08/04/2020 26,768 Diseases and treatment of cats
Author: Olga
The question of sterilizing a cat has probably crossed the mind of every animal owner. Especially if this need arose after childbirth. Detailed information about sterilizing pets after birth - when you can do it, what time limits to observe, what to take into account - you can learn about this from our article.
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Why do you need to sterilize your cat?
After puberty, cats begin to look for a mate. They leave scent marks, scream at night and constantly try to escape from the house. This is a difficult period for every owner. Despite the difficulties that arise, not everyone is in a hurry to resort to surgical intervention, fearing possible risks. Most often, owners resort to an alternative solution - hormonal drugs. They really suppress sexual desire, but with constant use they carry much more risks: the growth of tumors, the development of pathologies of the reproductive system (cyst, pyometra) and urinary systems.
Unlike hormonal drugs, sterilization permanently eliminates sexual desire and reproductive function. It has a beneficial effect on the pet’s condition, protects it from cancer and prolongs its life.
Conclusion
Modern methods of sterilization are such that there is no reason to consider it inhumane. This operation takes place without consequences and is almost painless. If you do not want to deprive your pet of natural pleasures, there are methods that will leave sexual desire, but will make the cat sterile.
Other methods eliminate sexual desire completely. The cat stops estrus, the animal does not call for partners, and becomes calmer. What to choose is up to you. But if everything is done correctly, the cat’s health does not suffer, and life expectancy increases.
Difference between castration and sterilization
Sterilization (oophorectomy) is tubal ligation with or without removal of the ovaries. Most often, veterinarians perform castration (ovariohysterectomy), which involves removing not only the ovaries, but also the uterus. This method is more effective, as it eliminates the development of tumors and inflammatory diseases in the uterus.
Many people confuse these concepts, separating them not by the specifics of the procedure, but by gender. In everyday life, it is believed that females are sterilized and males are castrated. For convenience, instead of “castration” we will use the more familiar term “sterilization”.
Brief description of the operation
To minimize possible complications, preparatory measures are recommended. They include not only actions immediately before surgery, but also ongoing disease prevention. In particular, this refers to annual vaccination.
Preparing the animal
Anesthesia weakens the immune system, increasing the risk of infection by harmful microorganisms and parasites. For safety, it is recommended to vaccinate your pet at least a month before the procedure. Treatment for helminths is carried out within 1.5-2 weeks. In the absence of timely vaccination, the cat is given a serum injection that stimulates a stable immune response for 2 weeks.
A few days before surgery, a urine and blood test is taken from the tailed patient. To determine the safe dosage of a narcotic substance, the functioning of the heart and respiratory organs is checked using ultrasound and x-rays.
It is recommended to give up feeding 12 hours before, and water 3 hours before. This eliminates the occurrence of vomiting, which provokes the development of aspiration pneumonia.
Choosing a clinic and veterinarian
Pets that don't go outside are afraid to leave their familiar territory. To minimize stress, it is better to choose a clinic closer to home. Walking distance will eliminate travel by transport, reducing the time you spend outside your usual conditions.
For especially timid pets, calling a veterinarian to your home is a good idea. This eliminates the stress caused by a change of environment and the risk of infection from other visitors. The disadvantage of home surgery is the low sterility and lack of equipment necessary to eliminate possible complications. Most clinics provide both types of services, so the choice is up to the owner.
It is ideal if you vaccinate your animal and take it for routine examinations to the same clinic and to the same doctor. A regular veterinarian is familiar with the characteristics of the body.
Progress of the procedure
After anesthesia is administered to the tailed patient, the hair is removed at the site of the future incision or puncture. The procedure itself is carried out in two ways:
- surgical, involving classical excision with a scalpel;
- laparoscopic, based on the creation of small punctures using endoscopic equipment.
In both cases, after making an incision, the surgeon removes the reproductive organs and applies stitches. They are removable and non-removable. The first ones are removed 7-10 days after the procedure, and the second ones resolve on their own.
Pros and cons of sterilization at different ages
When sterilizing, age plays a primary role. Veterinarians' opinions on the ideal age vary, but the fact that a young body is at lower risk remains the same.
Early (before first heat)
Foreign veterinarians believe that it is better to sterilize a cat when it has not yet reached puberty. This approach guarantees rapid tissue regeneration, reducing postoperative risks. Surgery is performed at 3-6 months.
