Advice on Spaying a Cat

Spaying is a surgical procedure performed by a surgeon to remove the fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus of a female cat. The result is a cat incapable of breeding. This procedure offers benefits to both you, as the owner, and your cat. In addition to avoiding unwanted pregnancy, a female cat that is spayed is less likely to develop breast cancer and will be at no risk to develop ovarian or uterine cancer. You will find that she will be calmer after the surgery and behaviors associated with estrus (heat), such as urine spraying and yowling, will be eliminated.

  1. Pre-Operative

    • Cats can be spayed as young as 8 weeks of age, and often this is the age that shelters will spay kittens. Some veterinarians prefer to operate on a cat when she is older, so her urinary tract is fully developed and the tissue is bigger and easier to manipulate. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) advises to spay a cat prior to 6 months of age to stop urine spraying behavior before it starts and to prevent pregnancy. Unlike dogs, a female cat can be spayed while in heat, but she will be susceptible to increased blood loss resulting from engorged tissues and larger blood vessels. Extra surgery time and care will result from spaying a female in heat, and a veterinarian may charge an extra fee. Speak to your veterinarian to determine the best age and time for your cat to be spayed.

      Your veterinarian will provide you with pre-operative directions, but in general, a cat should not eat the night before surgery. She can still drink water.

      Often, there will be an option to run a pre-anesthetic profile on your cat to confirm that her body can handle anesthesia. This blood work checks liver and kidney functions, along with the blood clotting system, chronic illness and overall health. This is recommended to confirm your cat will not have any issues due to the anesthesia.

    Post-Operative

    • After the surgery, your cat will recover in the veterinarian's office and will be available for pick up later that same day or the next day, depending on the clinic's policies. Once your cat is home, restrict her activity to allow her to recover. Limit access to stairs and high places for 24 hours. Most cats will automatically self-limit their activity levels, however; make sure too that playing is not encouraged.

      The spay incision is closed in several layers: the abdominal muscles, the tissue under the skin and the skin itself. The skin will be stitched with either external skin stitches or internal buried stitches, which dissolve. If external skin stitches were used, a follow-up visit to remove the stitches will need to be scheduled 7 to 10 days after the surgery. You may notice some firm swelling without any fluid drainage or bleeding around the incision site; this is your cat's natural reaction to internal sutures and resolves itself in 3 to 4 weeks. However, always check with our veterinarian if you have any questions or if anything seems out of the ordinary. Check the incision daily to confirm your cat is healing appropriately. Call your veterinarian immediately if you notice a loss of appetite, refusal to drink water for more than a day, vomiting, gagging, diarrhea, fever and drainage, swelling, redness or inflammation at the incision.