Addresses Feline Welfare Issues
This is one of the results of unmitigated population growth in cats. If there are too many kittens getting born, there may be not enough people to adopt them and care for them. These cats will live in back alleys, thriving on whatever scraps of food they could find. It exposes them to many diseases and a lot of dangers.
When To Spay Or Neuter Your Cat
There is debate among veterinarians about the time to spay/neuter your cat, says Dr. Adam Denish of Rhawnhurst Animal Hospital in Elkins Park, PA. There are three general options: Early or pediatric spay/neuter is done at six to eight weeks of age. Standard spay and neuter at five to six months. Finally, waiting until after the first heat, somewhere between eight to twelve months of age, he says.
As a vet who has done thousands of spays and neuters, I still perform them at five months of age. The pets are a good size, the owners have already trained and accepted them, and the anesthesia and surgery are usually safe, says Dr. Denish. The concerns over early spay/neuter are mostly due to the prevailing opinion that new owners may not do the procedure, and the pet is free to breed. The additional offspring contributes to the overpopulation of cats in the wild, as well as the burden of euthanizing unwanted and ill cats at shelters.
Whatever the age of your cat when theyre spayed or neutered, there are definite health benefits for cats of either sex to have the procedure.
What Is Spaying A Cat
Spaying a cat refers to the ovariohysterectomy, or the removal of portions of the reproductive system of a female cat so she cannot get pregnant and give birth to kittens. Cat spaying is a surgical procedure that a veterinary surgeon can properly and safely perform. Spaying a cat is a very routine surgical procedure, and it carries a minimal risk for serious medical complications.
Spaying a cat includes the following procedures:
- Multimodal analgesic and anti-anxiety medications
- Your veterinarian will utilize general anesthesia to avoid any discomfort during the procedure
- The attending veterinary team monitors your cat’s breathing and heart rate oxygen levels, blood pressure, plane of anesthesia, and overall health during the anesthetic procedure
- The surgeon makes a small incision in your cat’s abdomen and removes the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus
- Your veterinarian closes the incision with sutures
Your veterinarian can also provide post-operative instructions for you to follow. Although spaying a cat could result in some discomfort right after surgery, your veterinarian will institute various measures for pain relief. The steps to ensuring your cat has the most comfortable and safe recovery possible from spaying surgery are identical to the recovery recommendations provided above for neutering.
If you are concerned about spaying your cat, we urge you to ask the veterinarian at your next visit for help making an informed and responsible decision.
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Why Does My Neutered Cat Still Look Like They Have Testicles
When a cat is castrated, the testicles are removed but the scrotum isnt. This means sometimes they look like they still have testicles after their operation. Over time the scrotum will shrink and become less noticeable. If you notice swelling or redness in your cats scrotum after their surgery, contact your vet for advice.
The Truth About Spaying Or Neutering Your Cat
An estimated 5 million to 8 million animals are euthanized in shelters across this country every year. Many organizations are working to decrease that number by opening low-cost spay/neuter clinics that will prevent more litters of cats that need homes. One such organization is LifeLine Animal Project, an Atlanta-based nonprofit shelter and clinic where more than 25,000 spaying and neutering procedures have been performed since 2005. Here, executive director Rebecca Guinn answers the most commonly asked questions about spaying and neutering cats.
Q: Why should I have my cat spayed or neutered?
A: Shelter euthanasia is the number one killer of companion animals. Spaying and neutering is the only way to reduce or eliminate that. Its also better for your pets health. And having a cat thats spayed or neutered will make your life easier.
Q: Shouldnt I let my cat have a litter before I spay them?
A: No. It greatly reduces the risk of certain cancers if you have them spayed before the first heat and certainly before they have a litter.
Most places are overrun with kittens. There are millions of cats and kittens that need homes and millions more that are abandoned. There simply arent enough homes for all the cats that get born every kitten season.
Q: Should I let my cat have a heat before I spay them?
Q: Is it OK to spay my cat when they are just a kitten?
Continued
Q: It can cost more than a $100 to get a cat spayed or neutered. I cant afford that. What can I do?
Continued
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What Age Can Cats Be Neutered
Cats become sexually mature from the age of around five months. In order to prevent unwanted pregnancies, its recommended that cats are neutered at around four months old, after they have completed their primary vaccinations. Some vets still recommend spaying at five or six months and its quite safe to neuter older cats.