Opponents of this approach cite possible developmental delays, changes in behavioral characteristics, and the development of pathologies of the eyes, kidneys and endocrine system. There is no consensus here, since supporters of early sterilization have a completely opposite opinion. They are confident that the operated animal grows up healthier.
During puberty
Most veterinarians recommend operating on your pet closer to her first heat, that is, at 7-8 months. Exceptions include kittens of different sexes from the same litter growing up together. They reach puberty earlier, so the date of surgery can be delayed by 4-6 months. Before making a decision, the veterinarian weighs the tailed patient. Its weight should be at least 2.5-3 kg. Otherwise, the operation will be delayed.
In old age
People who have picked up adult animals on the street are constantly wondering at what age a cat can be sterilized. In their case, the chance for early intervention has already been missed, so the issue is resolved individually.
Veterinarians believe that surgery is possible up to 10 years of age. After this age, the pet is considered old, and the likelihood of complications increases to a critical level. Surgery is performed only for special indications that threaten the life of the tailed patient.
Features of sexual development in different breeds
The timing of puberty varies from breed to breed. If your pet begins to show signs of heat too early, check with your veterinarian at what age cats of this breed are sterilized. Representatives of the Siamese-Oriental group mature from 4 months, and large long-haired breeds (Maine Coons, Persians, Siberians) - up to 1 year.
Indications for sterilization
There are a number of diseases when an animal simply needs to be sterilized (castrated) regardless of whether the owner wants it or not.
Indications:
- Pyometra. As a rule, this disease affects the animal after 4-5 years of its life. It rarely happens at a young age. The disease is characterized by inflammation of the uterus and a large accumulation of purulent deposits in it.
- Endometritis. Inflammation of the uterus, which is characterized by damage to the walls of the uterus and their changes. As a rule, there are no purulent deposits.
- Hematometra. The disease manifests itself through the accumulation of blood in the uterine cavity.
- Hydrometer. Accumulation of fluids in the uterine cavity.
For these diseases, there is no other treatment other than castrating the animal. Yes, with some of them it is possible to delay the operation, for example with endometritis. Inject antibiotics and give medications. However, this is only a delay and the operation will have to be done in the end anyway.
What age is ideal - veterinarians' opinions
Doctors' opinions on what age is best to sterilize cats agree on one thing. Each subsequent year after the onset of estrus reduces the effectiveness of the procedure and increases the likelihood of complications.
The probability of developing oncology in animals operated on before their first heat is only 0.5%. At the time of surgery, the pet must be at least 7-8 months old. The exception is breeds with early maturity or kittens from the same litter.
Terms of sterilization of cats after birth
Veterinarians advise not to subject your pet to surgery immediately after birth. It is better to wait until the end of the lactation period. During this period, the animal’s reproductive system will be restored.
Even if the cubs died or lactation ended, there is no need to rush with sterilization. The best time to do sterilization if the cat is nursing cubs is the period from 2 to 3 months after birth.
A nursing pet should not be subjected to stress or tormented by surgical procedures. Due to stress, the four-legged mother's milk may disappear, then the owners will have to feed the kittens with an artificial formula.
If there is no lactation, then you can take the cat for surgery no earlier than 4 weeks after birth. In emergency cases, the timing of the operation can be postponed, but the minimum acceptable time between birth and sterilization is 2 weeks.
The operation can be performed on an animal both after the first birth and subsequent ones. There are no restrictions in this regard.
Estrus, pregnancy and childbirth
Not all owners understand the relationship between the reproductive and reproductive systems. Because of this, it is completely unclear when to spay a cat: before, during or after heat. Even more difficulties arise with the need for childbirth. Many owners mistakenly believe that deprivation of reproductive function is safe only after bearing at least one litter.
Surgery during pregnancy
Surgery is permissible if the pregnancy is no more than 1 month. Otherwise, there is a possibility of increased blood loss and a prolonged postoperative period. Intervention is also permissible in case of abnormal fetal development, poor health or old age, which prevents the safe bearing of kittens. In all other cases, the operation is postponed until complete postpartum recovery.
Surgery after childbirth
After giving birth, a young mother needs 2-3 months to fully recover. During this time, the uterus returns to its original size, and blood circulation in the pelvis is normalized.
Emergency intervention immediately after the birth of kittens is practiced when:
- detection of tumors in the reproductive organs;
- the presence and high probability of postpartum hemorrhage;
- uterine rupture;
- damage or abnormalities of the placenta.
In these situations, the risk of possible complications is higher than the risks associated with sterilization. The procedure is considered justified.
