Even non-cat owners will hear the term ‘neutering’ or ‘spaying’ – aka when we castrate cats to prevent breeding. Neutering is when the procedure is done in males, while spaying refers to females. The word ‘repair’ is also used to refer to both.
Neutering and spaying are practiced for a variety of reasons, from health benefits to improved behavior. Fixing is also used to control the cat population, as it helps prevent pregnancy and livestock.
According to Dr. Brian Evans, DMV and Medical Director at Dutch, although cats may experience pain during surgery and soreness as they recover, “the pain can be controlled with an injectable pain medication on the day of surgery. surgery and oral pain continue to take the medicine at home. Your veterinarian will be able to help you come up with a more detailed recovery plan to keep your cat comfortable during their recovery.
Why should cats be neutered or killed?
Research shows that about 80% of households in the United States with cats have fixed their pets and pet parents in general. donate of the procedure. But why is it important? Spaying and neutering bring many benefits, including the following.
Overpopulation control
Simply put, spaying and neutering prevent overpopulation. “How does the world have so many cats?”, We hear you cry. While we agree with the above point, overpopulation is really just another way of saying that people can’t always provide the care and attention that cats need to thrive. and healthy. Sadly, this can lead to cats being abandoned in shelters or left wandering the streets.
Stray cats are more likely to suffer from affected by diseaseand “feral cat populations have a negative impact on wild bird populations, as well as spreading animal parasites in places like children’s sandboxes,” says Evans.
Prevent some health problems
We all want our cats to be healthy, and caring or talking can help reduce the risk of various diseases for cats.
Some researchers found that cats that die before one year of age are up to 86% less likely to grow breast tumorwhile others Find that immobilized cats have a low risk of infection with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV).
Spanking can also help prevent female cats from developing uterine problems such as pyometraThat can make them very sick and need emergency surgery, says Evans.
Change unwanted behaviors
Love your cat, but don’t be too fanatic of some behavior behavior? Neutering can lower tendency of spray urine and aggression, along with sexual acts. Meanwhile, beating a female cat means she will no longer be in heat – thus reducing associated behaviors such as spraying urine, menstrual bleeding and too noisy.
Increased longevity
You’ll want to enjoy as many days with your cat as possible, and immobilizing your cat can help prolong their life. Research revealed neutered cats lived 62% longer than their non-nursing counterparts, while dead females enjoyed 39% more days than non-fed cats.
This is thought to be due to a variety of factors, from a lower risk of cancer and infectious disease to the likelihood of being hit by a car while out looking for a mate.
Eliminate heat cycle
Heat This is the time when cats are most fertile and occurs between spring and fall. During this phase, heat ‘cycles’ usually last about a week and repeat every two to three weeks.
“Striking your female cat will keep them from having a thermogenic cycle, which can make them more difficult,” says Evans.
iStock / Valeriya
When can the cat be fixed?
Technically, a cat can be neutered or killed at any point – meaning that if you get a larger cat and aren’t caged, they can still have the procedure done.
If you are a kitten parent, “I recommend [for] Cats will be slaughtered around six months old,” says Dr. Sehaj Grewal, DVM. Fixing your cat around this time “reduces the risk of reproductive cancers and other hormonal diseases,” he adds.
However, pediatric neutering – occurring before the cat turns six months old – is becoming more common. One research showed that doing so reduced the cat’s risk of developing mammary tumors by 91% (compared with 86% at one year of age).
For years, veterinarians believed that fixing too early could slow growth, but research other suggestions. Repairs made before six months are not affiliated with get a raise risk of death or health problems, but it’s worth noting that it can increase levels of shyness. Talk to your veterinarian to discuss the best approach for your cat.
How do cats get spanked or neutered?
The beating and patting process is relatively quick, usually taking less than 20 minutes – although the exact time depends on the sex and size of the cat. “Both are elective procedures performed under general anesthesia, and you shouldn’t feed your cat anything the night before to avoid complications,” says Grewal.
During delivery, your veterinarian will make a small incision into the scrotum, through which the testicle is removed. In egg laying, a small incision is made in the abdomen through which the ovary is released.
“Traditionally with litter cats, veterinarians have removed both the ovaries and the uterus – although there is little need for hysterectomy,” says Evans. Today, “more advanced veterinarians have advocated ovariectomy alone, as a way to reduce pain and potential complications associated with traditional caesarean sections.”
What is Recovery from Spaying or Neutering?
Recovery from movement or acclimatization isn’t as quick as the procedure itself, but your cat should stop before it’s too long. “Most cats are healed within a week or so,” says Evans.
As with all surgical procedures, there are risks of complications, some more serious than others. The most common is cats licking the incision and potentially causing an infection, says Evans. However, he adds that keeping your kitten in a E-collar or recovery suit and giving them medicine can help prevent this.
Both anecdotes and sciential evidence indicates weight gain Can be a problem for neutered cats due to hormonal changes during surgery, and fixed cats may not require as much food afterward as non-fixed cats. Discuss with your veterinarian cut down on portion sizes is necessary for your cat.
These procedures are not completely risk-free, however the risk is low. To reduce the chance of any complications, “it is important to have a medical evaluation prior to the procedure,” adds Grewal.
Very rare “complications include risk of death from anesthesia [and] Grewal said. A Frenchman research found the death rate in cats from anesthesia was just 0.12% – and this could be “prevented .” [through] He added. Furthermore, Evans explains, “if your cat has a heart murmur or other evidence of heart disease, further testing may be recommended to get them safely sedated.”
iStock / Omar Shamsuddin
How much does it cost to get a fixed cat?
Caring for our feline friends isn’t always cheap. The cost of laying eggs for a cat is usually more expensive than in captivity, as the process is more complicated. Spaying can be around $200, while neutering can be half this price.
If this isn’t financially feasible for you, don’t panic. “Some hospitals and community services do it for free or at a very low cost,” says Evans. The PetSmart Charity offers a list clinics provide low-cost repair services, as American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. You can also ask your local shelter if they know of any free or low-cost providers.
Take it
Repair is an important route to take with your cat: Not just for their health and fitness, but to help control the entire cat population.
Organizations like Alley Cat Allies is working to ensure feral cats are euthanized or neutered through trap-return (TNR) programs. This involves carefully using a box trap to trap the cat so it can be euthanized at the local veterinarian before being released back into the open. To date, TNR has been shown to be highly effective in reducing the number of stray kittens into shelter and – even more positively – quantity mortified.
