What is cat sterilization: how does it work, types, how long does it take?

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After 7-9 months from birth, the cat becomes sexually mature. This means unusual behavior of the pet, loud screams, scratching, noisy fussing at night. Not every owner is happy to see the persistent desire to see a cat, as well as the appearance of offspring. To avoid health problems from unfulfilled cat instincts and difficulties with the placement of numerous kittens, a special operation has been developed - cat sterilization .

Today there are several approaches to this important and sensitive issue of cat health and peace of mind, so let’s dive into the nuances of surgical intervention in the cat’s body in order to prevent the possibility of the animal’s reproduction.

Indications for sterilization of cats

The main reason for castration is to prevent uncontrolled reproduction. This applies equally to both homeless people and pets who have the opportunity to walk on the street. At the age of 6 to 12 months, the cat completes puberty and is completely ready to bear offspring. If the animal does not have breeding value, and the owner does not intend to adopt kittens that will appear 1-2 times a year, the best solution would be to remove the reproductive organs.

Even if the cat does not go outside and cannot contact cats, after puberty the owners face certain problems. During estrus, she begins to meow invitingly and leave marks for males, signaling her readiness to mate. Most females experience outbursts of aggression during this period (the cat rushes at the cat when trying to mate, and sometimes attacks the owners). Castration makes it possible to reduce the level of sex hormones and correct the behavior of the animal.

The reason for castration may be medical indications. The operation is carried out both to eliminate already identified diseases and to prevent such pathologies as breast cancer, cystic ovarian formations, and pyometritis.

If the cat still asks for the cat

The operation was successful, but the cat still wants a cat? There may be several reasons for this:

tubal occlusion was performed or only the uterus was removed. In this case, the cat will not be able to bear offspring, but the production of sex hormones continues, hence the cat’s desire;
The lack of professionalism of the veterinarian causes incomplete removal of the ovaries - even a small part left in the body will produce sex hormones. An abandoned ovary can be detected by ultrasound or gonadotropin test. This requires repeat surgery;
with rare heredity, ectopic ovarian tissue syndrome occurs, when this organ is located in a place not intended by nature, which makes it very difficult for a doctor to find it.
sex hormones can be produced by the pituitary gland and adrenal glands if the cat has already given birth;
the presence of a hormone-producing tumor in the animal’s body.

Before starting to worry, wait a month after the operation and only then consult a doctor.

Contraindications

When planning an operation, it is necessary to exclude the following contraindications:

castration is not carried out within a month after vaccination;
Intervention is not recommended during the period two weeks before estrus and two weeks after its end;
Do not perform surgery on animals that are weak and exhausted after illness.

With age, the risk of postoperative complications increases, so for cats over 10 years of age, surgical castration is performed only as a last resort.

Difference between castration and sterilization

Sterilization (oophorectomy) is tubal ligation with or without removal of the ovaries. Most often, veterinarians perform castration (ovariohysterectomy), which involves removing not only the ovaries, but also the uterus. This method is more effective, as it eliminates the development of tumors and inflammatory diseases in the uterus.

Many people confuse these concepts, separating them not by the specifics of the procedure, but by gender. In everyday life, it is believed that females are sterilized and males are castrated. For convenience, instead of “castration” we will use the more familiar term “sterilization”.

Age

The optimal period for cessation of reproductive function occurs immediately after puberty. It is best to castrate within the first 3-4 weeks. The age of puberty depends on the breed and conditions of detention and can vary between 6-9 months for different animals. Castration is also carried out at a later date, but young cats recover much faster after the procedure, and their risk of complications is minimal.

Castration too early can cause growth and development delays. If necessary, intervention can be carried out at 4-5 months, but provided that the weight has reached 2.7-3 kg.

In some females, it is difficult to independently determine the onset of estrus. If you are determined to undergo sterilization, it is better to show your pet to a veterinarian. He will tell you at what age it is best to apply for the procedure.

The optimal age is determined during planned castration. The operation is performed on both young and adult cats for medical reasons.

At what age can a cat be spayed?

When asked when it is better to sterilize a cat, veterinary experts answer: at 7-8 months. It is believed that it is during this period of animal development that all organ systems are fully formed, the cat is ready to conceive, but there has not yet been pregnancy.

Puberty of a pet can occur earlier or later than the specified period. To determine the optimal interval, you will need to periodically show her to the veterinarian and do examinations. Performing surgery on an adult cat or a very young one is fraught with serious complications and health problems in the future.

Points for and against

The increase in the number of stray animals became the main reason for the general castration of all captured mature individuals, including cats. This is the most humane way to prevent their uncontrolled reproduction. When the issue of sterilization of street cats and cats is decided, the decision is made clearly in favor of the operation.

