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How Old Can Kittens Be Spayed

Getting Your Boy Cat Snipped

Kitten spay

If you have a male cat, heâll need to have a simple operation called âthe snipâ. This can stop him from spraying in your house to mark his territory, which can be very smelly, and getting nasty injuries from fights. Heâs also less likely to wander off and get run over, as cats whoâve been snipped tend to stay closer to home.

Whatâs more, having your cat snipped will protect him from a nasty disease called FIV, which is the cat version of HIV. Itâs spread through cat bites, often between males fighting over a female. It canât be caught by people.

How Can You Help Your Cat Before And After Surgery

Most vets ask that your cat not eat or drink for up to 12 hours before surgery to reduce the likelihood of vomiting during the procedure. If your cat goes outdoors or isnt a fan of their cat carrier, consider keeping them indoors so you can easily collect them before the surgery.

A cat spay is generally 30 minutes to an hour, depending on her age and where she is in her heat cycle and the competency of the surgeon, while uncomplicated cat neuter can be done in under five minutes. Cryptorchid cat neuters will take longer and may cost more.

Surgery hurts, so pain medication should be sent home with your cat. When you take your furry friend home, they will be recovering from surgery, so they will need you to monitor them regularly for several days after the surgery.

When you get home, be sure to:

  • Provide your cat with a quiet place to recover indoors and away from other animals.
  • Prevent your cat from running and jumping for up to two weeks following surgery, or as long as your veterinarian recommends.
  • Prevent your cat from licking the incision site, which may cause infection. A cone may be placed on their head to prevent licking.
  • Give all pain medications as prescribed, even if your cat seems fine.
  • Avoid bathing your pet for at least 14 days after surgery.
  • Check the incision site daily to confirm proper healing. If you notice redness, swelling, odor, or discharge, or if your cat has a fever or is acting sick in any way, call your vet.

Spaying A Cat Procedure: What To Expect

First, make an appointment with your veterinarian. Your vet will perform a physical examination to make sure your cat is in good health, and may perform bloodwork to ensure your cat will be fine under anesthesia. This is a great time to ask about any concerns you may have regarding the procedure.

Most hospitals will have you drop your cat off in the morning on the day of surgery. Barring any complications, they will discharge your cat the same day once she has recovered from anesthesia and your veterinarian is satisfied with her status.

Your cat may be groggy and uninterested in food for the rest of the day this is normal. Your veterinarian will provide your cat with appropriate pain management before discharge and will most likely send you home with more medication to keep her comfortable. Increasingly, veterinarians will give injections of timed-release pain medications prior to discharge, which means you wont have to administer any medications at home.

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How To Care For Your Cat After Theyve Been Spayed/neutered

Although cats will feel better a day or two after surgery, owners will still need to make sure their cat is limiting their activity, as not to rupture or strain the recent sutures. âThis is one reason why an e-collar is required in cats after theyâre spayed/neutered,â explains Dr. Mar.

The main aftercare is ensuring your pet is comfortable and pain medication is given if needed, the collar is kept on, and your catâs activity is restricted in order for them to heal quickly and smoothly.

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Early Spay/neuter In Animal Shelters

Spay &  Neuter your cats!

Ensuring that all cats are spayed or neutered before adoption eliminates the risk of adopted animals producing more kittens. Many shelters will not spay/neuter kittens that weigh less than 2 pounds or are younger than 8 weeks other shelters, however, will do so provided that the kittens are healthy, active, and in good body condition .

Figure 2. Pediatric patient undergoing spay.

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Spay Home Recovery Kit For Cats

Prepare ahead of time for your cats spay. This will make things easier for you on the day of, and keep things as calm as possible for both you and your cat. Your spay home recovery kit should include the following:

  • Elizabethan collar

  • Clean, dry bedding

  • Easily accessible food and water

  • Clean litter box

  • A closed-off room where your cat will be calm

The most important thing you can do to prepare for your cats spay is choosing a location where she will be calm and where you will be able to observe her. Make arrangements for outdoor cats to spend time inside for their recovery. If your cat likes to hide, consider enclosing her in a room where you can find her easily.

As you set up your cats recovery room, be sure to provide clean, dry bedding, as damp and/or dirty bedding increases her risk of contracting an infection. Be sure to also include a clean litter box and fresh water, and remove any toys that encourage exuberant play.

Can You Spay A Cat In Heat

Spaying a cat while theyre in heat is not ideal because during this time the blood vessels in their ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes become enlarged. This can make surgery more difficult and your cats recovery time longer. However, some veterinarians will still spay cats in heat although they may charge more for the surgery.

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Caring For Your Cat After The Spaying Process

After being spayed, your cat will likely experience several mood swings and behavior changes.

To help them deal with these life changes, you need to set out a few precautions to ensure they remain comfortable during the process.

There are several things you can do to ensure the safe recovery of your cat after spaying.

