What is the difference between sterilization and castration of cats. What is the difference between sterilization and castration. Possible negative consequences after sterilization

To do or not to do?

This question sooner or later confronts every owner of an adult animal. In order not to be tormented by this question, you must first understand what castration is, why it is done and what will change in the life of the animal after the operation.

Castration is the removal of the testicles, in the case of a cat, the removal of the ovaries and in no case is not complete castration, cutting off “everything”.

How does this happen?

It is produced as follows: the animal is given anesthesia (much weaker than for a serious abdominal operation), a small incision is made on the scrotum, through which the testicles are removed. The incision is sutured and outwardly it is not even very clear whether the cat is neutered or not, it is possible to determine the presence / absence of the testicles only by touch.

In cats, there are two options for castration - traditional, in the form of abdominal surgery, when a 10 cm incision is made on the stomach, after the operation, a blanket or more is put on the cat modern method according to the principle of vacuum abortion, when a 3-5 cm incision is made on the side, then it is simply sutured and that's it. Such an operation is easier to bear.

The operation lasts for 15 minutes, the animal leaves anesthesia from 2 to 4 hours, fully recovers in a day.

Why should an animal be castrated?

The fact is that the sexual instinct is one of the strongest in nature. Animals, unlike humans, have sex not for love or attraction, but for the call of nature solely in order to have offspring. Therefore, the very "mechanism" of this instinct is completely physiological - the animal experiences physical discomfort, irritation, which it tries to eliminate as instinct prompts.

The biggest mistake people make is projecting the behavior of an animal onto themselves, identifying actions with human ones. Everything that people do in relation to love and sex, first of all, comes from the head, a person is a thinking being. But animals are driven by bare physiology, natural instinct. A person can decide for himself, let's say, for religious reasons, that he wants to renounce everything "worldly, carnal." An animal cannot act like that, it SHOULD and that's it.

A pet, not finding an outlet for sexual energy, will look for a way to solve this problem in ways that are understandable to him. All those marks and screams that torment the owners of unneutered animals are just a way to tell other cats “I'm HERE !!” Nothing personal, no one takes revenge on the owners in retaliation, no one harms, etc. etc. Even the soiled bed or clothes of the owner does not get out of this logic - the owner will smell of me, go outside and everyone (cats) around will find out that he has a cat, they will follow him and find ME.

The cat will have heat and heat until she becomes pregnant, the cat will desire a cat even more often. Actually, the cat is almost constantly in "combat readiness". Even attempts to bring a cat to a cat will not correct the situation - you will not get as many cats in the district as an adult mature cat needs! I'm not talking about free range at all, it's just barbarism! On the street, cats face a lot of dangers in the form of dogs, scum-flayers, homeless people who catch cats just to eat, cars. There is no place for a domestic cat on the street!!

In addition, the torment of the animal is expressed not only in the inability to satisfy the sexual instinct, but also in a general deterioration physical condition. Many owners are familiar with the situation - a fat kitty walked happy with life, as it flowed, it was blown away like a ball and the coat became worse. Cats can stay in this unkempt state for months!

Thus, castration is, first of all, a help to the animal to get rid of physiological suffering, and only secondarily will there be the disappearance of the accompanying “charms of life” in the form of marks, ora, and sometimes wild aggressiveness, into which the accumulated sexual energy is poured.

There is a completely scientific explanation for this off-scale high reproductive instinct. The fact is that in the wild, the life of a cat is very short, on average 5 years. During this time, she must have time to leave offspring so that the genus of cats does not become extinct. Therefore, in unusually favorable conditions, cats begin to breed at an alarming rate, and their livestock can seriously disrupt the ecological balance of the area. Suffice it to recall the sad story of the Australian Macquarie Island - in order to save local birds, the population of cats brought there earlier had to be destroyed. :((

Is their suffering so great?

Good question. Maybe they don’t suffer like that, you think, well, they won’t get married, people live for years without a partner and nothing. So, all the physiology of the torment of non-knitting cats and cats can only be compared with the urge to go to the toilet. Try drinking a few beers and be patient!

And yet, it is absolutely not correct to identify cats with women, because. they have a fundamentally different physiology! A sexually mature woman has a cycle in which the egg first matures, and then, in the absence of fertilization, is washed out of the body during menstruation. In a cat, until intercourse occurs, the eggs do not come out of the ovaries. Let's assume fertilization has taken place. In this case, everything happens along the normal path - pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, then recovery period and all over again. Such a cycle cannot but say its “phi” to the body, and in the wild, constantly giving birth cats quickly disappear.

