Cats / Health
Spaying, medically called an ovariohysterectomy, is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in veterinary practice, and understanding the steps involved often eases an owner's nerves ahead of the
Spaying, medically called an ovariohysterectomy, is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in veterinary practice, and understanding the steps involved often eases an owner's nerves ahead of their cat's procedure.
Your cat will typically be asked to fast overnight, since anaesthesia is safer on an empty stomach. At the clinic, a pre-anaesthetic check and sometimes bloodwork confirms she is fit for the procedure. An intravenous line is often placed to administer anaesthesia and fluids during surgery.
Once fully anaesthetised, the surgical area on her lower abdomen is shaved and cleaned. The vet makes a small incision and carefully locates and removes both ovaries along with the uterus. This is why spaying is more involved than neutering a male, since it is abdominal surgery rather than a more superficial procedure. The incision is closed in layers, often with dissolvable internal sutures and either external stitches, surgical glue, or skin staples, depending on the vet's preferred technique. The whole procedure usually takes between 20 and 45 minutes for a healthy cat.
Most cats go home the same day or the following morning, groggy from anaesthesia but generally alert within a few hours. An Elizabethan collar or recovery suit prevents licking at the incision. Activity should be restricted, no jumping, running or rough play, for around 7 to 10 days while the incision heals, and a follow-up visit checks that healing is on track and removes external stitches if non-dissolvable ones were used.
Once healed, she will no longer go into heat, cannot become pregnant, and has a significantly reduced risk of mammary tumours, particularly if spayed before her first heat, along with the elimination of risk from uterine infections and ovarian or uterine cancers. It is a permanent, one-time procedure with lasting health and behavioural benefits.
Article content © Ravi Teja. All rights reserved.
Cats / Health
Almost every calico cat you meet, with that distinctive patchwork of orange, black and white, will be female. This is not folklore, it comes down to genetics, and it is one of the more elegant example
2 min read
Cats / Health
A swollen eye looks alarming, and it should get your attention quickly. The eyelid, the eyeball itself, or the tissue around the eye can all swell for very different reasons, so working out which one
2 min read
Cats / Getting Started
Most cats never need their claws trimmed at all, and clipping can even work against them, since cats rely on their claws for both defence and climbing. As cats age and become less mobile, though, claw
1 min read
