Spaying and neutering are essential surgical procedures for preventing unwanted pregnancies and overpopulation if you don't intend to breed your cat. These procedures offer numerous health benefits that can improve your cat’s quality of life and longevity. If you've decided against breeding, you might have been tempted to turn to the internet to answer your questions. At Crosslake Veterinary Hospital, we are committed to providing accurate information. To help you avoid misleading advice from “Dr. Google”, we’ve compiled and answered the most frequently asked questions about spaying and neutering to ensure you have the facts.
If you’re looking for a highly trained veterinarian in Crosslake, MN, we’d love to see your cat for either procedure, so please call us at (218) 692-4400.
What is the difference between cat spaying and neutering?
Veterinarians use the term spaying when removing the reproductive organs from a female cat and neutering when removing the reproductive organs from a male cat. Spaying involves the removal of the ovaries and uterus, while neutering removes a cat’s testicles — both procedures prevent breeding.
How does spaying or neutering impact the health and wellbeing of your cat?
Spaying or neutering has a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of your cat, from preventing pregnancy to fostering behavioral changes. It’s a critical part of the AVMA’s guidelines for responsible pet ownership.
Spaying or neutering a cat impacts their well-being in the following ways:
- Prevents unwanted pregnancy
- Prevents diseases associated with mating
- Eliminates risk of life threatening uterine infections in female cats
- Lowers the likelihood of reproductive-related cancers later in life
- Decreases the risk of injury and catfights due to wandering in search of a mate
- Reduces urine marking behaviors in male cats
How soon should you bring your cat in to see a veterinarian to get them spayed or neutered?
At Crosslake Veterinary Hospital, we recommend waiting until your cat is six months of age to get spayed or neutered, although the AAFP says the ideal age is five months. At this age, they will handle the anesthesia better, and they’re still young enough that males haven't developed secondary sex characteristics and females haven't gone through their first heat. Spaying before a first heat helps prevent certain diseases later in life. Talk to your veterinarian about the ideal age to spay or neuter your cat.
Will it affect a cat's behavior?
Spaying or neutering can help to reduce aggressive tendencies and the desire to roam. Urine marking behaviors are also significantly reduced in males when they are neutered.
How should you care for your cat before and after spaying or neutering surgery?
Before the procedure, it is crucial to ensure your cat has an empty stomach, as anesthesia can cause nausea. Your cat should be fasted after 9:00pm the night before surgery. However, they can still drink water as usual. If you have an outdoor-only cat, keep them inside the day before surgery. The procedures are typically done on an outpatient basis, so you’ll bring them to the hospital in the morning; and take them home later that day.
After surgery, keep your cat in a quiet space away from other pets or young children. Monitor the surgical incision to ensure it heals properly. Your cat may need an e-collar or cone to keep from licking their surgical site for the first 10-14 days. The stitches will be underneath the skin for spay procedures, however, the neuter incisions are typically very small and left open for healing. Most cats recover quickly from anesthesia, although they can be more vocal or tired for the first day or two.
If you have further questions about spaying or neutering your cat, reach out to your veterinarian. If you live in or near Crosslake, MN, we’d love to help your cat through the procedure, Please don’t hesitate to call us at (218) 692-4400 or email us at [email protected].