If fertilization has not occurred, then the hormonal background does not return to normal, remaining elevated. After 2-3 weeks, again a jump and again waiting for conception (remember that the natural cycle is short and the task of accelerated reproduction is very important). And so, gradually, step by step, climbing the stairs up and up until a critical mass is reached and the body “explodes” with a bouquet of diseases: oncology (the sex hormone progesterone is the first cause of cancer in cats), pyometra, adenomas and other “female » charms. (See, for example, Feline mammary hypertrophy/fibroadenoma complex: clinical and hormonal aspects. Hayden DW, Johnston SD, Kiang DT, Johnson KH, Barnes DM).

And what will happen after?

Sexual activity is significantly reduced or completely disappears. It all depends on the environment in which the neutered cat lives. If he lives alone, then his sexual desires will die, if he lives with cats, then he can quite calmly continue to knit, but already without the possibility of having offspring.

As for everything else, the castrati are cheerful, active, cheerful, and also not subject to “losing weight” due to heat. I have extensive information on the mass of neutered animals that do not feel disadvantaged in any way, and in the case of living with non-neutered animals, they still shake the rights for who is in charge!

What is sterilization?

Isn't that the same as castration? Not at all, and a very common mistake is to confuse these two concepts. Sterilization and castration are two different things. When sterilizing, they just tie up the spermatic cords in cats and the ducts in cats, without removing anything. This is done only in order to deprive the animal of the possibility of reproduction, but does not eliminate the causes of sexuality, which means that it is categorically not suitable for solving the problem. Unfortunately, even veterinarians sometimes do not understand the difference well, not understanding what drives the owners who brought the cat for surgery and offer sterilization as a way out, although it is categorically unsuitable. There were cases when the operated cat began to flow again, and the owners could not understand what was happening. And only a second operation corrected the situation.

What about cryptorchids?

Cryptorch is a cat whose testicles have not descended into the scrotum, stuck in the abdominal cavity. There are complete cryptorchidism and unilateral. It would seem that the testicles did not descend, they turned out to be underdeveloped, which means that the cat seems to be not full-fledged, why castrate him? A very common misconception!

Due to the fact that the testicles in the abdominal cavity are constantly overheated, sperm is not viable and because of this there is no possibility of procreation, otherwise the cat has all the habits and behavioral characteristics of full-fledged cats. Unilateral cryptorchids have the ability to have offspring, viable sperm from a normally developed testicle is sufficient to conceive. Unfortunately, this deficiency is inherited, so these cats are culled from breeding. Moreover, increased temperature in the testicles causes increased sexual excitability. Cryptorchs are no less, and even more sexy than full-fledged cats. In addition, various inflammatory processes are possible in an undescended testicle, which can threaten the life of your pet.

Thus, castration of cryptorchids is absolutely necessary, and both testicles must be removed. It will be an abdominal operation like cat spaying.

This article is taken from the nursery website "RASKUN" G. KRASNOYARSK

Pets play a special role in our life, they make us kinder and teach us a lot in this life. But it also happens that the multiple offspring of a pet brings a lot of trouble to the owner, and then he decides to take a serious step - to sterilize or castrate his pet. Meanwhile, both of these concepts appear in completely different qualities. That is why today we will try to find out how the concepts of “castration” and “sterilization” of cats differ from each other.

Definition

Sterilization cats limited to dressing fallopian tubes, and for cats it is fraught with ligation of the seminal ducts. The scientific term for this operation in cats is a vasectomy. After the procedure, the genitals of the animal remain in place, they continue to produce hormones and function normally. Sterilization of both cats and cats does not affect sex drive animals, their instincts do not decrease or lose their intensity. In this case, animals can mate, but cease to bear offspring.

Castration- This is an operation in which there is a complete removal of the organs that are responsible for the reproduction of animals. Thus, during castration in cats, the ovaries are removed along with the uterus (an operation called ovariohysterectomy) or just one ovary (ovariectomy). Previously, only ovaries were removed for nulliparous young cats, but now they are trying to remove them along with the uterus, since recently gynecological problems have become more common even in young cats. In the event that only the ovaries are removed from the cat, as a result of which the production of eggs stops, all cat concerts immediately stop. In cats, both testicles are removed during castration.

Comparison

Based on the foregoing, it can be noted that castration is a more humane procedure, both for cats and cats. Despite the absence of offspring, sterilized animals very often experience hormonal internal storms due to the fact that their reproductive system continues to function normally. It's not the most in the best way affects the body of the animal, since its body at this moment is subject to stress and, as a result, the risk of diseases of the genitourinary system. Such animals very often lose weight for no reason, refuse to eat and behave aggressively towards the owner.

