At what age should a cat be spayed

Operations to end reproductive function and remove the organs responsible for it in cats vary.

When a cat can be sterilized: Features of the procedure at different ages and conditions

What are we talking about? When a four-legged pet appears in the house, most owners sooner or later face the question of when a cat can be spayed. Is she not too young or, on the contrary, old for this, because not always the animal comes to us as a kitten… And if she found herself in an interesting situation? Naturally, the owners are primarily worried about the health of the "fluffy" because of the untimely procedure.

What to pay attention to? Surgery is almost safe at almost any age. Of course, there are preferable periods when it is worth performing it. But if a cat makes you uncomfortable with its behavior, if you are not planning to have kittens, and especially if there are medical conditions, it is recommended to have the cat sterilized regardless of its age, but with consideration.

Why do we need to spay a cat?

After reaching puberty, cats and cats begin to show their instincts, and this can be a problem for their owners. Cats become noisy and cats start marking territory. This is quite uncomfortable.

The situation is saved by spaying the animal. During the operation the reproductive organs are removed, this leads to a decrease in hormone levels, as a result of which the possibility of reproduction is reduced to zero. Unfortunately, not all owners know that it is possible to spay a cat and avoid many problems.

Usually kittens are more affectionate than cats, they love attention and companionship. But when she enters puberty and starts her heat, her behavior changes completely. Even the most loving owner cannot stand being around a screaming cat all the time.

In order to ensure comfortable living conditions for yourself and the cat, it is recommended that the pet be spayed, that is, the reproductive organs are removed. After this procedure, the animal's body stops producing sex hormones, ceases childbearing function, and loses its reproductive instinct. Neutered animals are much less likely to run away from home and have a calmer and more peaceful nature.

If you want a pet that will be your faithful friend, but you don't plan to breed, mess around with a pregnant cat and then the kittens, spaying is a smart decision.

It's a mistake to think that cats are always neutered and cats are spayed. Cats and cats both have both procedures. The difference is that neutering removes the sex glands: the testes in males and the ovaries and uterus in females. Spaying, on the other hand, only removes the cat's ovaries. Despite this, veterinarians usually use the term "spaying" for cats and "neutering" for cats not to confuse pet owners.

How neutering is performed

Any surgery has positive and negative consequences. After neutering, the cat will become more obedient and calm. Castrated cats live longer. However, owners will have to carefully monitor the cat's diet and maintain the health of the urinary system.

Veterinarians recommend neutering kittens at the age of 6-9 months. By this age, the animal has already formed, and the removal of genital organs – testes – will not affect the hormonal background of the body.

If the operation is carried out on an adult animal, often the sexual habits of the animal are preserved – it can still mark its territory and fight with "rivals". Sometimes castration is prescribed for adult animals and even for the elderly for some diseases of the genitourinary system.

Types of castration

A distinction is made between surgical and chemical methods of neutering cats. The most popular and safest is surgical intervention. Castration of a cat will prevent uncontrolled breeding and uncontrollable behavior of the animal.

In the first case, the cat's sex drive is not reduced, sexual functions are not impaired, which also does not cause changes in the animal's behavior. The cat will mark its territory and shout to attract females. The cat's behavior will not change either, it will defend its "male rights" to the bitter end. This is why this method is unpopular.

A radical method is the removal of testes. It is carried out in two ways – open or closed. How the castration of cats takes place:

• With the open method, the cat is given a general anesthetic, the doctor dissects the skin of the scrotum and opens the shell of the testis. The testis is removed, and the vessels are tied into a knot. No stitches are applied.
• With the closed method, the vaginal membrane of the testicle is not opened, but the testis is removed from the scrotum together with it. The whole operation takes no more than 5 minutes.

Chemical castration Chemical castration of a cat is a method of applying radiation to the genitals of the animal. It is not widespread yet, but the specialists at the veterinary clinic "Lucky" in St. Petersburg recommend it as a safe, painless and reliable method.

At what age cats are spayed

We have many cats at the shelter "Murkosha", so we have faced this question more than once. Practice shows that the younger the animal, the easier the operation and rehabilitation. Also, it is best to sterilize females before they give birth at least once. Owners often mistakenly believe that a cat has to calve at least once to feel complete. But this is not true. First, unlike humans, cats and felines are guided only by their instincts, not their emotions. Therefore, a spayed cat does not care at all whether she was a mother or not. In addition, if the cat has already given birth there is a big chance that neutering will not work.

This is because before the first birth the hormone oestrogen, which initiates sexual desire, is produced only in the ovaries. And after childbirth other glands of internal secretion begin to produce hormones as well. So those who want to rid themselves of the constant rumbling, do not believe stereotypes and forget that even the most beloved animal is still an animal.

