Spaying/Neutering

Spaying or neutering your cat will make him/her a healthier and happier cat. All cats not intended for breeding should be surgically spayed or neutered for many reasons:

FEMALES: Benefits Of Spaying (Ovariohysterectomy)

• Prevents signs of estrus (heat). (Female cats especially can be very irritating when they are "in heat".)
• Decreases surplus of puppies and kittens. (Too many cats and kittens are euthanized every year because there aren't enough homes for them.)
• Decreases the chance of developing breast tumors or breast cancer later in life, especially if done at a young age.
• Prevents the occurrence of cystic ovaries and uterine infections (such as pyometra) later in life. These conditions can be serious, even fatal, if they occur.

MALES: Benefits Of Neutering (Castration)

• Decreases the desire to roam the neighborhood.
• Decreases aggression, may become more loving cats (more affectionate).
• Prevents odor of male cat urine.
• Helps prevents male cat spraying and marking furniture and walls. (Note: A small percentage of neutered cats will still spray or mark furniture and walls.)

Your community will also benefit! Unwanted animals are becoming a very real concern. As a potential source of rabies and other diseases, they can become a public health hazard. The capture, impoundment, and eventual destruction of unwanted animals will cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year.

Facts about Spaying or Neutering Your Cat:

Spaying or neutering your cat will not cause your cat to get fat or lazy. This comes from overfeeding and poor exercise.

Personalities are not altered by spaying. Personalities do not fully develop until two years of age. Aggressiveness and viciousness are not the result of surgery. Personalities will only get better!

Surgical risk in young animals is very slight due to modern anesthesia and techniques, but there is always some small risk when an anesthetic is used. It is much easier on your cat to be spayed before going through a “heat” cycle, due to the  smaller size of the reproductive tract. Your cat's veterinarian can help you determine when your cat is old enough to be spayed.

Surgery is performed painlessly while your cat is under general anesthesia. When your cat is spayed or neutered, your veterinarian will place a tube into his/her throat to protect his/her airway. Your veterinarian and his/her staff will monitor your cat carefully during and after the surgery to ensure a successful and safe outcome. Parameters monitored usually include respiratory rate, heart rate, temperature, amount of carbon dioxide being breathed out (ETCO2), amount of oxygen in the blood (PO2), electrical activity in the heart via an ECG, and blood pressure. Your cat will receive pain medications before, during and after the surgical procedure. Your cat's veterinarian may dispense pain medication for you to give your cat at home for a few days after the surgery while your cat recovers.