At the same time, neutered cats and cats have a qualitatively more high level life and health, and in addition, their life expectancy increases by several years. It is among such animals that long-livers are found. In addition, this largely solves the problem with the behavioral factor, since neutered cats do not scream and do not mark the master's furniture. Castration almost completely eliminates the possibility of getting a purulent inflammation, cyst or neoplasm of the genital organs in cats, and the possibility of getting prostatitis in cats. It is worth noting that in adulthood, some animals already need such an operation for medical reasons, so it is best to perform this operation on a cat at a time when it is still healthy and full of vitality and energy.

Findings site

1. Castration involves the complete or partial removal of the cat's reproductive organs (one of the ovaries or ovaries along with the uterus), and both testicles of the cat. Sterilization is an operation that is limited to tubal ligation in cats and spermatic cord ligation in cats.
2. Castration eliminates all hormonal disruptions in the animal's body, while sterilization eliminates only the function of procreation.

Pets play an important role in people's lives. They bring us joy, teach us to care and love just like that, without any benefit. Especially pets bring a lot of joy to children. Often cats and dogs become pets.

However, many pet owners not ready to the fact that they will have a numerical offspring. In the case of cats, during the period of sexual arousal, owners are annoyed by loud meowing, and cat owners do not like it when they start marking the territory in the apartment.

In this case, they resort to drastic measures regarding their pets - castration and sterilization. In fact, there is a big difference between these concepts. Both castration and spaying can be applied to both females and males. Let's take a look at these concepts together and define the difference between castration and sterilization of pets.

What is castration?

The term "castration" refers to removal of reproductive organs in animals through surgery. In males, the testicles are removed, and in females, the ovaries and uterus are removed. For females, operations are performed with partial or complete castration.

With partial castration, only the ovaries are removed, and with complete castration, the ovaries are removed along with the uterus. Recently, the number of complete castration of females has increased due to the fact that cases of gynecological diseases females, in which it is necessary to perform a second operation to remove the uterus.

It is recommended to castrate animals at the age of 7-8 months. During castration, the level of sex hormones decreases, reproductive functions in animals stop, pets become calmer, and can gain weight.

Castration of pets one of the easiest operations performed by veterinarians around the world. It is done under general anesthesia. The animal is asleep and does not feel pain. The pet does not require special postoperative care. The owner will need more care when observing the pet. After the operation, the animal recovers within 1-2 days.

What is sterilization?

Sterilization is the process of ligation of the spermatic cords in males and the fallopian tubes in females, while no organs are removed from the animals. After such an operation, pets lose their ability to reproduce, however all instincts and their behavior is preserved.

The body continues to produce sex hormones, which does not affect their sexual desire. Animals can mate, but they will no longer bear offspring. Sterilization can be carried out between the ages of 8 months and up to 7 years.

But keep in mind that the older the pet, the greater the risk of complications after surgery.

Difference between castration and sterilization:

1. Castration is more humane in relation to pets. Spayed animals will experience hormonal surges every time they become sexually aroused, as their sex organs are “in place” and functioning well. Often, spayed pets are pets, so they do not have the opportunity to satisfy their desires, which leads to stress and aggression. And this has a bad effect on the body of the animal as a whole and leads to diseases of the genitourinary system.
2. The advantage of castration is to improve the behavior of a pet. The animal is not distracted by the call of its sexual instincts, it becomes more affectionate, complaisant and calmer. He loses sexual activity, stops running around the apartment, does not meow and scream at night, stops marking his territory and does not damage furniture by grinding his claws.
3. To myself main advantage castration can be attributed to the fact that castrated animals will not develop diseases of the reproductive organs due to their absence. On the contrary, health is maintained and life expectancy increases due to a decrease in the risk of developing inflammatory and oncological diseases of the genital area.
4. Castrated pets are generally much less likely to get sick compared to their “full-fledged” relatives.

Both castration and sterilization are carried out both within the walls of a veterinary clinic and at home. Here, too, there are advantages and disadvantages. The clinic provides sterilization premises and all conditions for the procedure.

But pets experience a lot of stress from an unfamiliar place, which affects their well-being and is a minus of having an operation in a veterinary clinic. At home, animals feel calmer, but the disadvantage is the difficulty in maintaining sterility.

Veterinarians prefer castration like more effective way without further complications. However, to reduce confusion in medical terminology, veterinarians use the term “sterilization” for females and “castration” for males.

