The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates that 3.2 million cats enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of cats are euthanized each year due to the massive population of stray cats. Animal shelters struggle to control the number of cats that come in through their doors. The pet overpopulation problem is severe. Not only are there more stray cats than cats that get adopted every year, but many animal shelters across the country struggle to keep up with their overwhelming intake rates leaving millions of pets to be euthanized. Many times, unplanned pet pregnancies contribute to this problem. The cat overpopulation problem is an excellent example of why neutering your pet is essential. You may be asking yourself, “should I neuter my cat?” By being proactive and neutering your cat, you are contributing your part to stopping the cat overpopulation crisis. Not to mention, neutering your cat is extremely beneficial for your pet’s health and wellbeing.
As a vet in Colorado Springs, Ponderosa Veterinary Clinic, has served pet owners across Colorado to safely spay and neuter their pets. We understand that the idea of neutering your cat may leave you feeling anxious. You can have peace of mind that the expert veterinarians and staff at Ponderosa Veterinary Clinic will treat your cat as one of our own. As a pet owner, neutering your cat is one of the most beneficial decisions you can make for the health of your pet and your community. We are here to help you through each step of the process so you know exactly what will be done to your furry friend because the safety of your cat is our top priority!
If you are still on the fence about whether you should neuter your cat, keep reading to learn more about the benefits of neutering your pet, the right age to neuter your cat, and the recovery time.
What Do Spaying and Neutering Mean?
According to the Journal of the American Veterinary Association, 80 percent of cats in the country are neutered. When a cat is spayed or neutered, this means that a veterinarian has removed their reproductive organs so they are unable to reproduce.
What is the Difference Between Spaying or Neutering?
Spaying or neutering your cat means removing their reproductive organs so they cannot reproduce. The difference between spaying or neutering your pet depends on the sex of your cat.
A spay is also called an ovariohysterectomy, and this surgical procedure is performed on female cats. The ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the uterus are removed during surgery. This makes your cat unable to get pregnant, eliminates her heat cycle, and reduces her behavior to breed.
Neutering your cat is a surgical procedure that is performed on male pets. This type of surgery is also called an orchiectomy. When neutering male cats, a veterinarian will remove the testes making your pet unable to reproduce and less likely to show male breeding behavior.
Is Neutering a Cat Safe?
Neutering your cat is an extremely safe procedure. The majority of cats that are neutered have no problems with the surgery or recovering from being neutered.
However, with any surgery, there is always a risk. For example, complications from the anesthetic are possible but extremely rare. Post-operative infection is also possible, but should your cat’s incision wound become infected, antibiotics are available to treat the infection.
Plus, before your cat goes in for surgery, your veterinarian will take preoperative blood tests to ensure your furry friend is in the healthiest condition before getting surgery.
Neutering your pet can be nerve-wracking, but spaying and neutering cats is an incredibly common and safe procedure that happens every day. If you are nervous about your cat getting neutered, make sure to talk with your veterinarian before your cat’s surgery!
Benefits of Neutering Your Cat
There are many benefits to getting your cat neutered. Not only are you doing your part as a pet owner to keep your cat from adding to the pet overpopulation problem, but neutering male cats has many health benefits, too.
Neutering your cat helps to keep them healthy for many long years to come! It helps to slow serious diseases that can spread to other cats, such as feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus.
A neutered male cat will also be less likely to have undesirable behaviors. Cats that are not neutered are more likely to be aggressive, fight other cats, and roam outdoors. Furthermore, cats that are not neutered mark their territory by spraying. However, by neutering your cat early, you are more likely to eliminate these types of behaviors.
When Should My Cat Be Neutered?
Each cat has their own unique set of circumstances and medical history. Therefore, it is crucial that you speak with your veterinarian about getting your cat neutered to make sure your cat is healthy for surgery.
In general, most cats are neutered when they are a few months of age. Cats are typically neutered around five to six months of age.
If you have an adult cat that is not neutered, you can still neuter them. Adult cats can also be spayed or neutered.
What is the Recovery Time for Neutering a Cat?
Once your cat is neutered, the recovery time after their surgery is not very long. Your cat will be tired after their surgery, and it will take 24-48 hours for them to rest and recuperate after the anesthesia.
It will take five to seven days for your cat to heal after being neutered. If your cat had invasive surgery, it may take ten to fourteen days for your cat to heal.
Your cat will need to wear a cone to stop them from licking their incision wound. If your cat does not wear a cone, it is possible that your cat may open the wound or infect it.
As always, you will want to check with your veterinarian for detailed aftercare instructions when neutering your cat.
Safely Neuter Your Cat With Ponderosa Veterinary Clinic
Neutering your cat is one of the best decisions that you can make for the well-being of your pet. Not only does neutering your cat stop unplanned pet pregnancies, but neutered cats are much less likely to be aggressive or mark their territory. If you are nervous about getting your cat neutered, remember that spaying and neutering pets happen every single day! It is an extremely common procedure that many pets undergo. Cats as young as eight weeks can be neutered, but it is always a good idea to speak with your veterinarian about your cat’s medical history to make sure getting them neutered is the best decision for your furry friend.
At Ponderosa Veterinary Clinic, a vet in Colorado Springs, we are proud to provide compassionate services to the pets of southern Colorado. Our highly-trained veterinarians and veterinary staff work to empower pet owners by providing the most transparent information so you can make the best decisions for your cat. If you are asking yourself, “should I neuter my cat?”, we are here to walk you through every step of the process so you know exactly what you can expect. At Ponderosa Veterinary Clinic, we want to give you the best educational resources possible to relieve the stress that comes with deciding to neuter your cat. If you have questions about neutering your cat, or if you want to request an appointment, contact the team at Ponderosa Veterinary Clinic!