Now let's talk more specifically about at what age cats are spayed. Veterinarians recommend that the operation be performed when the female is 7-8 months old. Spaying too early (at 4-5 months) can lead to developmental delays. Sometimes cats are spayed at 6 months of age, but only if the animal weighs 2.5-3 kilograms.

A cat can be spayed at an older age, but the older she gets, the more consequences can arise after the operation. If the cat is more than 10 years old, the following should be done before the procedure:

How the surgery takes place

• The doctor examines the animal, making sure it is healthy and ready for surgery;
• The cat or cat is given medication to help make the surgery easier to endure;
• anesthesia is administered;
• The fur is removed from the area where the incision will be made;
• The skin is cut;
• The ovaries or testicles are removed;
• stitches are applied.

Since sterilization is a non-hazardous operation, there are no special measures or procedures for preparing a cat or cat. The main thing is that the animal should not eat anything for 12 hours before sterilization. That is, if the surgery is scheduled for 12 noon, you can feed your pet for the last time no later than 12 noon.

If there are several animals in the house, it is recommended that the cat being prepared for surgery should be put away in a room where there is no access to the feeders of the other animals. When this is not possible, all pets will have to starve for a while.

Several hours before the surgery it is better to remove the water as well, because if it is in the stomach during anesthesia the cat might vomit. This is because narcotics contain substances that cause nausea. And if the cat experiences aspiration of the vomit mass, a complication can occur, expressed as aspiration pneumonia. Therefore, it is necessary to treat the issue of starvation of the animal very responsibly.

The sterilization procedure. Basic methods

Let us describe the four main methods of sterilization. For females, the procedure is somewhat more complicated than for males, but it takes place under anesthesia and is painless. The similarities and differences are briefly described below.

1. Classic method. In this case the abdomen is cut along the white line of the abdomen 2-3 cm below the navel. The length of the incision is no more than 3 cm. The uterus is extracted, a ligature is placed over the vessels, and then the uterus and ovaries are removed. The suture after sterilization is left for 7-10 days, then either removed or it dissolves itself.
2. Sterilization through a lateral incision. The method does not differ from the classic. The only difference is that the incision is made on the side. This method is considered less traumatic because it reduces the risk of bleeding. The disadvantage is that sometimes through such an incision it is not possible to remove the uterus completely, which complicates the operation. The suture in this case does not require care and heals faster than the classic one.
3. Ultra-small incision method. In this case, an incision is made in the middle of the abdomen that is less than one centimeter long. A special surgical hook is lowered into the incision, which hooks and pulls the uterus with the ovaries through the hole. As in the previous case, incomplete removal of organs is possible.
4. Laparoscopic method. The least traumatic method that uses endoscopic equipment, which allows no incisions. This method is more expensive and not available in every veterinary clinic.

Sterilization drugs harm the cat's body, so surgical intervention is much preferable.

You should always choose the method recommended by your vet, as it's the skills of the vet that count, not the theoretical advantages of the method. Trust a proven professional, and everything will go off without a hitch.

Place of surgery

Sterilization of a cat is carried out in veterinary clinics and at home. A healthy animal will easily recover from the surgery if the necessary conditions are created at home. A visit to the clinic will only be required to remove the stitches.

Surgery at the clinic

There are advantages to having the intervention in a clinic. The necessary equipment and medications are available there, which will help to prevent any unpleasant situations. Possible risks are minimized.

The negative side of the procedure in the clinic is the stress to which the cat is exposed during transportation and being in an unfamiliar environment.

Sterilization at home

Performing the surgery at home does not differ in terms of technique. The advantage is that the cat feels more comfortable in its usual environment. It is convenient for the owner, because the procedure can be scheduled at any time.

The disadvantage of spaying at home is the provision of sterile conditions. Mistakes in the preparation of the pet for surgery can cause infection of the wound and subsequent complications.

Also, the cost of spaying at home is usually higher than at the vet's office because the price includes the vet's visit.

🐱 At what age is it recommended to spay a cat or cat

Cat owners often think about neutering their pets. This procedure is safe and uncomplicated. Veterinarians all over the world perform it with ease.

As the cat matures, it becomes sexually mature: its reproductive instincts kick in. Cats begin to call the cat, and cats begin to persistently tag territory and molest the toys, hands and feet of the owner.

This makes life difficult for both the cat and the owner. Spaying allows you to reduce the hormones at play and stop the possibility of procreation.

The optimal age for females is 7-8 months. That is, until the first calving. It is also possible to spay at 6 months of age, but only when the weight of 2.5 kg is reached.

Early sterilization can provoke a delay in development.
An older cat can also undergo the procedure, but it entails a number of consequences, including a heavier post-operative recovery.

According to veterinarians, it is better to spay cats at 5-8 months of age. An earlier procedure will affect the kitten's growth.