The peculiarities of urban life dictate their harsh conditions to people and animals. By nature, free animals are locked in apartments, and instead of hunting, they imposingly chew dry food. But not a single metropolis can cancel the laws of nature, and pretty soon yesterday's kitten begins to demand a female.

So, pet owners often have to deal with the forced need to castrate a cat in order to avoid many problems with their pet's behavior: increased aggression, a fetid smell of a “marked territory” and puddles in the most unexpected places, offspring.

Often, cat owners confuse two essentially different concepts: “castration” and “neutering”, naively believing that castration is “when the bells are cut off for cats”, and sterilization is the same as castration, only in cats. Both of these procedures can be performed on both cats and cats. Neutering a cat involves either ligation of the ovaries or removal of the uterus while leaving the ovaries. The cat can "flow", feel the urge and still make love to the cat, however, without the threat of becoming pregnant. Well, just like people do.

Castration of a cat involves the removal of both the uterus and the ovaries. After this procedure, cats do not have estrus, hormones do not jump, the risk of oncology is reduced, and ovarian function is shifted to the adrenal glands.

Sterilization and castration of cats

Castration of a cat is to deprive the fluffy testicles. It is not necessary to assume that neutered cats are deprived of all the joys of life. On the contrary, after castration, the chances of dying from urolithiasis (UCD), which occurs in many cats due to hormonal surges and metabolic disorders, are sharply reduced. The operated purrs live much longer than their relatives due to the stability of the hormonal background, stop suffering from sexual infections, and their behavior improves.

Sterilized cat - with tied spermatic cords. The method is controversial, because after this procedure the cat continues to mark the territory and your shoes, and is able to hunt cats without procreation. It is a mistake to think that a sterilized cat suffers from the inability to procreate and the lack of sex. Indeed, even in the wild, the male still has to win his right to a female, and this is far from being the case for everyone.

Preparing for the operation

Having decided on an operation, the owners must clearly understand that castration is a surgical operation that requires adherence to a clear algorithm of actions. Having chosen a suitable veterinary clinic, before the operation it is necessary to pass tests: blood, urine, a smear for genital infections, and make a cardiogram for the cat. In advance, about two months, get vaccinated, or you can postpone them for a while.

It is important to take a responsible approach to the operation, not to spare money for procedures and examinations, because the health and life of your pet depends on its success.

After anesthesia, the cat will sleep for several hours, so you need to take a carrier and a blanket to the veterinary clinic; during drug sleep, the body temperature drops, and the pet may freeze.

Frequently asked Questions

The upcoming operation raises some questions from the owners:

1. Is it possible to feed a cat before the operation or how much not to feed before the operation? Before castration, the cat should not eat for at least 12 hours. Anesthesia is best kept on an empty stomach, as the possibility of vomiting and diarrhea after the procedure is reduced. You can give the cat to drink a couple of hours before castration.
2. Is it possible to sterilize a cat without castration? Yes, it is possible. But this method is half-hearted. After sterilization (ligation of the spermatic cords), the tailed one can continue to mark the territory and jump on the female, especially if the cat is “experienced” and has already had experience of loving communication with cats.
3. What is preferable: neutering or spaying a cat? It is worth noting that not all clinics sterilize cats, so if you are so impatient to sterilize (tie up the spermatic cords) of a pet, then be prepared to look for a suitable veterinarian and fork out.

How is the operation going?

The operation can be performed both in the clinic and at the owner's home, there is no fundamental difference. The whole procedure takes only a few minutes. Anesthesia (intramuscular or intravenous) is administered. Next, the surgical field is disinfected, in our case, this is the groin area. Then the scrotum is cut longitudinally according to the size of the testis. The doctor removes the testis from the scrotum and tightens the spermatic cord (applies a ligature). Cuts off the seed.

How to care for a pet after surgery?

After castration, it is necessary to remove blood stains and clots from the incision site once and sprinkle with an antiseptic. During the first days after the operation, the condition of the cat should be closely monitored. After anesthesia, the fluffy can sleep for several hours, but after waking up, he remains in an intoxicated state for some time, poorly coordinates movements, refuses to eat, but wants to drink. A couple of days you need to help the cat get to the toilet. Since it still hurts to move after castration. It is better not to fill the tray so as not to expose the fresh seam to the risk of infection and festering, in extreme cases, you can put an absorbent sterile towel there. It is necessary that the cat does not lick and comb the surgical suture. Veterinarians recommend treating the wound with brilliant green only the area around the seam. If the suture does not heal within a few days, we turn to the operating veterinarian.

