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Cat sterilization is a tubal ligation procedure that renders a kitten sterile. It is worth distinguishing between sterilization and castration, because this procedure is now recommended and performed more often. Read about the sterilization or castration of a female cat and learn about their greatest benefits.

Sterilizationandcastrationcan be performed on both the cat and the female. The sterilization procedure only involves ligation of the fallopian tubes in females or the vas deferens in males, which makes reproductive cells unable to move and fertilization is not possible.

The castration procedure involves the excision of gonads, i.e. testicles in males and ovaries in females. In the case of castration, the removal of gonads not only prevents uncontrolled reproduction of cats, but also eliminates diseases of the reproductive organs, which in the case of cats are a common he alth problem. Castration also prevents unwanted gonadal and sex drive behavior in cats - until removed during castration, they still produce sex hormones.

Among other things, for these reasons, nowadays sterilization is being abandoned in favor of castration.

Despite this, both terms function interchangeably in colloquial language as treatments that make an animal sterile.

Sterilization (castration) of cats - advantages

Casting kittens is primarily aimed at limiting their uncontrolled reproduction. There are no exact statistics, but it is known that the number of cats, especially the homeless, continues to rise. This is indicated by data from shelters for stray animals, more and more often cats also live in houses - their number is growing the fastest and may soon overtake the number of dogs.

In addition, cats reproduce very easily - a he althy female of reproductive age can enter the period of estrus even several times a year, and her pregnancy lasts only 2.5 months.

Overcrowded shelters and the steadily increasing number of homeless cats are prompting veterinarians to promote cat neutering treatments. Especially since castration not only allows you to reduce the number of stray cats, but also improves the quality of life of those who haveowners.

Castration does not predispose cats to obesity, as opposed to a poor diet and lack of exercise.

Advantages of female castration:

  • pregnancy prevention for female
  • elimination of bothersome screams, and therefore intense vocalization, regardless of the time of day, apathy, aggression, rubbing against various objects. It is worth adding that the occurrence of freaks one after the other greatly weakens the female body
  • reduction of the risk of cancers of the reproductive organs and pyomyxia. Early treatment, performed before the first heat, minimizes the risk of developing mammary gland tumors
  • castration, for obvious reasons, prevents complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, and infections of the mammary gland and uterus
  • extends a kitten's life by up to a third
Worth knowing

Common opinions that a female cat should have kittens at least once in her life or that her inability to have children adversely affects her he alth is not scientifically confirmed.

Sterilization (castration) of cats - what is this procedure?

A cat castration is a procedure to remove the ovaries, fallopian tubes and usually the uterus. Gonads are removed during surgery through an incision in the abdomen.

Doctors recommend that you castrate as early as possible. For females, the ideal time is before the first heat, i.e. between the 7th and 12th month of life.

The procedure is performed under general anesthesia, so it is worth making sure that the animal's he alth condition allows it to be performed.

Of the other precautions to take, let's mention that it is not recommended to perform the procedure during heat. This could be dangerous to the kitten's he alth. During estrus, the genitals are supplied with more blood, so the risk of hemorrhage increases. In the case of cats that have the so-called permanent heat (when after the end of one cycle, a new one immediately follows), the cycle can be stopped using pharmacological agents.

Direct preparation for castration of a female cat is associated with a visit to the vet to assess whether there are any contraindications.

Generally, treatments should be performed on a he althy animal. If a cat qualifies for castration, it should be subjected to a fast for several hours. Young cats, due to their faster metabolism, may be subjected to a six-hour fast, and older cats may even be fasted for twelve hours.

Kitten castration - the course of the procedure

In cats, the course of castration is more extensive, invasive and therefore takes longer than in males. After applying anesthesia, it removesabdominal hair grows and disinfects the incision site. After making the abdominal incision, the surgeon finds and removes the ovaries and other vital organs.

The procedure takes about an hour, after which it is necessary to put a suture or stitches on the muscles. Depending on what sutures have been applied, they will either not be removed, or they will be removed by the vet approximately 14 days after the procedure. After the operation, painkillers and an antibiotic are given.

Convalescence after castration

Convalescence is very fast. During the first 24 hours, the anesthesia used during the operation may still influence the behavior of the cat. After getting dirty, the cat may complain of pain, may not want to walk or lie down, have problems with balance and coordination of movements. He can also tear off the dressing to lick the wound.

Insufficient wound protection may lead to infection, so after the operation it is worth wearing a cat's clothes or a collar that will prevent her from accessing the area after cutting. It is also worth washing it with a disinfectant.

Your kitten may not receive her first food and water until she is completely awake. Narcosis can cause problems with swallowing.

Important

Castration, like any procedure, is associated with risks. The most common complications relate to the wound - swelling may develop at the cut site, which may last for several weeks, but which is not cause for concern. Unlike an abscess, which may be the result of an infection in the wound.

Leaving the ovary or its fragment during castration is a rare complication. Such a kitten may still be in heat, so reoperation is necessary.

About the authorMałgorzata Wójcik The editor in charge of the website. Journalist with 25 years of experience. From the beginning, she was associated with the subject of children and he alth - she worked, among others. in the magazine "M jak mama". At mjakmama.pl, she specializes in pregnancy and childbirth. Privately - mother of three adolescent children. He is eager to read and walks in the woods with his dog.

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