When it comes to domestic cats, owners first evaluate all the arguments for and against intervention, and only then settle on one of the options.

pros

Spaying has a positive effect on the behavior and condition of the pet. He becomes calm and affectionate, and stops coming into contact with homeless animals. The absence of periodic hormonal changes and childbirth reduces the risk of many diseases. If a cat is neutered at a young age, life expectancy can increase by 20-30%.

Minuses

The negative consequences of the procedure if the technique is followed are minimal. These include the likelihood of developing postoperative complications and weight gain in the absence of diet correction.

Why is sterilization performed?

Nature is straightforward and cruel. The happy, comfortable life of a particular individual is not important to her; only the continued existence of the species matters. In relation to pets, this means that the beloved Murka turns into a constantly anxious creature, looking for a partner.

The sexual instinct is so strong that animals in heat or “rutting” begin to eat worse and feel unwell without satisfying their needs. Neutering a cat solves the problem once and for all.

Traditionally, surgery is used. The medical procedure is performed under general anesthesia - this applies to both castration of cats and sterilization of cats.

After the intervention, the following problems are solved:

The animal becomes calmer and stops screaming at night, calling for a partner to mate.
The problem of unwanted marks goes away, the level of the hormone felinin in the urine decreases, so the contents of the tray stop smelling strongly.
The cat stops trying to escape from the apartment or house.
According to veterinary statistics, sterile animals live longer with proper care, since their hormonal levels are stable.

The procedure is especially important for females, since empty heats without fertilization lead to a dangerous disease - purulent pyometra, which often ends in the death of the pet.

Methods

The most common method used is surgical removal of the ovaries, although castration can be carried out using several methods that differ in technique and complexity. All types of procedures have their pros and cons.

Chemical

Many owners believe that chemical castration is a more gentle method for the animal. As soon as a cat wants a cat, she is given medications that suppress the reproductive system. The effect of more affordable drugs lasts only a few weeks, and the cost of professional products that are injected into the cat’s skin and last up to 1 year is several times higher than the cost of the operation.

Surgical

Surgery is the most common method of terminating reproductive function in cats. The technique involves removing the appendages with the ovaries. If the cat is older than 1.5-2 years and has already given birth, the uterus is also removed.

Radial

This castration method involves exposing the ovaries to radiation. Radiation castration is used extremely rarely due to the high risk of damage to nearby internal organs.

Hormonal

Reversible castration methods involve sterilization by administering hormonal drugs. If a female asks for a cat, she is given an injection with hormones that suppress heat. Hormonal castration has many side effects: from hair loss to the development of tumors in the organs of the reproductive system.

Laparoscopy

Castration using a more gentle laparoscopic method began relatively recently. How does this happen? The ovaries are removed with special instruments through incisions with a diameter of 5 mm. Due to minimal tissue damage and the absence of stitches, the female’s recovery occurs very quickly.

Temperament features: before and after

There is an opinion that cats change after sterilization. This is a common misconception.

If the operation was carried out correctly and no complications arose during it, the animal’s temperament will not suffer. The procedure concerns only the reproductive function, which fades away after completion. As for the rest of the instincts, everything remains the same. The hunting skills and character traits of the pet will not tolerate changes.

Particular attention should be paid to the animal’s diet. After a change in hormonal levels, and this will inevitably happen, the cat may exhibit excessive appetite, which without proper control can lead to excess weight gain. Obesity in cats is a fairly common problem, so the menu for a sterilized cat is best composed of specialized food lines.

Also, to prevent excess weight, it is necessary to encourage the cat to play actively and have an active lifestyle.

Cost of the procedure

The problem of uncontrolled reproduction of stray animals is quite acute. Currently, in many large cities, free castration of cats and dogs caught on the streets is carried out as part of actions and programs aimed at reducing the number of stray animals.

The price of castration of a domestic cat depends on its age, weight, presence of concomitant diseases, method and location of the procedure. Conventional surgery is relatively inexpensive; laparoscopy will cost on average 3-4 times more than traditional surgery. The presence of complex specialized equipment in the veterinary clinic and the qualifications of doctors also affect how much castration costs.

How much does the operation cost?

The cost of the operation depends on many factors. The price question is formed taking into account the following factors:

The doctor’s experience and the prestige of the clinic. You should not trust your pet to an inexperienced veterinarian. It is best to turn to specialists who can boast of positive reviews;
Method of carrying out the operation;
Type of anesthesia and cost of drugs;
The area where the event will take place. Some doctors practice castration at home. This saves owners from having to transport the animal. However, this method cannot ensure complete safety in terms of hygiene.

The minimum cost of the operation is 2500 rubles. It must be remembered that cheapness will definitely affect the quality, so it is better not to take risks and not use the services of doctors who offer low prices.

If you have any questions on the topic, ask them in the comments section.