What to feed a cat after surgery?

Many cat breeders criticize castration due to the fact that after it the cat allegedly gets fat. But the animal, like man, is gaining excess weight due to malnutrition. Menu after surgical intervention may be simple but balanced. Boiled poultry meat, beef, cottage cheese, occasionally eggs, vegetables, drink plenty of water. If your cat is used to eating only cat food, then you should not forcefully change his diet, but reduce the portion a little to avoid overeating. Yes, the cat will not overeat, yell heart-rendingly and demand a partner for itself, because hormones no longer require an outlet, and, therefore, forces are not wasted.

What can not be fed to cats after surgery? Neutered cats are practically no different from all other cats (well, except for the fact that there are no tiny testicles). Therefore, on a general basis, we do not feed too fatty food, salty, carcinogenic, smoked (which we ourselves love to eat so much), food of dubious quality, legumes. We give food exactly as much as was given before the operation.

A neutered cat lives less?

As already mentioned, castrati are practically no different from others of their own kind. And life expectancy is affected by sufficient physical activity, timely vaccinations and treatment, balanced diet, favorable home furnishings, the absence of small children pulling the tail.

Should a cat be castrated at all?

If you have the ability to find a female by the very first demanding “meow!”, if you are already accustomed to the pungent smell of cat marks and torn wallpaper, if there are many kind hands in your environment who will gladly sort out offspring, or if you have a ruthless heart and you can drown kittens if the feeling of solidarity keeps you up at night. If you are not afraid that a domestic cat will find someone on the street to satisfy its basic instinct and catch some feline gonorrhea from it, then, of course, you should not do this. You decide. But urban life dictates its own to cats, urban conditions, which, by the way, are also cruel.

Spaying a cat- a surgical operation that veterinarians around the world have been successfully performing for many years. Methods for different doctors may differ, but the essence is the same: during the operation, the reproductive organs are removed, which helps to reduce hormonal levels and stop the reproductive functions of the body.

What is the purpose of sterilization?

The question of sterilizing a domestic cat sooner or later confronts every owner. With the onset of puberty, a cat is able to turn a quiet house into a real hell, and bring the owner to white heat with her endless purring and loud concerts at night. Such active vocalization is not due to the fact that your pet's character has deteriorated, and not her desire not to let you rest. Just in this way, she informs her relatives that she is ready for mating, and calls the cat "on a date." Such is the nature of a cat. Her wild ancestors have shaped this type of behavior for centuries, and she simply obeys ancient instincts.

But what to do if there is no cat nearby, and the owner has no desire to have his pet and then take care of the kittens? A mutually beneficial solution is to sterilize the cat. After the operation, for about a month, the production of female sex hormones (estrogens) stops, the hormonal background decreases, and the cat again turns into a cute, harmless domestic animal.
With a high degree of probability, sterilization will help and save the cat from excessive aggressiveness. With a decrease in the level of hormones in the blood, the character improves, the animal becomes calmer, aggression towards others and the owner decreases or completely disappears.

Sterilization and castration of cats

The term "sterilization" is used, as a rule, to cats (females), and the term "castration" - to cats (males). It is believed that cats are sterilized, and cats are castrated. For ease of communication with the client and veterinarians use the same terminology. However, female animals are both castrated and sterilized. Let's consider the differences.

Spaying a cat involves removing only the ovaries, without removing the uterus (ovariectomy). Castration is the complete surgical removal of all reproductive organs (ovariohysterectomy).

What is better - castration or sterilization? Let's figure it out.
With an ovariectomy, only the ovaries are removed, while the uterus lives its own life in the abdominal cavity, and does not perform any useful function. It will not atrophy or die because its blood supply is not interrupted. She will never fulfill her destiny and will not be able to bear fruit. But since the organ is quite alive, the risk of developing uterine diseases is fully preserved. It can be both neoplasms and inflammatory diseases (endometritis, pyometra, etc.). So why save an organ that will play the role of a time bomb, with the risk of exploding at the most inopportune moment?
That is why at present almost no one performs ovariectomy (classic sterilization), veterinarians prefer castration as the only reliable method. But for ease of communication, they still say "sterilization".

Where is it better to perform the operation - in the clinic or at home?

Any abdominal surgery is better and safer to do in a veterinary clinic. In the operating room, there are more opportunities for emergency measures if something suddenly goes wrong.

It is even better if the clinic provides a post-operative hospital service. Then your pet will be under the supervision of specialists during the entire crisis period. Of course, emergency measures are not always required.