Is it necessary for a cat to give birth at least once before sterilization?
The most popular question arising from the baseless myth about the “joy of motherhood.” From a psychological point of view, animals are not subject to emotions and act instinctively. The absence or presence of pregnancy is taken for granted by them, and therefore does not have a fundamental impact on their lives.
An obvious logic appears when considering the issue from a biological point of view. Before pregnancy, female sex hormones (estrogens), responsible for sexual desire, are produced by the ovaries. If they are removed in a timely manner, the animal loses not only the ability to conceive, but also interest in the opposite sex. Otherwise, other internal secretion organs are involved in the production of estrogen. As a result, the operated pet will not be able to become pregnant again, but will continue its loud rituals of calling cats. If you do not want to endure such concerts for the rest of your furry pet’s life, do not allow mating until sterilization.
In addition to the high risk of retaining some sex hormones, pregnancy reduces the effect of the procedure. The probability of developing cancer after the first birth is 8%, and after the second it increases by more than 3 times.
Is it possible to operate on a cat during heat?
During estrus, hormonal changes occur. Any intervention is fraught with multiple complications, including the development of oncology. Due to the dilation of blood vessels, there is a high probability of heavy blood loss. Animals recover from anesthesia worse and have a more difficult time experiencing the postoperative period.
It is safer to carry out surgery 2 weeks before or after estrus, when the pet’s condition returns to normal. Exceptions include prolonged heats with a short interval between them. They impair quality of life and lead to exhaustion. In this case, the animal is sterilized for medicinal purposes.
Why can’t you sterilize your pet while nursing kittens?
As can be concluded from the statements of experts, in most cases, the timing of the operation varies depending on whether the cat is nursing kittens or not. By the way, this directly affects this procedure. Even if an animal has lost its pets for some reason, for example, all the kittens died or were drowned, then the pet owner must wait at least fourteen days, after which the operation can be performed. This information is confirmed by many qualified veterinarians, so we cannot not trust it.
As for the castration procedure itself when feeding kittens, this should not be done under any circumstances. According to experts, carrying out this process while feeding babies can lead to injury to the mammary glands and even serious infection of the wound after castration. If the cat is feeding kittens, then no matter how long you wait after giving birth, you cannot begin this process while she is nursing.
Among other things, in the case of sterilization, there is a very high probability of affecting large and very important blood vessels for the life of the pet. They are located next to the mammary gland, so they can be affected very easily. In addition, if you carry out the castration procedure while breastfeeding, there is a risk that the cat’s milk will disappear. Then, in order for the kittens to survive, you will have to independently buy them special food for newborns and feed them on your own.
So, by doing sterilization while feeding you:
- you greatly risk the health of the animal, even to the point of its death;
- Doom yourself to regularly buy food for kittens;
- you will have to make your own feeding schedule and participate directly in the feeding itself.
But in some cases, if there is an uncastrated cat nearby, the cat has a very high risk of getting health problems even without sterilization. It’s no secret that estrus can begin even a week or two after giving birth. Thus, contact with a male cat will harm the cat even more than the castration procedure. Therefore, in this case, each owner will have to decide what to do. The best option is to isolate the animal after birth.
Indications and contraindications
There are always exceptions to general rules. In some cases, surgical intervention is permissible even if there are contraindications.
When should an animal not be sterilized?
It is prohibited to sterilize an animal that has not been vaccinated or previously treated against parasites. Other possible contraindications include:
- old age (more than 10 years);
- pathologies of the cardiovascular system and respiratory organs;
- acute viral infections and chronic lesions of the genitourinary system;
- estrus, pregnancy and the postpartum period, including lactation.
Neglecting the listed contraindications is permissible in case of a serious threat to life. If other methods to prevent dangerous complications do not help, the pet is sterilized.
When is surgery necessary?
Emergency surgery is rarely performed. It is prescribed when it is detected:
- abnormalities associated with pregnancy;
- malignant neoplasms in the reproductive organs and mammary glands;
- false pregnancy.
It happens that with incomplete removal of the ovaries, repeated estrus appears. To eliminate the consequences of unsuccessful sterilization, the animal is operated on again.
Sterilization during heat
This phenomenon also occurs. However, it is even more rare than spaying a pregnant cat.
The operation can be performed only in cases of real need, where sterilization itself will be a lesser evil than the cause. During heat, a cat experiences a lot of blood loss. And the pet may simply not survive the operation .
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