You can do it at home, as long as you are sure the vet is competent and competent.

But it is better in a hospital vet, where you have everything you need on hand for all occasions. Only there the necessary sterility is achieved and the risk of complications is reduced. The only disadvantage is the transportation of the animal after surgery.

After examining the animal, the doctor prepares it for surgery: he puts the auxiliary drugs and gives anesthesia. Then he removes hair from the abdominal area and makes an incision, through which he removes the testes or ovaries. He puts stitches on it.

The animal should not be fed for 12 hours before the surgery.
No water for 5 hours before the procedure.

No pity there! Understanding that the cat may vomit during anesthesia, which will result in choking on vomit, should stop the feeding hand of the owner.

A competent veterinarian will advise the owner to have an ultrasound of the cat or cat's heart before surgery. This procedure will tell you what kind of anesthesia to choose for your pet.

The most common misconception

There is a popular belief that the cat should be allowed to give birth at least once before being spayed. This is fundamentally wrong. During the operation the genitals and glands are removed, for a virgin cat this is enough. But a fertile cat's whole body is functioning differently: she had pregnancy, childbirth, lactation – a lot more organs and hormonal glands are involved in these processes. And some of them remain after sterilization and "remember" about the former experience.
So if we consider sterilization solely in the interests of the animal, its health and peace of mind, it is better to do it before giving birth, or even before the first heat.
Of course, they sterilize adult cats who have given birth repeatedly. But it means that there was a reason for this. Especially, without a special need to knit the cat before sterilization is not necessary.

The ideal age of sterilization in cats is relative. The operation can be performed at almost any age, from 6 months to 10 years of age it is quite easily tolerated. Older animals may have contraindications or complications.
Today, many veterinarians recommend that the procedure be performed before one year of age or after the first heat. At a young age, the animal endures all manipulations easily and quickly adapts to the new condition. He has not yet formed stable habits that may be stronger than hormones. For example, an adult who is used to marking territory will probably continue to do so even after neutering or spaying. Therefore, it is wise to act on warning and shape your pet's character and habits from a young age.
It is thought that by the age of 8 months, a cat is sexually mature and can breed and give birth up to 4 times a year. But, first of all, it is an individual thing, for some cats this moment comes earlier and for others later, and secondly, there are breeds in which the offspring grow long and mature only by the age of 1.5 or 2 years. It is too early to spay such cats at 8 months, and it is better to choose the time of surgery together with a veterinarian. In general, most procedures take place between one and three years of age.

Pregnancy, feeding, heat: when to do the surgery?

Surgery should be performed on a healthy cat two weeks before or after heat. After delivery, kittens should be allowed to grow up, weaned, and wait another 3-4 weeks for the mammary glands to recover. In some cases, the intervals between periods or pregnancies in a cat are very short, and it is not possible to wait out the due time.
Then the vet will do the surgery at the most appropriate time for that particular cat. Neither heat nor early pregnancy is a contraindication to sterilization, only an aggravating factor. During heat and pregnancy the animal's body is weakened and recovery from the operation can be a bit more difficult, and the risk of infection and bleeding increases.
Castration is also possible in a long gestation period, but such manipulations are performed only for serious indications, for example, if the cat's life is in danger.

It is generally accepted that cats are neutered and cats are spayed. In fact, this is slightly different. In cats can be both neutered and spayed. But to avoid confusion in communicating with patients, doctors use common terminology – only spaying for cats.
Classic sterilization involves the removal of one ovaries, with the uterus intact. A cat loses the ability to become pregnant and is left with a healthy but functionally useless organ, which, like any other, can become diseased. Keeping the uterus in a neutered cat is fraught with pyometra, endometritis, benign or malignant growths.
When a cat is neutered, all reproductive organs are removed.
Classic spaying is now quite rare, the operation of neutering is preferable in all respects. However, the procedure itself is still habitually called sterilization.
There are a total of 4 types of sterilization of cats:

Today, only one type is actively used in veterinary medicine – neutering, because all others are either harmful to the animal or do not give the desired effect. What is the sense in removing the cat's uterus but leaving the hormone-producing ovaries? The cat won't be able to get pregnant, but it will "walk around". Tubal ligation also preserves the reproductive instinct, and in doing so, cats' reproductive systems are so strong that the tubes sprout again and pregnancy occurs.

How old is the age at which a cat can be spayed?

You should not delay spaying if the owners of the cat do not plan to breed the breed. The effectiveness of surgery as a preventive measure against cancer has been scientifically proven. The likelihood of post-operative complications increases every year, so the earlier the surgery is performed, the better. But veterinarians' opinions on how old a cat can be spayed vary, as there are some subtleties.

