Procedure for spaying cats

To protect your feline friend from dangers posed by pregnancy and giving birth – as well as reducing the risk of health issues like certain cancers – get them spayed!

‘Spaying’ is an ovariohysterectomy, which means when you spay your cat, it involves surgery to remove a female feline’s ovaries and uterus. 

We’re going to explore the surgical procedure for spaying a female feline and learn about the aftercare required, along with finding out why it’s important to get cats spayed…

Reasons to spay your cat

Spaying your cat helps to prevent:

• Pregnancy.
• Behaviours associated with being in heat.
• Ovarian cancer.
• Uterine cancer.

By spaying your feline friend, you’re also reducing the risk of her developing mammary tumours and breast cancer by 90%!

Procedure for spaying a cat

When a cat is spayed, it could be the first time they’ve ever had surgery, and the build-up to surgery may cause you to feel anxious - understanding exactly what’s about to happen can ease a few of the worries buzzing around your mind before the big day.

Remember: All surgeries carry risk, which is something your vet will discuss in detail prior to booking your cat’s procedure. Consider your cat’s pre-op appointment an opportunity to share your concerns and ask the vet anything you’d like to know before their surgery.

Before surgery

The night before your cat’s operation is when preparations begin. It’s best to keep your feline friend indoors, and set up their cat carrier ready for the following morning.

You’ll probably be asked to stop feeding your cat after a certain time, too.

On the morning of their procedure, you might need to stop your cat drinking water a couple of hours before they need to be booked in at the vet’s. 

During surgery

Once they’ve been booked in, your cat will be given a thorough check by a vet to make sure they’re well enough for the procedure to go ahead.

If the vet is happy with your cat’s condition, they’ll take your feline friend to a cosy, clean cage and give them a sedative to help them relax.

As soon as your cat is calm and content, the vet will take them to the operating theatre to give them anaesthetic and pain relief. At this point, your cat will be asleep, so vet nurses can clip the surgical site and set up the equipment they’ll need to monitor your cat throughout the procedure.

Spaying your cat successfully requires the vet to make a small incision (cut) in your cat’s abdomen area, before removing the ovaries and uterus. 

Experienced vet nurses monitor the overall stability of your cat’s condition, to allow the vet to focus solely on performing surgery, including: 

• Respiration (breathing) rate.
• All vital signs.
• Reflexes.
• Temperature.
• Blood gases.

Then, the moment your cat’s ovaries and uterus have been removed, the vet will stitch each layer of skin until they’ve completely closed the incision.

Following a final check of your cat’s condition and surgical site, the vet will begin the process of slowly waking your feline friend from the anaesthetic. 

After surgery

Following their operation, your cat will enjoy a calm recovery in a cosy, comfortable, clean environment. 

She’ll then be closely monitored by a vet nurse for a few hours, to make sure your cat has recovered well, before sending her home with you.

Aftercare following surgery

Caring for your cat properly after she’s been spayed is essential, to protect her from infection and injury.

While every feline’s situation is unique, if everything goes well and your cat is spayed successfully, these are some of the steps to take to help her heal quickly:

• Use a correctly fitted, buster collar (cone), inflatable recovery collar, or vet-approved body suit to prevent your cat from scratching at her stitches.
• She may need to be kept in one room, to allow your feline friend to rest in a quiet, warm, and comfortable place – away from noise and excitement.
• Attend all of her check-up appointments, so vets and vet nurses can assess how well your cat is healing after her surgery.
• Make sure she stays indoors until the vet informs you that she’s ready for her routine to return to normal.

Keeping costs down

Depending on where you live, which veterinary practice you choose, and the health of your cat, spaying them could be expensive. This procedure isn’t usually covered by pet insurance, so you may need to ‘shop around’ by contacting multiple vet practices in your local area, to discover the most affordable option. 

Before booking your cat in to be spayed, check whether the veterinary practice will accept payment plans or neutering vouchers.

In case you need financial support to cover the cost of spaying your cat, visit the Cats Protection website to find out about schemes available according to your circumstances.

Access veterinary advice about spaying your cat, without leaving your home, by contacting Joii Pet Care. As an Animal Friends cat policyholder, you’re able to book vet video consults at any time, for FREE, through the Joii app!