This month Dr. Jacqui writes about Spaying and Neutering

Having a cat in your life comes with serious responsibilities and one of those responsibilities is making medical decisions for your cat. One very important medical decision that you need to consider is having your cat spayed or neutered.

What is spaying/neutering?

Spaying is the common (lay) term used to describe the surgery to remove the reproductive organs of the female, specifically the ovaries and uterus. The medical term for the spaying is ovariohysterectomy, sometimes abbreviated OVH. Occasionally, OVH is also called "neutering" derived from the Latin term neuter, referring to removal of an animal's reproductive organ. But typically the term "neuter" is reserved for the removal of the male reproductive organs.

Neutering is the common (lay) term used to describe the surgery to remove the reproductive organs of the male, specifically the testicles. The medical term for the neutering is castration or orchiectomy. Other terminology used to describe the surgical removal of the reproductive organs includes "fix" and "alter."

What happens during a spay (OVH)?

Prior to surgery the cat should have a complete physical examination to assess if she is a good surgical candidate. Pre-surgical bloodwork is often recommended to further assess your cat's health prior to undergoing this surgical procedure. In order to perform this procedure, the cat needs to be fully anesthetized. The surgical site undergoes a sterile preparation; this involves shaving off any fur and a medical scrub to thoroughly clean the skin. Then the veterinary surgeon has to create an abdominal incision to access the reproductive organs. The site and size of the incision may vary based on the veterinarian's preference and the cat's body conformation. Most incisions are made on the midline of the cat's belly, although some surgeons prefer a flank (side of abdomen) approach.

Once the organs are isolated, the veterinarian uses suture material to tie off the blood supply to the ovaries/uterus before removing them. Then the abdominal incision is closed with multiple layers of suture material. Based on the veterinarian's preference, there may or may not be any visible exterior sutures. It is always important to ask your veterinarian about post-surgical care, such as incision site care, suture removal, pain medications and restriction of activity.

What happens during a neuter (castration)?

Prior to surgery the cat should have a complete physical examination to assess if he is a good surgical candidate. Pre-surgical bloodwork is often recommended to further assess your cat's health prior to undergoing this surgical procedure. In order to perform this procedure, the cat needs to be fully anesthetized. The testicles, which lie under the tail, are surgically scrubbed. A small incision is made in each scrotal sack and the testicle exteriorized. Then the blood vessels to the testicle are ligated (tied off) with suture material and the testicle is then removed.

Since the incision on the scrotal sack is usually small and it is not entering the abdominal area, the incision is often left to heal on its own, without sutures. It is always important to ask your veterinarian to about post-surgical care, such as incision site care, suture removal, pain medications and restriction of activity.

What are the consequences of spaying/neutering my kitten/cat?

One very important consequence of spaying/neutering is that it makes your cat unable produce offspring. This is important because there is a pet overpopulation crisis in the United States with millions of homeless cats. By spaying or neutering your cat, you can be part of the solution to this tragic problem. Although you may be able to find homes for your cat's kittens, those homes could have been filled by one of the many homeless cats/kittens awaiting adoption in the shelter system.

A wonderful benefit to your cat is that you reduce their risk of getting cancer. Spaying female cats before their first heat cycle significantly reduces their risk of acquiring mammary (breast) cancer later in life and neutering a male cat removes the risk of testicular cancer. Another medical benefit for female cats is that you prevent them from getting a life threatening infection of the uterus, called pyometra.

There are beneficial behavioral changes that accompany the spay/neuter surgery. Neutering male cats reduces their tendency to fight, roam and urine spray. Spaying female cats stops their heat (estrous) cycles and the accompanying behaviors including yowling, rolling and urine marking.

Are there any negative consequences for spaying/neutering my kitten/cat?

While there are inherent risks with anesthesia and surgical procedures, the benefits of performing the surgery in an otherwise healthy cat outweigh the risks. It is very rare, but possible, to have a serious anesthetic complication. Likewise, it is possible but unlikely to have post surgical complications such as infection and bleeding.

How old should my cat be when I have him/her spayed/neutered?

The traditional recommendation was to have your kitten spayed or neutered at about 6 months of age. But now, with advances in anesthetic agents, early age (8 weeks) spaying/neutering is gaining popularity, especially at shelters. Studies have not found any significant health or behavioral risks with performing the surgery at this young age and it prevents against unexpected/unintended litters. Your veterinarian may have their own preferred age range for spaying or neutering, but typically this will be before your kitten reaches sexual maturity at about 9 months of age.

Will spaying/neutering make my cat fat?

The actual surgical procedure does not make your cat fat. Weight gain occurs over time and is due to eating more calories than are being expended. Since the spay/neuter procedure often occurs during a time period when normal kitten play behavior starts to decline and dramatic body growth slows down, your cat may start to gain extra weight. This is remedied by reducing caloric intake and/or increasing exercise.

Doesn't my cat need to experience motherhood?

There are plenty of wonderful cats who have never had a litter of kittens.