How Long Does My Cat Have To Wear A Cone After Neutering
Most cats should wear their cone for 5-7 days after neutering to avoid licking the incision. Most scrotal incisions heal very quickly. If an abdominal incision was necessary to remove retained testicle, then the cone should remain on for 10-14 days or until your cats recheck examination to assess healing.
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At What Age Should Male Cats Be Neutered
Unless you have a plan outlined to breed from your cat when they grow old enough and have made this decision for the right reasons, having your cat neutered is one of your first duties as a responsible cat owner.
Whilst this is more obvious to the owners of female cats who will be left with an unwanted litter if they do ultimately reproduce, it is just as important for male cats too, and the owners of male cats should not neglect neutering simply because they will not have to deal with a surprise litter!
Knowing the appropriate age to neuter a male cat can be challenging traditionally, males were generally neutered at six to eight months old at the earliest, and many pet owners still assume that there are issues or problems involved in neutering earlier, as can be the case for dogs.
However, today, the neutering of male cats is commonly performed as early as four months of age, and this adds some confusion for the owners of male cats who want to do the right thing!
In this article, we will look at the importance of neutering male cats, and the optimum time to have the procedure performed. Read on to learn more about the age at which a male cat should be neutered.
When To Have Your Cat Neutered
Most cats , can be neutered from 4 months old. Neutering at this age has many benefits, especially for female cats, however, its always important to discuss the decision with your vet because exact timings should be based on a number of different factors, including:
- Weight: The risk of anaesthetic can be slightly higher in small kittens, so your vet may recommend waiting until your cat is a certain weight before they are neutered. Its also important they are healthy shape because overweight cats have a higher anaesthetic risk and more chance of complications during surgery.
- Other health conditions: if your cat is suffering from another health condition it may change their ideal neutering time.
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What Is The Ideal Age To Spay/ Neuter/ Adopt Shelter Kittens
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If you asked us what ONE change could make the most positive impact next kitten season we would suggest spay/neuter/adoption of healthy kittens at 6 weeks of age instead of waiting until 8 weeks. Are you surprised to hear there is currently no research to suggest that spaying healthy kittens at 6 weeks old poses a greater risk than spaying kittens at 8 weeks old ? Read Dr. Holck’s reply to find out why the benefits of spaying and neutering healthy kittens at 1.5 pounds outweigh the risks.
Best Age To Neuter A Kitten
On the average, kittens reach sexual maturity around 6 to 9 months of age. This means they are now fully-capable of reproduction. Since one of the inherent aims of neutering is to induce infertility or sterility in the cat, neutering should be done before the kitten achieves full sexual maturity. Thus, the best age for a kitten to get neutered or spayed is before it reaches the age of 6 months.
Unfortunately, no two kittens will have the same exact growth rate. Some kittens can reach their reproductive maturity by around 4 months of age, while others may become sexually mature only upon reaching 12 months of age.
Given the variability of feline growth rates, veterinarians now recommend pediatric neutering. This allows veterinarians to perform the surgical procedure in kittens that are as young as 6 weeks. There are people who object to such recommendations, of course. They say that it exposes the young kitten to needless harm. Early neutering can also lead to several developmental problems.
In 2017, the American Association of Feline Practitioners endorsed neutering kittens at 5 months of age. This was the recommendation of the Veterinary Task Force on Feline Sterilization and released through the North American Veterinary Community Conference, also in 2017.
There is another criterion for the surgery, however. The kitten should weigh not less than 2.2 lbs at the time of the surgery. If these two criteria are met, then the kitten is safe for early neutering.
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When Should I Consider Neutering My Cat
The earliest age from which a kitten can be neutered is between six to eight weeks. This is called pediatric neutering. Its often an emotive issue for an owner, as it seems cruel to subject such a tiny kitten to surgery. But in fact, there is plenty of research to show that there are no proven ill effects, provided the cat is healthy and weighing at least two pounds at the time of the operation. Your vet can advise on individual cases.
But that is the absolute earliest and by accident or design, neutering is often left till a little later in life. The ideal is to ensure that your cat is neutered before he or she reaches sexual maturity. That date can vary from breed to breed, and even whether the cat is an indoor or outdoor/ feral one, but its generally considered to have reached its adolescence by the age of six months.
