Cat Neutering and Spaying
In a world where we struggle with cat overpopulation, one of the most important things we can do is spay or neuter our cats. The benefits include: reducing the risk of unwanted pregnancies, unwanted behaviours and even reducing some medical issues (such as mammary cancer and uterine infections).
What is spaying or neutering?
Spaying is the surgical procedure to remove the reproductive organs of a female(ovaries). Neutering (castrating) is the surgical procedure, in the male, to remove the testicles.
When should I neuter/spay my cat?
In the shelter environment spay or neuter can be performed on puppies and kittens as young as six weeks of age. This is to ensure population control is accomplished. For owned animals, the recommendation is to perform the spay or neuter before sexual maturity. This is at approximately 5-6 months old.
What is the procedure to spay/neuter a cat?
Both the spay and neuter are surgical procedures requiring general anesthesia. As such, both require medications and monitoring throughout the procedure. Sterile techniques are used to ensure the safety of the animal. In the female, an abdominal incision is made to locate and remove the ovaries. The incision is then closed. In the male two small incisions are made over each testicle to allow for their removal.