In the photo: a day hospital in our veterinary clinic. The animal remains under the supervision of a doctor until complete recovery from anesthesia.

Usually, young and healthy cats tolerate ovariohysterectomy well and, if observed, minimum recommendations caregivers recover well at home. It will only take one more visit to the clinic to remove the stitches.

Advantages of sterilization in the clinic: all provided the necessary conditions for the operation, the risk of emergency situations is reduced, there is a high probability of overcoming them.

Cons of sterilization in the clinic: Cost of the owner's time traveling and waiting for the operation to finish.

Despite the clear advantages of surgery in a veterinary clinic, home spaying of cats is also practiced by most veterinarians and, with proper training and responsibility of the specialist, is technically no different from surgery in the clinic.

In the photo: preparation for sterilization of a cat at home.

Benefits of home sterilization is the lack of stress in the cat from the trip and the forced stay in a strange place for her (some cats are terrified of leaving the apartment), as well as the absence of risks of infection infectious diseases(if the animal is not vaccinated). In addition, a doctor can be invited at a convenient time for the owner, which is also very important for people who are constantly busy at work.

Cons of home surgery: it is difficult to ensure high-quality sterility.

Age of sterilization of cats

We recommend neutering cats after they reach 7-8 months of age. Earlier sterilization is not desirable, because. the body of the animal is not yet fully formed and the risk of postoperative complications is high. In addition, there have been cases of lag in the growth and development of those cats that are sterilized at 4-5 months of age. It is allowed to perform the operation at the age of 6 months, provided that the cat is large and weighs at least 2.5-3 kilograms.

In a later period (older than 8 months), cats, of course, are also sterilized. But it should be remembered that the risks of postoperative and post-anesthesia complications increase in proportion to the age of the animal. Do not delay the operation - every year your cat gets older, the risk of negative consequences increases, and the effectiveness of the operation decreases.

Our long-term practice of sterilization of animals shows that cats aged from 7 months to 10 years tolerate the operation perfectly and without problems. Animals older than 10 years require additional examination. For such cats, we recommend donating blood for biochemical analysis, to diagnose the work of the heart and consult with a cardiologist.

Can a cat be spayed while in heat?

During the hunting period, the operation can be performed, but the recovery from anesthesia and the healing of sutures can be somewhat more difficult. We generally recommend that surgery be performed two weeks before or two weeks after estrus. However, it often happens that a cat's estrus lasts a very long time, with minor interruptions (from 1 to 5 days). In this case, it is not possible to maintain a two-week interval, and we recommend spaying the cat in order to avoid exhaustion and a deterioration in the quality of life.

Should a cat be allowed to give birth before spaying?

Not! If you do not plan to breed cats, it is better to carry out the operation as early as possible, preventing the cat from mating. Moreover, you should not specifically knit it, knowing that you will sterilize it later.
Many cat owners are mistaken, believing that a cat must first give birth, "feel like a woman", "let them know the joy of motherhood", etc. (quotes from real conversations with cat owners at the reception).
I'll try to explain why this should not be done. At the hormonal level, the process of cat "purrs" and nightly cries is carried out through the production of estrogens, which cause typical manifestations of sexual desire. Initially, these hormones are produced only in the ovaries, and after sterilization, all unwanted phenomena for the owner disappear. If the cat has already given birth, then other endocrine glands also begin to produce female sex hormones, and sexual behavior can persist for a long time, if not forever.
Thus, the stereotypical thinking of the owner can delay the achievement of the main goal of sterilizing a cat - to avoid the manifestation of estrus in a pet.

Can a pregnant cat be spayed?

Yes, you can. The procedure is called "extirpation of the pregnant uterus" and is usually performed for medical reasons, to save the life of the female. We usually do not recommend spaying a healthy pregnant cat, since during pregnancy the animal's body undergoes significant changes both at the hormonal and physiological levels. There is a possibility of high blood loss and longer recovery of the animal after sterilization. In addition, the suture after sterilization of a pregnant cat is much larger in size.

However, the situations are different and if the owner is aware of the risks associated with such an operation and insists on it, we perform the extirpation of the uterus with fetuses.

Do cats need to be vaccinated before spaying?

It is highly desirable that the cat be vaccinated at least a month before spaying. In this case, there is no risk of getting a viral infection when visiting a veterinary clinic, because animals with various diseases, including viral ones, are brought there. Anesthesia given to a cat during surgery can reduce the body's immune response, and an unvaccinated animal will become ill.
Many veterinarians offer to protect the cat by injecting her with a special hyperimmune serum (globulin) that provides protection against infections for several weeks. Unfortunately, the introduction of globulins does not provide 100% protection. Therefore, it is advisable to vaccinate your pet in advance, and plan the operation in a month.

