Cat castration is a routine operation in veterinary centres, carried out to control the feline population. Whether you have a female cat at home, or you want to do a good deed for a colony of stray cats by preventing new kittens from being born, spaying and neutering female cats is always the best option.
Spaying cats also prevents any problems arising while the animal is in heat, as hormonal and behavioural changes are more easily regulated.
If you are also thinking of spaying your female pet, find out what cat castration is and the care you will have to provide throughout the procedure.
What is cat castration?
Cat castration consists of a surgery through which the ovaries and the uterus are extracted, or just the ovaries in cases where the cat needs to recover faster as it will be released into the wild.
With the animal under general anaesthesia, the veterinarian proceeds to shave the fur in the area where the incisions will be made to extract the cat’s reproductive organs, and then to stitch it up again. This operation does not imply any change in the animal’s behaviour, but it does prevent it from becoming pregnant, and from being in heat again.
When should cats be castrated?
The best age for cat castration is from 5 or 6 months. It is during this time when cats begin to produce sexual hormones, which is why it is important to act quickly to avoid the risk of a possible pregnancy.
Recovery from cat castration
Female cat castration is much more complex than that of a male cat, so you will have to monitor your cat more carefully during the days following the operation.
When your cat wakes up from the anaesthetic at the vet, you can take her home with the corresponding recommendations of the professional who has treated her. It is important to alleviate the cat’s pain with medication, in addition to avoiding infections with a suitable antibiotic treatment.
Female cats will usually have to wear a cone for the first few days so that they do not lick the wound. The scarring process may take longer if you do not monitor your cat. If you notice any inflammation, redness, bleeding or strange discharge, it is important to go to the emergency room as soon as possible. The same applies if the cat has a fever, if it is in a lot of pain, or if you notice that it is too quiet and has no appetite.
Possible risks of castration
One of the reasons that you may be unsure whether to spay a cat or not is the fear of the operation and the risks it could pose to the animal. Although cat castration nowadays is a very safe process, in which advanced veterinary techniques are practised, it is never completely free of dangers.
The worst thing that could happen to a cat after the operation is the wound may get infected. This can easily be prevented by keeping an eye on the wound once the cat is home and speaking to the veterinarian about any changes you notice in the animal.
The best way to prevent your cat from falling pregnant or having heat episodes that can become dangerous is castration. At Sepicat we advise you to be well informed about the cat castration to encourage you to take the step and improve your pet’s life.