Neutering
FAQs
What
is neutering?
Neutering
is a surgical procedure carried out under anaesthetic. In a male
cat, both testes are removed from small incisions made in the scrotum.
In females, the uterus and ovaries are removed via an incision either
on the left side or underneath.
Taking
the cat to the vet
You'll
need to book an initial appointment for the operation. Vets may
require the cat to be brought for a pre-anaesthetic check before
the day of the operation. The cat will normally be admitted between
8am-10am in the morning and able to be picked up that evening and
will need to have been kept indoors without food for some of the
night before. Your vet will advise.
The
neutering process - will it hurt?
Modern
anaesthetics and pain relief mean that the process is really painless
these days. Many vets also operate using a tiny incision on the
left side of the cat, reducing pain in comparison to the equivalent
procedure in dogs or humans. Vets will also give the cats pain relief
injections covering the period after surgery. If you are unsure,
please speak with your vet.
What
aftercare will my cat need after the operation?
The
vet will probably advise you to keep the cat indoors for a few days
after surgery. It may need to wear a buster collar,a plastic lampshade
shape collar to stop it chewing its stitches. Stitches may need
removing after seven or 10 days, or may be dissolvable. Male cats
have no sutures and are normally able to go outdoors again within
two days of surgery. In the longer term, cats will have a lower
energy requirement and so will need less food.
How
will my cat benefit?
The
cat will be less likely to wander, stray, call (if female), spray
(if male). The chance of contracting some infectious cat diseases
will be reduced, as will the likelihood of developing mammary tumours
(breast cancers), pyometra (life threatening womb infections), testicular
cancer, and many other illnesses. Male cats in particular will improve
in physical body condition and their urine will smell less pungent!
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