97 .
3. Call a veterinarian at home at a convenient time for you.
4. While you are waiting for the veterinarian, you need to prepare a table and a diaper for the operation.