Here are some steps you can use to ensure your cat remains comfortable after being spayed:

  • Create a quiet area in your home for your cat to recover
  • inspect the incision area daily to check for any potential infections
  • Try to stop your pet from licking their incision
  • Reduce the physical activity of your cat for at least two weeks after surgery
  • Dont bathe your cat for at least 10 days after spaying

These are all things that will enable you to ensure your cat recovers fully and comfortably. They will also help safeguard your cat from developing infections near the incision area.

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What Is The Best Age To Spay A Kitten

What to Expect When You Spay or Neuter Your Cat | The Cat Butler

So when can a kitten be spayed? There is debate among veterinarians about the time to spay/neuter your cat.

There are three different times in which you can spay a kitten.

First, Early or pediatric spay/neuter is done at six to eight weeks of age.

Second, Standard spay and neuter at five to six months. Finally, waiting until after the first heat, somewhere between eight to twelve months of age.

As someone who has had kittens neutered at nearly all the ages, I want to give you guys my opinion.

Phoebe, was spayed after her first time in heat. And honestly, I do not recommend it! At the time I had just found her and did not realize she was about to go into heat. But knowing what I know now, I would definitely spay my cats prior to their first time in heat. This allows them to not have to go through the stress of being in heat.

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Spaying A Cat: Everything You Need To Know

Written bySmall Door’s medical experts

Making the decision to spay your cat can bring up lots of questions. What are the advantages of spaying your cat? When is the best time to spay? How do you care for your cat once shes been spayed? In this article, well discuss what you need to know to make this decision, as well as what you can do to prepare for your cats spaying.

In This Article

Early Neutering Of Cats: The Risk Factors And Benefits

Nicola Smith Friday, April 1, 2011

Leading feline welfare bodies in the UK are encouraging veterinary suregons to neuter cats earlier to reduce the number of unplanned litters born that lead to many unwanted cats. Veterinary surgeons have been concerned that early neutering may lead to higher mortality rates from surgery, as well as higher incidences of urinary problems, obesity and growth plate fractures. It has been demonstrated that earlier neutering does not cause any long-term health implications, and that the procedure can be performed safely in young kittens as long as the patient is properly prepared, monitored and recovered.

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Allows For Better Visualization Of Organs

When compared to older kittens, younger kittens have proportionately less body fat. This means that veterinary surgeons will be able to visualize the spermatic cords that they need to cut and the testicles they need to remove. This will also help them have a better view of the fallopian tubes of female kittens as well as their ovaries and uterus. Less fat means easier access to these organs.

What Complications Can There Be With Spaying

Kittin

The biggest complications associated with spaying come from the potential weight your cat can gain, which in turn can lead to serious health conditions. Diabetes and joint disease are both linked to obesity in cats, while sedentary or indoor cats can end up with digestive issues due to a lack of movement and lots of time spent grooming themselves.

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Health Effects Of Spaying Or Neutering A Cat

Talking about risk factors, there is no medical or surgical procedure without risk. Neutered male cats are at higher risk of gaining weight and urinary blockages. A good cat owner should always take the advice of a veterinarian about what is best for their kitten, what benefits are there, and what precautions should be taken after the surgery.

Some post-surgery complications include inflammation or infection in the surgery part swelling under skin at the incision site caused by fluid. Avoid your cat licking or chewing the surgery part as it may infect or result in inflammation there. Make sure to provide an healthy cat food diet for time being. There are various delicious cat foods available in market, choose one of them.

Like any surgery, it is an indeed painful process but, the benefits overpower all side effects and pain during this procedure. Providing proper medication before and after surgery may make this process less painful for your pet. The recovery rate is satisfying for this surgery. Your cat awakes after about 10 to 20 minutes and can walk enough.

It Does Not Produce Health Problems In The Kitten

One of the reasons why some veterinarians do not recommend neutering a cat earlier than 6 months of age is the risk of health problems. However, the VTFFSs review of scientific literature showed that early neutering does not cause any health issue in the growing cat. It does not affect the kittens physical and musculoskeletal development. Early neutering also does not lead to problems in the cats behavior.

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When Is The Best Time To Spay Or Neuter A Kitten

Various people have different ideas about the best time to neuter or spay your cat. Standard spay and neuter procedures are typically carried out at around five to six months of age, whereas early or pediatric procedures are typically performed at about six to eight weeks of age. However, if your cat is healthy, these procedures can be done at any point in their life. Therefore, it is never too late to spay or neuter your cat even healthy cats who are in their teens can undergo this procedure without risk.

As kittens can start reproducing when they are as young as 4 to 6 months of age you might want to have your kitty ‘fixed’ before they reach puberty, or have their first heat cycle to prevent accidental pregnancy or certain health conditions.

It’s always best to talk to your veterinarian so they can inform you when the best time is to have your kitten spayed/ neutered.

