So you have decided to spay or neuter your cat.
The idea of putting your cat through a surgery can be terrifying.
You may wonder what are some potential complications during surgery or how do
you care for your cat after the operation? I am the Cat Butler and today I am going to
show you what to expect when you spay or neuter your cat.
The first question you will want to consider is when do you spay or neuter your cat?
For male and female cats, the best time to spay or neuter your cat is between 3 to 6 months old.
Spaying or neutering your cat at this time will eliminate the risk
of mammary or testicular cancer later in life, prevent unwanted litters, and decrease the risks
of urine marking by male cats inside your home. Cats at this young age also generally recover
faster from surgery than older cats.
You are putting your cat in the hands of someone else and you want to make sure your vet has a good reputation.
Choosing the right veterinarian is key. Check the reviews
of previous clients for any potential red flags. Some questions you may also want to ask include
What type of maintenance anesthesia will be used? Anesthesia delivered through a breathing tube in
the airway is generally safer than a cheaper injectable anesthetic drug.
What is the experience level of the staff
performing the surgery and the anesthesia? What are their credentials?
You want people with a proven track record to operate on your baby.
In terms of prices, a spay or neuter usually costs between $200 to $500.
Spaying a female cat will cost more than neutering a male cat.
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So please join us! On the night before your surgery
you want to not give your cat any food. Water is okay.
This is to prevent nausea and vomiting during general anesthesia,
and it can be extremely dangerous for a sedated animal.
Patients under anesthesia lose the ability to swallow.
A cartilage flap at the entrance of the windpipe closes to prevent
water and food from entering the lungs.
If there is food in the stomach the cat could vomit while under anesthesia and have food
enter the lungs, causing aspiration pneumonia, a potentially life threatening condition.
On the day of the surgery the vet will perform a routine check up to make sure your cat
can go under anesthesia safely. Anesthesia is then administered.
Surgery for a female cat can take between 15 to 20 minutes.
The surgeon shaves the abdomen and uses a scalpel to make an incision in the
abdomen to remove the uterus and ovaries. The incision is then stitched together.
Many vets will use dissolvable sutures, reducing the need for post surgical visits.
For male cats neutering can take between 5 to 20 minutes.
It is less complex. The scrotum is shaved and a single
incision is made over each testicle and removed. Male cats don’t need stitches when neutered.
Barring any complication, you can expect to pick up your pet a few hours after the surgery.
There is another type of surgery that your male cat may encounter.
It is a rare condition called a Retained Testicle.
It affects less than 2% of male cats.
A retained testicle is a failure of one or both testicles to descend into the scrotum between two to four months of age.
The testicle that does not drop is located in the abdomen.
As a result the surgery will be more invasive than a simple neuter.
The surgeon will have to make an incision into the abdomen and locate the missing testicle
and perform the neuter on the exterior as well. This procedure tends to cost more than $500.
After the surgery your cat will still feel groggy from the anesthesia.
Both Teemo and Arya looked miserable after their surgery and just slept most of the day.
This feeling should go away over the next 24 hours.
For the first day cats may also have trouble eating.
So don’t be surprised if your cat won’t eat during meal time.
The vet will also prescribe pain medication and antibiotics to keep your cat comfortable,
calm, and infection free post operation. Carefully watch the incision for any sign of
bleeding, swelling or infection. If you notice any bleeding
immediately contact your vet! The second leading cause of opening an incision is
increased activity or movement after a surgery. Jumping, running, and playing with other cats are
high-impact activities that can cause the sutures to rupture.
Typically you want to restrict these activities as best as you can 10-14 days after surgery.
You can do this by putting away their toys and using an E-collar.
The vet will recommend an E-Collar, or the cone of shame
that helps keep your cat from licking and accidentally opening up their stitches.
Most cats should wear their cone for 5-7 days after their procedure.
Although a cone will not be fun for your cat, most veterinarians consider it a necessary precaution
for a safe recovery for your cat. One thing I wish I had done for Teemo and Arya
was buy them a soft cone that wasn’t made out of rigid plastic.
The cones you buy from the vet are usually made out of a sharp
plastic and are not comfortable for your cat.
I recommend you buy a soft cone like this one
before the surgery because it will make your cat’s recovery more pleasant.
I will link the soft cone in the description below.
Within two weeks of a spay or neuter your cat should be its normal self.
If you are wondering why I didn’t Spay and Neuter Teemo and Arya together?
Well I wanted one to take care of the other while it recovered from the surgery.
Teemo kept Arya warm and helped groom her when she had her cone on.
They truly cared for each other. Spaying and neutering my cats Teemo and Arya
was the hardest thing I witnessed up to this point as a cat dad.
I hope this video helps clear up any questions you may have.
If you thought this video was helpful give it a like.
What else should pet parents expect with a spay or neuter?
Let us know in the comments below!