Cat Spays

Spaying is the term used for sterilising a female. The actual operation performed is an ovariohysterectomy - removal of the uterus and the ovaries.

Unless a cat has been brought for breeding purposes it should be spayed. Female cats that go outside WILL get pregnant. They display polyoestrus seasons, in other words they more or less stay on heat all during the summer until they are mated. A cat on heat is a sight to be seen and heard. She will roll and yowl and cry – not much fun at 3am!

Advantages of spaying

Spaying will:

• Prevent unwanted pregnancies
• Leave you with no ‘on heat’ to deal with
• Reduce the contact between cats and the spread of diseases such as FIV and FELV
• Prevent infections of the uterus – pyometra
• Reduce the chance of mammary tumours later in life
• Reduce straying – cats will often walk long distances to find a mate, getting lost or involved in an accident on route.

Myths about spaying

• She will get fat. If fed a balanced diet in the right quantity this will be avoided.
• Her personality will change. This is not true. The only difference will be that she will be more focused on you and home than on getting out and finding a mate.

The operation

An incision is made through the skin and the muscle layers into the abdomen, just behind the umbilicus (belly button) in the mid line. The uterus and ovaries are found. The surgeon ligates (ties off) all the blood vessels, etc., so that the ovaries and uterus can be safely removed. When the uterus and ovaries are removed, three layers of sutures are used to close the muscle, subcutaneous and skin layers.
Your cat should be ready to go home by 4pm the same day. Please telephone first before coming to collect.

Recovery

When your cat arrives at home please provide a warm, safe area for recovery. She may feel drowsy or slightly nauseous after the surgery and should be disturbed as little as possible during the first 12 hours at home. If she has not resumed eating and drinking within 24 hours of surgery please contact us for advice. 
For at least 5 days post operatively it would be best to keep your cat indoors to prevent the surgical site from becoming infected or the stitches from pulling loose. This is often easier said than done as cats feel so well after the procedure!
We do have a plastic buster collar to place around a cat’s neck, if necessary, to prevent licking. On the rare occasions when your cat may lick or pull stitches out, please return to us as soon as possible for a checkup.
The stitches need to be removed two weeks after the operation and this only takes a few minutes. The appointment for stitch removal can be booked when you collect your cat after the operation.