For a family pet, the best age to have your cat neutered is around two to three weeks after theyve had their primary vaccinations. These vaccinations begin for kittens at nine weeks, with a second injection around three to four weeks later. That means neutering generally takes place when the cat is between four and six months of age.
Reasons To Spay Or Neuter Your Cat
Spaying or neutering is one of the greatest gifts you can provide your pet and your family. These routine medical procedures not only help control pet overpopulation, but they may also prevent medical and behavioral problems from developing, allowing your cat to lead a longer, healthier and happier life.
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When Should I Spay/neuter My Cat
Healthy cats as young as six weeks of age can be spayed or neutered safely. Studies have shown that cats altered at less than six months of age do not have an increased risk of physical or behavioral problems, as compared to those that undergo surgery later. Early-age spaying and neutering may prevent problem behaviors before they occur. If it hasnt already been done, spaying or neutering should be considered for any pet with a behavior problem, regardless of age. For certain behaviors, surgery may reduce or eliminate the problem, even in older cats. Consult with your veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist for further information.
What Are The Health Effects Of Spaying Or Neutering A Cat
Of course, while spaying or neutering procedures are routine and considered safe, risk cannot be totally eliminated from every surgical or medical procedure. For example, cats who have been spayed or neutered do tend to gain weight if their diets are not adjusted accordingly. Neutered male cats are also at increased risk for developing urinary blockages.
The benefits of neutering or spaying almost always outweigh the risks. However, you should always ask your vet which choices are best for your pet.
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Why Is Neutering Male Cats Important
While neutering female cats to keep them from having a litter might seem to be a more highly loaded decision than neutering a male cat, it is equally important to neuter male cats too!
Whilst you wont be the one that ends up with a litter as the owner of a male if your cat does mate, that hypothetical litter will still exist due to a decision not to neuter, and will still impact on the number of unwanted kittens in the country nonetheless.
Additionally, unneutered male cats that are sexually mature are apt to roam much further from home than neutered cats, and are more likely to get into hot water when seeking out or trying to tempt a mate! Unneutered male cats are also much more likely to get into fights with other cats, which can lead to both obvious injuries, and the transmission of several potentially fatal feline diseases.
Finally, neutering your male cat will help to protect them against several future health problems related to the reproductive system, including testicular cancer.
When Should You Get Your Cat Fixed
Kittens are able to be spay or neutered at as young an age as four months old. Adult cats can also be spayed or neutered. That being said, every pet is unique and your veterinarian will be able to advise you on when you should have your cat neutered or spayed depending on their particular case.
For female cats, spaying them before their first heat will help them avoid certain serious health conditions as well as an accidental pregnancy before you have the chance to spay her. For males, if they are spayed sometime before 10 months old, they are much less likely to spray and urinate inappropriately throughout the house.
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How To Care For Your Cat After Neutering Or Spaying
This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 20 testimonials and 95% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 571,032 times.
Spay and neuter surgeries are routine operations, but theyre still surgeries. If you’re worried about how to care for your cat after its been spayed or neutered , youve come to the right place. There are several things you can do to help your cat recover from its operation and get back to its healthy, happy feline self.
When To Have Your Cat Spayed Or Neutered
Having your cat spayed or neutered is one of the most responsible things that you can do as a pet owner. Understanding the ideal time to have your cat spayed or neutered will enable you to make the best decisions to protect the health and happiness of your pet. There are several things that you will want to keep in mind to help you decide when you should have your cat spayed or neutered. At Borrett Animal Hospital, we offer spay and neutering services to help you protect your pets. Here are a few things to help you determine when you should have your cat spayed or neutered.
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Reasons For Neutering Male Cats
- Control of nuisance. Unneutered male cats are likely to stray over a large area, will mark their territory with a very pungent spray and are much more likely to fight with attendant noise nuisance.
- Health issues. Fighting males are much more likely to spread diseases such as FIV and FeLV to other cats. They are also likely to suffer from fight injuries such as abscesses. Because they wander over a large area they are also at greater risk of suffering road traffic accidents.
- Pet issues. Unneutered male cats will wander from home and may not return. They may also spray inside the home and may be aggressive to their owners. Therefore it is desirable to neuter kittens early enough to ensure that the above problems are prevented. Most people do not want to live with an unneutered male cat.
- Population control. Obviously, male cats do not have kittens themselves and it only takes one male in an area to make lots of female cats pregnant, so neutering a female cat makes a great deal more difference to limiting numbers, but it all helps!