Why Spay/neuter Is So Important For Cats

Why Kittens Should Be Spayed at 4 Months : Pet Tips

While there might be some differing opinions about the proper age to spay or neuter your cat, theres no disputing that its one of the most responsible things a pet owner can do, not only for the life of a pet, but also to reduce pet overpopulation. Too often, we view spaying and neutering through our own eyes, and how it might affect us, and assume that our pets would look at it the same way. As Coates puts it, physiologically and behaviorally speaking, cats are made to reproduce as frequently as possible. Obviously, we have to put a stop to that. I think it is more humane to surgically eliminate the desire to mate than to block mating but leave the urge intact.

Of course no medical or surgical procedure is without risk, she adds. For instance, neutered male cats are at higher risk for developing urinary blockages, and cats who have been spayed or neutered do have a tendency to gain weight if their diets arent adjusted accordingly. Owners should always talk to their own veterinarian about what is best for their particular pet, but the benefits of spay/neuter almost always outweigh the risks.

It is our responsibility to take care of our pets to the best of our ability, Denish says. They live in our world, our homes and interact with our family and other pets. That means that if spaying/neutering is beneficial, it should be done at any safe time.

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How Much Do Kitten Shots Cost

Depending on where you live, the individual veterinarianâs prices, and the type of vaccine, the cost of your new kittenâs first vaccination may cost around $20-$45 per shot. Veterinarians will also want to perform a physical examination of your kitten before administering what shots your kitten needs.

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Changing The Landscape For Cats

For 30 years, Mechler, founder of Spay USA, worked at the forefront of the spay and neuter movement in the United States. But it wasnt until she retired in 2010 as director of Spay USAhaving radically improved the accessibility and affordability of spay and neuter servicesthat she started to ponder the importance of the age at which veterinarians perform these surgeries.

When I retired and stepped away from the everyday work, the missing piece of the puzzle became clear, she says.

Mechler read a 2009 study by IPSOS Marketing for PetSmart Charities that showed more than 75 percent of the public doesnt know the appropriate age to spay and neuter pets. Another study that influenced Mechler revealed that spayed female cats and dogs in four Massachusetts towns accounted for the majority of all the litters bornbecause they bred before they were spayed.

Mechler realized that if cats could be prevented from having even one litter, that could greatly reduce the number of cats who are euthanized in animal shelters. To achieve this, consistent veterinary guidelines that promote spaying and neutering before cats can breed would have to be in place.

Mechler says she that there is a need to campaign for spay and neuter before a cats first heat, which is usually at about 4 or 5 months, in the hope that veterinarians would be more willing to change the customary age from 6 months.

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Is There An Optimal Age For A Cat To Be Spayed Or Neutered

You are preventing more than just the birth of unwanted kittens when you get your cat spayed or neutered. You are also protecting them from some serious health conditions. Today, our Douglasville vets discuss the best age to have your kitten fixed as well as the benefits of having your cat spayed or neutered.

Neutering May Extend The Life Of Your Male Cat

Know if a Kitten Is Old Enough to Neuter or Spay

The Banfield State of Pet Health report showed that neutering seems to be associated with a longer life for male cats, too. Neutered males had a life expectancy of 11.8 years, versus only 7.5 years for intact males.

How does neutering extend the life of male cats? For one, it eliminates the risk testicular cancer and reduces the risk for prostate cancer.

It also reduces aggression in male cats, and with it, the desire to roam and fight. If your intact male cat is allowed outdoors, or escapes, hes more likely to be injured in a fight, or even in traffic, as his mind is only on one thing.

Feline AIDS and leukemia are spread between cats through bites, and these bites can be the result of sexual competition.

So, neutering reduces both the urge to mate and the urge to fight about it, and reduces the likelihood that your cat will contract one of these often-fatal infections.

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At What Age Should I Spay Or Neuter My Cats

Submitted by: Philip A. Bushby, DVM, MS, DACVS

In June of 2017, the AVMA formally endorsed the consensus document put forth by the Veterinary Task Force on Feline Sterilization for Age of Spay and Neuter Surgery, which recommends cats not intended for breeding be gonadectomized by five months of age. This joined endorsements from other veterinary medical and cat breeding associations including the American Association of Feline Practitioners, Association of Shelter Veterinarians, American Animal Hospital Association, Winn Foundation, Catalyst Council, Cat Fanciers Association and The International Cat Association. Feline Fix by Five is a campaign promoted by the Marians Dream Foundation to share this recommendation that has garnered such broad support. FFF was born out of awareness that cats can be reproductively active by 4 to 5 months of age, yet most veterinarians recommend spay/neuter of cats at 6 months of age or older. The result of this mismatch between age at which cats can become pregnant and the recommended age of sterilization is demonstrated any time one walks into a local animal shelter.

For more information on Feline Fix by Five go to: .

For more information on the AVMAs position on spay neuter go to: .

To view a video describing the importance of spay neuter of cats by 5 months of age go to:

  • Esther Mechler, Personal Communication, October 25, 2017.

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