Spay Vs Neuter: Whats The Difference
Female cats are spayed and male cats are neutered, and while both have the same result , the two procedures are handled differently due to anatomy.
Neutering involves removal of the testicles, which in a normal cat are external. Kruck says. The procedure itself, in the hands of an experienced veterinarian, is rather short.
On the other hand, Spaying involves an abdominal surgery to remove the ovaries and typically the uterus as well. This procedure is internal and therefore more invasive, and takes somewhat longer, though it is still not a terribly long procedure.
In fact, neutering a cat can take just 30-60 seconds , while spaying takes about 5-10 minutes to be completed, Corbett says. He notes that those numbers are more accurate for high-volume clinics though, and that private veterinarians can take 20-40 minutes for these procedures.
Overall, its important for pet owners to understand what actually goes on and that, in the end, the pet wont be able to reproduce, said Corbett. He says that some male pet owners can struggle with neutering a male animal on the assumption that it will affect the animals masculinity. Corbett cautions that animals are different from humans. I dont really think that animals look at masculinity the same way we do.
Are There Other Benefits To Spaying My Cat
The most obvious benefit is the prevention of unplanned pregnancies. There is no behavioral, medical, or scientific reason for letting your cat have a litter before she is spayed.
“There is no behavioral, medical, or scientific reason for letting your cat have a litter before she is spayed.”
Once a cat reaches puberty, usually at around seven months of age, she will have a heat or estrous cycle every two to three weeks for most of the year, unless she becomes pregnant. She will be ‘in heat’ or receptive to mating for approximately one week in each cycle. During heat, she may display unsociable behavior such as loud and persistent crying and frequent rubbing and rolling on the floor. She may also urinate outside her litterbox as a marking behavior. This behavior coupled with her scent, will attract male cats from miles around. Removal of the ovaries will stop her estrus cycles.
Learn About Potential Complications
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Did your cat go into heat before you had a chance to have her spayed? Perhaps she was an early bloomer and the onset of estrus was a surprise to you. Or, maybe you waited longer than ideal to schedule the surgery. Either way, if you want to avoid an accidental pregnancy, you will need to have your cat spayed soon. Can a cat be spayed while she is in heat? The short answer is yes. However, it is not an ideal situation.
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What Is The Difference Between Spaying And Neutering
When we discuss getting a companion animal ‘fixed’, we are using a blanket term that refers to both the spaying of femal animals and the neutering of male animals.
Spaying Female Cats
When we spay a cat, the uterus and ovaries, or occasionally just the ovaries, of the female cat are surgically removed.
After the spaying procedure has been done, she will not be able to have kittens.
Neutering Male Cats
Neutering involves removing the male cat’s testicles.
When your male cat is neutered, he will be unable to father kittens.
Overview Of Femoral Fractures In Cats
Fractures of the femur are some of the most common fractures seen in cats. These fractures are usually the result of major trauma, but they can be caused by disease of the bone itself.
Generally, femoral fractures cause acute, non-weight bearing lameness of the affected hind leg. These fractures can occur in an immature bone or in a mature one they can be open or closed fractures, and can be simple or comminuted .
Depending on the nature of the fracture and the age of the cat, different methods of repair may be indicated for each situation. Femoral fractures can have serious complications if not repaired or if the repair fails.
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Its Difficult To Tell Whether A Strange Cat Is Neutered
You might be asking, Why are we spending all this time talking about spaying, neutering, and shelter population statistics? Because when you look out the window, you see a male cat lurking outside. Maybe you detect the acrid ammonia stench of that same male cats urine. Hes been spraying around your house, apartment complex, or in your neighborhood, and youre concerned he might attempt sexual congress with your intact female cat.
The fact is, determining whether that stray tom has been fixed can be difficult, if not impossible. Well relate all the ways available to you that we have found, but most depend on direct physical contact with what could be a quarrelsome, if not dangerous, stray cat. Honestly, its hard enough to tell whether a male cat has been neutered even if he is familiar and friendly. It can take a veterinary examination to know for certain. This is why were putting so much emphasis on making sure your own cats, male and female, are spayed and neutered.
Recovery Time For Spay And Neuter Procedures
After you bring your cat home youll likely want to make sure its as comfortable as possible while it recovers. Humlie recommends keeping your cat separate from other house pets, if possible, and offering your cat a quiet room to relax. Corbett notes that jumping could be painful, and suggests lifting your cat instead of, for example, letting it jump up onto the bed.
Youll need to keep an eye on your cats incision and make sure its not being bothered with . Corbett recommends examining the surgical area before even taking your cat home from the vet so you can get an idea of what it looks like and youll notice if the area gets swollen or looks worse, which could mean its not healing properly or has become infected.