Methods for spaying cats

Let's describe the most widespread methods of operation applied around the world.

1. Classic method. A skin incision 1 to 3 cm long is made in the center of the abdomen, 2-3 cm below the navel. The abdominal wall is dissected along the white line. The uterus is removed through the incision, a ligature is applied to the vessels from absorbable suture material (catgut, caproag, PHA, etc.) or a coagulator is used.
After that, the uterus along with the ovaries is removed, the peritoneum and skin are sutured. The skin suture can be either removable or non-removable. The first must be removed after at least 7, maximum after 10 days. There is no need to remove the second one.

In the photo: removal of the uterus and ovaries in a cat by the classical method

2. The method of sterilizing a cat through a lateral incision. It differs from the previous one only in the place of tissue separation. The skin incision is made on the side, the muscles are separated in a blunt way. The method is considered less traumatic than the classic one, but there are several nuances. First, a muscle tear does not guarantee the absence of bleeding. Secondly, sterilization is more often carried out through such a wound, rather than castration, since it is not always possible to extract and remove the uterus completely. The method is recommended for sterilization of homeless animals, as it does not require maintenance of seams. If a special intradermal suture is applied, the cat can be released into the wild immediately after the operation.

In the photo: the application of a ligature to the ligament of the ovary during the sterilization of a cat with a lateral incision.
Photo provided by colleagues. As you can see in the picture, the bleeding is not less than with classical sterilization.

3. Sterilization method through an ultra-small incision using a surgical hook. Some veterinary clinics position this method as "laparoscopic sterilization", but it has nothing to do with laparoscopy. The skin and peritoneum are dissected in the same way as in the first case, only the incision is made less than a centimeter long. The surgeon immerses a sterile hook into the wound, picks up the ligament and removes the ovary. After ligatures are applied, either only the ovary is removed along with part of the ligament, or the uterus is pulled into the wound and removed completely. As in the previous case, the uterus is not always completely removed.

In the photo: oophorectomy with a surgical hook through a very small incision

four. . Through endoscopic technologies, through one or more punctures of the skin and abdominal wall, a complete removal of the uterus and ovaries is performed. The operation is technically complex, requires expensive equipment and special skills of the staff. In Russia, it is far from being used everywhere and costs much more than conventional sterilization.

In the photo: capture of the uterine horn during the laparoscopic method of sterilization of cats.

I would also like to point out that most best method carrying out the operation, the one that the surgeon is fluent in. Any technique mastered by the doctor to the subtleties will lead to a successful outcome of cat sterilization. Do not force the doctor to do what you read on the Internet. He may do it your way, but his way is better and safer.

Another method of cat sterilization should also be mentioned - medication. This method It is based on the introduction of a special implant with a medicine under the skin. Being slowly released and getting into the blood, the active substances cause the effect of reversible castration (sterilization) in cats, lasting up to 3 years. In this case, you do not have to expose the animal to anesthetic risks. A veterinarian using a special device will insert a small implant under the skin in just a few seconds. .

Preparing a cat for sterilization

No special measures are required to prepare the animal for sterilization. A prerequisite is to provide a 12-hour starvation diet. If the operation is scheduled, say, at 10 am, then the last time the cat can be fed at 10 pm, and then the food is removed altogether.

If several animals live in the house, everyone will have to starve. Or the cat will have to be placed in a separate room, without access to food. On the day of the operation, in the morning, it is recommended to remove the water.

This requirement is related to side effect substances used to anesthetic cats (most veterinary clinics use a combination of xylazine and tiletamine), which manifests itself in the urge to vomit in the presence of food or water in the stomach. Aspiration of vomit can cause a serious complication - aspiration pneumonia. Therefore, we recommend that you responsibly approach the recommendation of fasting before surgery.

Care of a cat after sterilization

Usually postoperative care is not difficult for the owner of the animal. The main thing is to have some free time to watch your pet.

It is desirable for a cat to equip a horizontal soft place in warmth, preferably without access to direct sunlight (bright light irritates the cornea of ​​​​the eye when recovering from anesthesia and the animal is more worried).

After bringing the cat from the veterinary clinic, lay it in a pre-prepared place and leave it alone. It is advisable to limit the access of children and other animals to a recovering cat during the first day after sterilization so that they do not disturb her.

