Neutering cats

Today, the most common procedure performed in veterinary clinics is the neutering of male and female animals. This is an elective procedure performed on clinically healthy animals; it carries minimal anesthetic risks, is generally well-tolerated, and results in a quick and smooth recovery.

❗️It is castration, not spaying. Pet owners often confuse these two terms.

Sterilization is a surgical method of preventing pregnancy. In males, the vas deferens are ligated; in females, the fallopian tubes are ligated or cut. In other words, the reproductive organs remain intact, but the animal is unable to reproduce.

Castration is the surgical removal of the reproductive organs—the testicles in males and the ovaries and uterus in females.

At the Zoolux Clinic, we perform neutering, as this prevents hormonal imbalances and helps prevent the development of neoplasms (tumors) as well as inflammatory and bacterial diseases of the reproductive organs (prostatitis and orchitis in males; pyometra, mucometra, and endometritis in females).

Let’s take a closer look at spaying cats—ovariohysterectomy.

At our clinic, we perform this procedure on clinically healthy animals starting at 3 months of age. It has been proven that it is advisable to spay female cats before they reach sexual maturity, as this reduces the risk of mammary and reproductive tumors by up to 95%.

The procedure can be performed on the same day as the animal’s routine vaccination; it will not place any additional strain on the animal’s body.

The animal must fast before the surgery

If necessary, a complete blood count, blood chemistry tests, and an echocardiogram may be performed on the day of the surgery.

Our clinic keeps up with the times, so we have state-of-the-art equipment and can offer endoscopic castration.

This procedure is minimally invasive (involving minimal surgical intervention and trauma).

Single-port laparoscopically-assisted ovariohysterectomy (removal of the ovaries and uterus) is indicated for clinically healthy cats; it involves minimal anesthetic and surgical risks and allows for rapid recovery and rehabilitation.

Surgical technique:

A puncture is made in the skin and abdominal wall using a special port, which is a metal tube 0.5 cm in diameter with a hook at one end.

An endoscopic camera is inserted into the port and connected to a monitor. An examination of the abdominal organs (liver, gallbladder, spleen, kidneys, and bladder) is performed, allowing for the early detection of abnormalities or the absence thereof. The uterus is visualized, its horn is hooked with a hook built into the port and pulled out. Next, the vessels are coagulated with a thermocoagulator, and the uterine horns are removed.

No foreign bodies (such as vascular ligatures) remain in the abdominal cavity, which facilitates and accelerates wound healing and reduces the risk of inflammatory reactions during the postoperative period.

Self-dissolving suture material is applied to the abdominal wall, and the skin is closed using medical adhesive. As a result of this procedure, the animal has a small puncture wound instead of an incision, unlike in castration performed without the use of endoscopic equipment.

Postoperative care is minimal: clean the skin once a day with a 2% chlorhexidine solution and protect the surgical site from licking and contamination by putting on a protective blanket if necessary.

After the surgery, we’ll call you to let you know when you can pick up your pet. This is usually about two hours after the procedure is complete, to allow your cat to wake up under the supervision of an anesthesiologist and for the epidural anesthesia to wear off.

Common myths about neutering:

Castration= sterilization

In fact, that's not the case. Both procedures are intended to prevent the animal from giving birth, but they are not the same thing.

Oophorectomy is the removal of the uterus and/or ovaries. The gonads are not preserved.

Sterilization is a procedure in which the fallopian tubes are tied without removing the uterus. The ovaries are left intact.

The animal needs to experience the "joy of motherhood"

This is the most common myth. No, the animal does not need to give birth, and it certainly will not experience the “joys of motherhood.” On the contrary, spaying or neutering an animal before it reaches full sexual maturity can help prevent many health problems.

Why neuter when you can just give medication?

Hormonal medications suppress the estrous cycles of female pets; however, they must be taken in courses, which can contribute to the development of various diseases, particularly malignant tumors and inflammatory conditions of the uterus.

I don't want to castrate him; it's unnatural.

This is a very outdated view of reality, because spaying and neutering is a necessity in today’s world. Not all owners want to find homes and loving owners for their kittens; instead, they abandon them on the street or, even worse, get rid of them. Therefore, to help reduce the number of stray animals, you should have your pet spayed or neutered if you do not plan to engage in professional breeding.