Spay surgery is one of the most common cat surgeries and is typically done when a kitten is about 5 months old. There are both health and behavioral benefits.
Spaying, also known as ovariohysterectomy, is a surgical procedure in which a female cat’s ovaries and uterus are removed.
This surgery is one of the most common procedures performed on cats and typically has very low risks involved when performed by a trained veterinarian. Read on to learn more about spaying and how to help your cat recover from this surgery.
All female cats who are not intended for breeding should be spayed, especially if they roam outdoors. But, besides preventing pregnancy, spaying also:
- eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine cancers
- reduces the risk of breast cancer
- prevents pyometra (a fatal uterine infection)
- prevents estrous cycle behaviors such as peeing outside the litter box and yowling
The American Animal Hospital Association recommends that kittens be spayed by the time they’re 5 months old, as does the “fix-by-five” initiative.
Kittens can have their first “heat cycle” (aka estrus) by 5 or 6 months old, and the aim is to spay them before that first heat cycle because they will then have a 91% lower risk of developing mammary cancer. Kittens at this age also typically recover quickly after surgery.
Most female cats are spayed traditionally, that is, through an incision on the cat’s belly. The veterinary team will shave the cat’s belly so they can see the area clearly and make a 1- to 2-inch incision through which they will perform the surgery.
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For either type of spay, your veterinarian should give you instructions for fasting your cat the night before. This is so they don’t have anything in their stomach to accidentally vomit up during anesthesia.
During surgery, general anesthesia will be used to keep your cat comfortable and asleep, and pain-relieving medications will be given. Their vitals will be monitored throughout. Most surgeries take about 30 minutes. Afterward, cats fully wake from anesthesia within 30 to 45 minutes but will likely be sleepy for 24 hours. Most cats go home the same day.
To fully heal from the incision, it can take 10 to 14 days, and longer for the internal sutures to fully heal.
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During recovery, try to keep your cat calm as the incision heals, especially in the first few days. Refrain from time outdoors, intense play, running, and jumping, and keep them dry.
Make sure they do not lick at the sutures. A recovery cone collar or soft fabric cone can be used to prevent them from licking.
Check the incision site daily to monitor healing progress. It should look dry, clean, with closed edges, and pink but not red. A small soft lump may be normal in the first week.
It’s also important to know that spaying can reduce their metabolism and change their dietary needs.
As you check the incision area, keep an eye out for any signs of infection. Call your vet if you see any of the following:
- increasing or redness
- heat/warmth
- swelling that worsens
- a growing lump
- pain or sensitivity
- thick, colored, or foul-smelling discharge (pus)
- bleeding after the first 48 hours
- incision opening (dehiscence)
- bad odor
According to Vincent J. Tavella, DVM, MPH, “Regularly checking the incision for these changes is very important. The sooner any concerning signs are noticed and reported to your veterinarian, the sooner your cat can receive treatment and recover.”
Spaying helps to manage pet populations and mitigate behaviors that may interfere with the owner-pet bond. It also helps prevent a variety of diseases.
It’s important to discuss spaying surgery with your veterinarian if you have an unspayed female cat.
You can help your feline friend to recover from spay surgery by keeping them calm, preventing them from licking the incision site as it heals, monitoring for any signs of infection, and, of course, giving them lots and lots of cuddles.