A small nuance that frightens many pet owners is that cats do not close their eyes when under anesthesia. So that the animal does not experience discomfort from drying out of the cornea when it starts to wake up, it is recommended to periodically instill a solution for contact lenses (artificial tears) or normal saline (0.9% NaCl). If none of this is available, you can simply close your eyelids every 5-10 minutes with a few light movements. The tear will spread over the surface of the eyeball, wetting the cornea. Following this recommendation will make recovery from anesthesia more comfortable for the animal.

In the photo: a cat in deep anesthesia. The eyes are not closed. In order not to provoke the development of postoperative conjunctivitis, it is recommended to periodically moisten the cornea.

For 7-10 days, it is also necessary to check the condition of the skin sutures (if any). The seam after sterilization must remain dry and clean. It is not allowed to jam and fester the seam.

Treatment of seams usually comes down to wiping with antiseptic solutions (chlorhexidine, dioxidine, hydrogen peroxide). Some veterinarians prescribe additional treatment with wound healing ointments.

Stitches applied during sterilization in our veterinary clinic do not require additional processing at all.

In the photo: treatment of the seam with a spray that does not allow infection to enter the wound.

In the photo: a seam in a cat on the 8th day after sterilization. After treatment with a special spray, the seam does not require special care.

To prevent contamination of the wound, the cat is dressed in a special bandage (sleeve cap), in which it must remain for the entire postoperative period, until the sutures are removed. Discomfort from a blanket in a cat usually disappears during the first day after sterilization, and then she calmly wears this forced "clothes".

In the photo: the cat is wearing a special blanket that prevents damage to the seams

If the wound was sutured with an intradermal suture, it is simply wiped with a 0.05% chlorhexidine solution.

Slight swelling around the wound due to tissue edema during healing is allowed. Usually the edema subsides in 2-3 days, no additional therapy is required.

Veterinarians in the postoperative period prescribe postoperative antibiotic therapy. As a rule, 2 injections of a prolonged-acting antibiotic, carried out at intervals of 48 hours, are sufficient. The first injection is carried out immediately in the veterinary clinic at the end of the operation, the second is prescribed two days later. The owner can make a hypodermic injection himself (we give out the drug in a syringe) or bring the cat to the veterinary clinic.

The stitches are removed after 7, maximum 10 days after the operation.

Cat after sterilization. Answers to frequently asked questions

In conclusion, I would like to answer questions that our clients often ask when contacting by phone or after surgery.

How long does it take to spay a cat?
The “net time” spent by our specialists on the operation itself is 10-15 minutes. But before the operation, it is necessary to examine the animal, talk with the owner about his well-being, give anesthesia and prepare the surgical field. And after sterilization, some more time is required to put on a blanket and consult the owner. As a result, the average time a client spends in a veterinary clinic is 40-60 minutes.

When can a cat that has given birth and is nursing kittens be spayed?
First, you need to wait for the weaning of the kittens. Then, after the cessation of feeding, it is desirable to maintain a time interval of 2-3 weeks in order for the mammary glands to fully return to normal. After that, sterilization can be carried out.

But during this time she will become pregnant again!
It's OK. Spaying a cat early dates pregnancy will not give any serious complications.

How will the behavior of a cat change after sterilization? Will she become fat and lazy?
Changes in hormonal background organisms can stimulate physical inactivity, but obesity, as a rule, stimulates the owner himself. If your pet has dry food constantly in the bowl and the cat has unlimited access to it, yes, obesity is likely to develop. If you follow the recommendations of the food manufacturer printed on each package and give food in portions, in accordance with the weight of the animal, a strong weight gain will not occur. In addition, many manufacturers offer a line of food for sterilized cats. These diets are specifically reduced in calories to prevent obesity.

Will the cat catch mice after the operation?
Yes, it will. Sterilization does not affect the hunting qualities of the animal. It's a delusion. The same as the fact that a cat must first be given birth.

Yesterday they did a sterilization, and today the cat does not eat anything. This is fine?
Yes, it is normal. Depending on the physiological state of the animal, the cat may refuse to eat up to 3 days after the operation. But, as a rule, appetite appears the next day after the operation.
In any case, if something bothers you, it is better to take the animal to the veterinarian.

Will sterilization help if the cat is shitting?
There is no definite answer to this question. If the word "shits" means marking the territory, then after sterilization this will stop. If the lack of upbringing is meant, or if the cat takes revenge on the owner for something, then a consultation with a zoopsychologist and long-term responsible work on behavior correction will be required.

Dmitry Golovachev,
chief physician of the veterinary clinic "Agata".

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