Recovery time depends on a few things, like age and general health, so itll be different for each cat. Corbett says the anesthesia will stay in your cats system for 12-48 hours, which could affect energy level and appetite, and the healing of the actual incision itself takes one to two weeks, depending on the type of stitches used.
One of the most difficult parts of the recovery period might be convincing cats to rest when they think theyre already fine.
Most importantly, you should follow your veterinarians instructions for post-operative care, Kruck says.
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Is There An Optimal Age For Cat Spay Or Neuter
Philip A. Bushby
DVM, MS, DACVS
Dr. Bushby, a 1972 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, is a board-certified surgeon who has served on the MSU faculty for 42 years. He established the MSU CVM shelter program and is a frequent speaker on efficient spay/neuter techniques. He was a member of the organizing committee for the shelter medicine specialty board, received the ASPCA Henry Berg Award in 2008, the AVMA Animal Welfare Award in 2012, and the Association of Shelter Veterinarians Meritorious Service Award in 2015.
Over the past several decades, the recommended age for spay or neuter of cats has changed. At one time, the recommended age for spay was after the female cat had a litter, then it changed to after the first heat cycle, and eventually the veterinary profession settled on 6 months of age or older. Given that cats reach sexual maturity at about 5 months of age, more and more people are advocating lowering the spay/neuter age to 4 to 5 months and support early spay/neuter in animal shelters. All of these varied recommendations lead one to question: is there an optimal age at which cats should be spayed/neutered?
- Eliminates reproductive emergencies such as pyometra and dystocia
- Prevents unintended pregnancies
- Potentially decreases behavioral problems linked with cat relinquishment
How To Repair Screens
If you live in an area that allows you to keep doors and windows open part of the year, you might just need to know how to repair a torn window screen. Cats may scratch a screen or even get a claw caught in the netting if a bird or squirrel happens to pass by while your furriest friend is gazing outside. The good news is that screens are relatively easy to fix.
If the damage is just a small tear or hole, it can easily be fixed with a piece of adhesive screen repair tape. If you have a larger hole to tend to, simply cut the damage out of the screen with a sharp utility knife and then patch it with a piece of ScreenMend. They are pre-sized screen patches that are insanely easy to use. Apply heat with a hairdryer, and you have a weatherproof repair that will last for years!
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Does It Matter What Age You Neuter Your Kitten
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This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you.Zazie Todd, PhD,
Neutering Your Cat Key Facts
- Neutering means surgically preventing cats from reproducing
- Its recommended that cats are neutered at around four months old
- Neutered animals might have slightly lower food requirements so you just need to feed them a little less
Neutering your cat can have really great benefits, both to them and to you! Plus youll be helping to tackle the growing crisis of pets being abandoned, dumped and given away because there arent enough homes to go around.
What is cat neutering?
Neutering means surgically preventing cats from reproducing. In males, the operation is called castration and in females its called spaying.
With castration both testicles are removed which takes away the main source of the male hormone testosterone. With spaying, both the ovaries and the uterus are removed which means the female is unable to become pregnant.
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Spaying And Neutering: The Bottom Line
Spaying and neutering can help keep your cat healthier and safer and you dont end up with more kittens than you can count. To be on the safe side, get your cat spayed or neutered before theyre six months old. If youre wondering when to spay a cat or when to neuter a cat, speak to your local veterinarian.
Fuels And Fuel Additives
A different fuel or fuel additive may be effective at cleaning out catalytic converter deposits. For example, if you typically fill your vehicle with the cheapest low-octane fuel, try running your vehicle on a few tanks of high-octane fuel.
Adding one gallon of lacquer thinner to ten gallons of gas at your next refuel may also be effective clearing out catalytic converter deposits. You can try either of these methods in combination with the Italian Tune-Up method.
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Benefits Of Spaying Or Neutering Your Cat
Female cats that are spayed before their first heat have a reduced risk for malignant mammary tumors later in life.
Spaying also helps to reduce your cat’s chances of developing an infection of the uterus, and of developing cancers of the reproductive organs.
Undesirable behaviors in female cats can be reduced with spaying, including increased and overly intense affection, intense rubbing on objects, marking territory with urine, the desire to wander and heat-induced howling.
Neutering male cats also offers a number of benefits. It reduces unwanted behaviors such as cat aggression and roaming which can help to reduce your cat’s risk of injury.
Your male cat’s risk of developing testicular and prostate cancer are also reduced with neutering.
Cat overpopulation is a serious problem. Spaying and neutering helps to reduce the number of unwanted cats in your area.
More cats are born each year than there are homes available for them. Homeless cats frequently wind up on the streets, and can ultimately end up being euthanized in shelters.
The benefits of spaying or neutering your cat cannot be overstated. If you’re ready to get your cat or kitten fixed, contact one of our PetVet hospitals today to book an appointment.