Animals at a younger age tolerate the surgery more easily. The older the pet, the higher the risks – this is a fact. Therefore, many experts are convinced that it is best to sterilize a cat before the first heat: from 3 months and up to six months. An operation performed at this time will not have negative consequences for the young body due to rapid regeneration. This is called early spaying.

At the age of 7-8 months – during puberty – a cat can only be spayed if it weighs 2.5 kg. This is the approach taken by the vast majority of veterinarians. It excludes future changes in behavior, development of endocrine system pathologies and related internal organ diseases.

As for sterilization at an "older" age, veterinarians' opinions on this matter differ. If the cat has crossed the 10-year mark, surgery is possible, if the animal's health allows it. In order to detect possible problems and make a decision, you need to be examined, have tests done and listen to what the doctor has to say.

Cat cancer is not a myth

Cats operated on before their first heat have a half percent risk of developing cancer. When the cat is 9 months old or older the effectiveness of the procedure decreases. That is, the operated cat will not be able to have kittens, but it is more likely to have tumors in the genitourinary system than a cat that has been sterilized early.

Owners are free to decide when a cat can be spayed. Many owners decide to let their pet breed first. This is due to the widespread belief that a cat must give birth at least once before it can be safely deprived of its fertility function. But this opinion is wrong. It is not necessary and it can even be dangerous to wait until the cat is pregnant and has given birth.

Who can't have the surgery?

There are contraindications to such a procedure, so I will name the reasons when it is better to leave everything as it is (not to have the cat neutered or spayed).

Cats with heart diseases, exacerbated chronic diseases, older cats over 8 years old and those who have recently undergone surgery should not be neutered.

It is not even the procedure itself, but the anesthesia, which a weak cat may not tolerate, or the postoperative complications.

When is it better to neuter a cat?

Many times I've seen ads for the sale of purebred 2-month old kittens, which state that the pet is already neutered.

Can a kitten be neutered at this age? A very controversial and controversial question.

In the West kittens at 2-3 months of age are neutered for a long time. But in our country so far this practice is not officially approved.

Ask any veterinarian and he will tell you that the narrow and twisted urethra of the cat is formed only to six months of life. If the operation is done earlier, in 80% of cases the cat will have IBC, and its owner will be stressed.

Therefore, the most suitable time for neutering a mustached boy is 6-8 months, when the body has already formed, and sex hormones have not yet started working at their full capacity.

As for the upper limit, there are no limitations, although veterinarians warn that the animal after the age of 8 years is more difficult to endure anesthesia and recovery.

What care a cat needs after spaying

After surgery at the clinic, transport your pet in a carrier with a hard bottom, covered with a diaper or towel. In the cold season take care that the cat is not cold, since its body temperature has already dropped after anesthesia.

How to take care of the cat in the first hours

When you bring your pet home put it on a bed, towel or plaid, and cover it if it is cold. Do the same if the surgery took place at home.

Do not put the animal on a sofa or other elevated surfaces, as it will not come to its senses immediately after coming out of sleep and may fall over. Preferably, there should be no sharp corners or other surfaces that are easy to injure. If the room is cold, take care about additional heating. But do not place the cat right next to the radiator or heater.

Do not allow small children to come near your pet at first, so that they may not hurt it. If there are other animals in the house, it is also better to isolate them from the sterilized patient.

When the cat wakes up, do not leave her unattended. While anesthesia is taking effect and the cat's eyes are open (they are not closed by the medication), put some saline or boiled water into them until the cat starts blinking on its own. This will keep the cornea from drying out, and it will be more comfortable coming out of sleep.

How to take care of a cat when it has regained consciousness

After regaining consciousness the animal will be unsteady, wobbly and perhaps even fall down for a few hours. Also the cat may become aggressive, it may bite or hiss, and try to climb somewhere or hide in a hiding place. At this time it should in no case be left alone. After all, acting unconsciously, the pet can simply hurt herself.

If the pet is too active and does not calm down, you can even close her in a carrier to keep her safe. After some time, the cat will fully recover – when exactly, depends on the characteristics of the body.

What medicine to give a cat after sterilization

Perhaps the veterinarian will advise administering antibiotics to the animal. But you should not do it without a doctor's recommendation, and even more so if you use ordinary "human" preparations, it may harm your cat.

If in doubt whether the cat is feeling well, consult your doctor. Photo: Motortion Films / Shutterstock

In some cases, additional treatment of sutures may be necessary. How to do it properly and whether it is necessary, will explain the specialists who operated. If this is not required, it is enough to simply inspect the sutures every day to make sure they are dry and clean. In case of burying, it is better to go straight to the clinic.

If you doubt that you will be able to provide the right care, or simply do not have time to do so, after surgery the cat can be left in the hospital, where the vets will look after it.