Anesthesia

Before the procedure, the cat must be given anesthetics. Anesthesia for castration of cats may differ in the method of drug administration (injection anesthesia or inhalation anesthesia) and action (local or general). The type of anesthesia that will be used during castration determines how long the cat’s recovery takes. If the female is too aggressive, the veterinarian may recommend premedication during the preoperative period: she is given sedatives for 1-2 days before castration.

General

Typically, removal of the gonads in cats is performed under general anesthesia. The drugs are administered immediately before castration, and the recovery time is 3-5 hours with injection anesthesia and 10-20 minutes with inhalation anesthesia.

Young cats tolerate general anesthesia without complications. If castration of an adult female is planned, a preliminary cardiac examination is recommended.

Local

Abdominal surgeries are practically not performed under local anesthesia. An exception may be cases when a cat, due to age, the presence of certain diseases or individual allergic reactions, can only be injected with anesthetics into the area of the surgical field.

Injectable

This type of pain relief involves the injection of liquid anesthetics. For cats, drugs are administered intravenously or intramuscularly. Epidural anesthesia, in which the drug is injected into the spinal cord with a special needle, is used quite rarely due to the fact that the complexity of the manipulation requires a fairly highly qualified doctor.

The dose of the drug is calculated depending on the weight of the cat, and all the medicine must enter the body before castration. The condition of the cat during the operation and after its completion depends on the accuracy of the dosage calculation.

Inhalation anesthesia

Currently, almost every veterinary clinic can offer clients inhalation anesthesia. In this case, the drugs will enter the cat's lungs in the form of gas. This type of anesthesia has many advantages: gas is administered as needed at the beginning and during the operation, which eliminates overdose, the cat recovers from anesthesia quickly enough, and there are no side effects on the liver and other internal organs. Since special equipment is required to administer gas anesthesia, the cost of this type of anesthesia is higher.

Possible complications in a cat after sterilization surgery in the suture area

The occurrence of complications in cats after sterilization with properly organized post-operative care is quite rare. But in some cases, complications arise, most often in the suture area. If a cat's stitch breaks after sterilization, there may be several reasons:

the cat licked the seam after sterilization;
stitches are placed incorrectly;
violation of suture care during the rehabilitation period.

A raised seam in a cat after sterilization is a reason to immediately contact a veterinarian. Consolidation or swelling of the suture may be evidence of postoperative edema, being a variant of the norm, the proliferation of granulation tissue structures, which goes away on its own, or the occurrence of pathological processes. The reasons why a cat’s suture is swollen after sterilization may be:

increased pressure on the suture area (tight bandage, careless handling of the animal);
excessively tight seam stitches, violation of section closure methods;
weakening of the body's defenses due to a lack of essential vitamins and minerals;
the presence in the body of latent ailments not diagnosed in a timely manner, leading to weakening of muscle fibers and tissue structures;
drug treatment with corticosteroid medications.

It happens that a cat’s suture does not heal after sterilization as a result of obesity, diabetes, poor diet, malignant tumors, diseases of the kidney structures and coughing.

It is especially important to note that if after sterilization the cat’s suture bleeds, it is necessary to urgently contact a veterinarian for help. This is due to the opening of bleeding in the abdominal cavity, resulting from insufficient coagulation of large vessels supplying the uterus and ovaries. In some cases, adhesions and blood clots form, which must be removed surgically.

If the rules of asepsis and care of the wound surface are violated, the suture may become inflamed. If a suture festers after sterilization in a cat, the cause, as a rule, is the penetration of dust, dirt and foreign pathogenic microflora into the open wound.

In such cases, careful treatment of the seam is prescribed using special antiseptic solutions and the use of antibacterial ointments. In advanced processes, when the suture has festered for a long time, and urgent measures have not been taken, the animal needs another surgical intervention to remove the affected areas of the skin under general anesthesia.

Location

Castration of a cat can be carried out either in a veterinary clinic or at home. It all depends on the circumstances, the condition of the animal and the likelihood of difficult situations arising during the operation itself and after its completion.

At home

The procedure can be carried out at home in cases where the cat is young and does not have concomitant diseases or complications. For the operation, it is necessary to prepare the appropriate place and ensure its cleanliness. All manipulations must be performed exclusively by a veterinarian.

Vet clinic

The veterinary clinic is the best place for castration of cats, since in this case the doctor will have more complex specialized equipment, an operating table and sterile instruments at his disposal. When contacting the clinic, there is a much greater chance of a successful outcome of the intervention if there are medical indications or the cat is of mature age.

Castration of a cat is an abdominal operation, which is more complex than removal of the gonads in cats. Successful recovery of an animal largely depends on the practical experience of a specialist. This is the most common procedure in veterinary practice, which is why most doctors and veterinary clinics provide this service. Before making a choice in favor of a particular medical institution, you should familiarize yourself with the availability of relevant permits and read customer reviews.