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How To Repair An Upholstered Couch Damaged By A Cat
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Cats love to scratch, and have claws that can do significant damage to upholstered furniture. Luckily, isolated rips and tears in upholstery fabric can be patched or mended and if your cat has scratched up an entire arm or leg of your sofa, you can either re-upholster that section or cover it with a throw or a slipcover. No matter what the damage, you’ll want to take preventative measures to repel your cat from the couch and train her not to continue to scratch it.
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How To Help A Cat In Heat
Updated: By Ashton Blagden
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It is hard for a cat when she is in heat and much harder for her owner to calm her down. The main signs of a cat in heat consists of mostly wailing and an act that the female cat might run away with male cats. This behavior of a cat can be unsettling for you. Nevertheless, it is a normal and natural activity for your cat to behave in this way. Howbeit, if it is too much to handle, seek a long-run fix. This act is going to be repeated until your cat is spayed. It happens with cats who are older than 5-6 months. Heat can last up to a week and can repeat in the near future. So, finding long-term remedies can help you and your cat to get relief.
Here are some such approaches you should opt for:
Cleaning The Catalytic Converter
Removing and cleaning the catalytic converter is another potential fix. After removing the catalytic converter, use a pressure washer to blast out any contaminants from the matrix. Be sure to flush the unit from both ends.
Another way to clean the catalytic converter is to soak it overnight in a combination of hot water and degreaser or laundry detergent. This process takes longer but is necessary to dissolve the deposits clogging up your catalytic converter. After washing or soaking, be sure to dry the catalytic converter completely before reinstalling.
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Reasons For Neutering Male Cats
- Control of nuisance. Unneutered male cats are likely to stray over a large area, will mark their territory with a very pungent spray and are much more likely to fight with attendant noise nuisance.
- Health issues. Fighting males are much more likely to spread diseases such as FIV and FeLV to other cats. They are also likely to suffer from fight injuries such as abscesses. Because they wander over a large area they are also at greater risk of suffering road traffic accidents.
- Pet issues. Unneutered male cats will wander from home and may not return. They may also spray inside the home and may be aggressive to their owners. Therefore it is desirable to neuter kittens early enough to ensure that the above problems are prevented. Most people do not want to live with an unneutered male cat.
- Population control. Obviously, male cats do not have kittens themselves and it only takes one male in an area to make lots of female cats pregnant, so neutering a female cat makes a great deal more difference to limiting numbers, but it all helps!
Remedies And Treatments For Cat Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract diseases are common in cats and can cause discomfort and distress. If left untreated, a UTI can lead to partial or complete blockage of the urethra. This can lead to kidney failure or rupture of the bladder, which could be deadly.
Depending on the severity of the infection, a cat UTI can be treated using at-home remedies and treatments.
Cranberries
While cranberries are known as a UTI treatment in humans, they can also be used to treat a cat UTI. The acidity of cranberries can lower the pH of your cats urine, which can help treat a UTI and stop it from coming back.
Many cranberry juices are high in sugar. Instead, you can find cranberry capsules , supplements, or powder to add to your cats diet.
Before giving your cat cranberry, you should first test the pH levels in your cats urine. While the acidity of cranberries may help with some UTIs, in other cases, it could make the condition worse. Only provide cranberry supplements if your cats urine is too alkaline.
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Apple cider vinegar can also lower the pH in your cats urine, eliminating and preventing any harmful bacteria. Add half a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to your cats food each day. To reduce the bitter taste, you can mix it in with chicken or beef broth. Just make sure the broth doesnt contain onions, as this is toxic to cats.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin
Bone Broth
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How To Treat A Cat That Has A Broken Leg
A broken leg can be tricky to diagnose on a cat, but it’s important to know how since cats are naturally curious and can get into everything. Some of the signs to look for include a cat leg that hangs limply or that cannot support body weight sudden onset of pain in the leg area and swelling. Also watch for signs of shock, which include pale or white cat gums, rapid heartbeat, and breathing.
With cats, as with human beings, all bones are subject to breakage, but leg fractures are by far the most common. It is important to remember that cats have a high pain tolerance, and often a dangling leg seems to cause no pain. Therefore, don’t be afraid to handle the fractured limb, but it’s important to be gentle. If you have a cat that has suffered a broken leg, use the following tips to administer the proper cat care:
Step 1: Approach the cat carefully. If the cat seems nervous or anxious, restrain the cat if necessary.
Step 2: Examine the leg and determine if the fracture is open or closed .
Step 3: If the fracture is closed, proceed to Step 4. If the fracture is open:
Step 3a: Flush the wound thoroughly with clean water. Do not use any other antiseptic.
Step 3b: Cover the wound with a clean cloth, sterile dressing, or sanitary napkin.
Step 3c: Wrap torn rags or other soft material around the dressing and tie or tape just tightly enough to keep it in place.
Step 4: If the fracture is closed: