Spayed cat

Spayed cat can happen because of several reasons. If you own a female cat, and you don’t plan to use it for reproducing, it is recommended to get your cat spayed. Cats are very fertile, and a female cat can easily get pregnant if she’s outside and moving a lot. In this article we will look into the pros and cons of getting a spayed cat.

Why get a spayed cat?

When you get your cat neutered, the sexual drive of the cat disappears. And therefore also the behavior that comes with it. The term “spayed” is a surgical incision that is done on the cat, which makes sure the cat won’t be able to have kittens. They make a simple incision under the belly of the cat, and remove the ovaries. The cat quickly recovers from the operation, and is usually back to normal the day after the operation. Getting your cat spayed also helps prevent urine infections and breast tumors, which are malignant or cancerous in about 90% of cats. Spaying your cat before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.

When should you think about cat castration?

The average female cat usually has their first maturity at 5-6 months of age. It is therefore recommended to get your cat spayed at 4 months of age. At this time they will have finished their primary vaccinations, and will be before their first heat. This period before the first maturity will be the most optimal. You would avoid having to give your cat any pills to avoid pregnancy before the operation.  It has been proven that these types of pills can be dangerous for the cat, as it can develop health problems. Many have probably heard that you should let the cat have her first litter first before cat neutering, but this is a myth. It is much healthier to do get a spayed cat before this.

Keeping an eye on a neutered cat

Luckily the job that comes after the operation isn’t that difficult when you have a neutered cat. What you should look out for in the following days of the operation is the general state the cat is in and that his appetite is good.  You should also inspect the wound, to make sure the wound is not infected or inflamed. There might be scenarios where the cat is licking his wound, so if you want to, you can consider getting a screen/cowl for the cat.  The wound is usually healed within 10-12 days, and it is recommended to keep your cat indoors in this period.

A neutered cat won’t be in much pain after this sort of operation, but there is usually also prescribed a mixture of pain medication if needed. The wound is also stitched internally, so you don’t have to worry about coming back to the veterinary to remove the stitches.

What are the cons of cat neutering?

There can be a few side-effects of cat neutering. One of the most common side-effects is weight gain. The metabolism of the cat goes down, and they move less. Luckily you can find various types of food to help against this happening. There are special cat foods for neutered cats that is less energetic than normal cat food, and helps to counter the weight gain. If you are unsure of what weight is normal, the average female adult cat weighs around 4kg. If you want to read more about cons of cat neutering, we recommend you read this article.

Conclusion

Cat neutering is of course optional. If  you don’t want a spayed cat, you don’t have to. Getting a litter of kittens isn’t necessarily a bad thing. They are, after all, super cute. Some might also be unsure what decision they are going to make. If you are one of those who is unsure, we recommend you read more about the topic, and look at the pros and cons of the operation. If the cat is outside a lot, you won’t have that much control over what is going on. For some people that solution might be a cat tracker or other ways of monitoring your cat. This will help you keep track of your cat when it is outside, and you might also be able to keep it in check.