Another prerequisite for a successful procedure is strict adherence to all recommendations given by the veterinarian.
If any complications arise, you should not try to help the cat yourself, guided by videos or advice from the Internet. It is necessary to immediately seek medical help to take timely and adequate measures. Castration of dogs
Castration of sheep

Changes after castration

Duration and progress of the operation

In terms of time, cat sterilization does not last long, especially sterilization at home. In this case, the operation lasts up to 20 minutes. The price of this procedure will practically not differ from the operation in the clinic.

Sterilization takes on average 30 minutes (not taking into account rehabilitation time and preparation for surgery). Before the procedure itself, the pet is prepared for surgery and anesthesia is administered. The owner is not allowed to be present during the operation; during this time he can take a walk.

In general, sterilization takes about one to two hours. After the procedure is over, she is transferred to another room, where she wakes up from the anesthesia. Sometimes the animal is given an injection to help it wake up faster. After some time, the pet is picked up by the owner.

Surgery is a wise decision. It does not take much time, and therefore it is better to carry out this procedure once than to care for and distribute kittens to everyone you know.

Also, with this operation you will protect the animal from many unpleasant diseases.

Preparing for surgery: what the owner needs to know

Basic preparation for sterilization (i.e., choosing the right medications, blood tests, etc.) is strictly the prerogative of the veterinarian. The owner himself probably won’t be able to do all this.

Something different is required of him:

The animal should not be fed approximately 12 hours before the due date. This is a very important condition, neglect of which can lead to the cat choking on its own vomit right on the operating table!

For the same reasons, you should not give your cat water when there are less than five hours left before surgery.

If the veterinarian does not mind, the owner can cut the area on the pet’s belly indicated by the specialist. This will significantly simplify the doctor’s work and thereby reduce the overall duration of the operation.

It is advisable to immediately think about where the operation will be performed. Some veterinarians recommend the bathroom, as this tiled room can be thoroughly disinfected. But more often there is not much choice, so you can choose any room... except the kitchen.

The breeder must also ensure that there is a sufficiently wide and stable table that will not tip over during sterilization.

Finally, you need to think in advance where the cat will recover. This should be a separate, isolated room where there will be no other pets or small children.

Estrus, pregnancy and childbirth

Not all owners understand the relationship between the reproductive and reproductive systems. Because of this, it is completely unclear when to spay a cat: before, during or after heat. Even more difficulties arise with the need for childbirth. Many owners mistakenly believe that deprivation of reproductive function is safe only after bearing at least one litter.

Surgery during pregnancy

Surgery is permissible if the pregnancy is no more than 1 month. Otherwise, there is a possibility of increased blood loss and a prolonged postoperative period. Intervention is also permissible in case of abnormal fetal development, poor health or old age, which prevents the safe bearing of kittens. In all other cases, the operation is postponed until complete postpartum recovery.

Surgery after childbirth

After giving birth, a young mother needs 2-3 months to fully recover. During this time, the uterus returns to its original size, and blood circulation in the pelvis is normalized.

Emergency intervention immediately after the birth of kittens is practiced when:

detection of tumors in the reproductive organs;
the presence and high probability of postpartum hemorrhage;
uterine rupture;
damage or abnormalities of the placenta.

In these situations, the risk of possible complications is higher than the risks associated with sterilization. The procedure is considered justified.

Is it necessary for a cat to give birth at least once before sterilization?

The most popular question arising from the baseless myth about the “joy of motherhood.” From a psychological point of view, animals are not subject to emotions and act instinctively. The absence or presence of pregnancy is taken for granted by them, and therefore does not have a fundamental impact on their lives.

An obvious logic appears when considering the issue from a biological point of view. Before pregnancy, female sex hormones (estrogens), responsible for sexual desire, are produced by the ovaries. If they are removed in a timely manner, the animal loses not only the ability to conceive, but also interest in the opposite sex. Otherwise, other internal secretion organs are involved in the production of estrogen. As a result, the operated pet will not be able to become pregnant again, but will continue its loud rituals of calling cats. If you do not want to endure such concerts for the rest of your furry pet’s life, do not allow mating until sterilization.

In addition to the high risk of retaining some sex hormones, pregnancy reduces the effect of the procedure. The probability of developing cancer after the first birth is 8%, and after the second it increases by more than 3 times.

Is it possible to operate on a cat during heat?

During estrus, hormonal changes occur. Any intervention is fraught with multiple complications, including the development of oncology. Due to the dilation of blood vessels, there is a high probability of heavy blood loss. Animals recover from anesthesia worse and have a more difficult time experiencing the postoperative period.

It is safer to carry out surgery 2 weeks before or after estrus, when the pet’s condition returns to normal. Exceptions include prolonged heats with a short interval between them. They impair quality of life and lead to exhaustion. In this case, the animal is sterilized for medicinal purposes.