Spay & Neuter Page

“Spaying” or Ovariohysterectomy

The following is a thorough description of the entire procedure we perform at The Cat's Meow so you more fully understand what is involved.  It is our policy to provide for each patient’s needs as they arise, so that individual attention to the safety and comfort of your pet is assured.  This allows the doctor to provide the best for her patient and avoids the assembly line low cost approach.  Although we understand that occasionally cost alone is the primary concern, we feel that our clients desire the best for their kitties and we, therefore, do not attempt to compete with low cost programs by lowering our standards. We've included a link from another site explaining some of the costs of a spay that includes pictures of the spay procedure.

We now have the equipment to provide pre-anesthetic lab work to check the status of various organs prior to undergoing anesthesia.

Once you have dropped off your kitty, she is weighed and examined to ensure that she is healthy and fit for surgery that day.  According to weight, physical status, and age, a calculated dose of  pain medication is given.  After time has been given for the pain medication to be absorbed, an injection of anesthetic is administered.  The eyes are lubricated to prevent dryness during surgery-the eyes do not always close completely- and the nails are trimmed.  The urinary bladder is emptied, and the surgical site on the abdomen is shaved.   The patient is positioned on a towel over a heating pad on the surgical table and the surgical site is cleaned with iodine scrub and alcohol. Local anesthetic is used to numb the areas where incisions will be made.  The patient is maintained on inhalant (gas) anesthesia throughout surgery. 

While the patient is being prepared by the technician, the doctor applies surgical attire and “scrubs in” using the same surgical scrub technique.  A sterile instrument pack is opened, and a sterile surgical drape is applied covering the entire area and exposing only the surgical site.  During the procedure, the technician monitors the heart and respiratory rates and rhythms.  An electronic monitor is used to measure anesthetic parameters such as oxygen saturation.

An incision is made through the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and abdominal muscle layer.  Both of the ovaries and the uterus are removed, hence the name ovario (ovaries) hyster (uterus) ectomy (removal of)-ovariohysterectomy, or OHE.  The tissue ligatures and incision closure are performed using techniques, patterns, and suture materials determined to be the best for the patient. 

The patient is allowed to recover from anesthesia in the hospital ward, where she is closely observed for any problems.  Additional pain medication is administered later in the day to ensure comfort, and food, water, and litter are provided.  The cat remains in the hospital overnight so she can completely recover without hurting herself by running or jumping or falling while under effects of anesthesia and pain medication. 

The following day, the incision site is examined and the patient is monitored for any problems.  If all is well, the cat is free to go home.  It is best if the environment remains relatively quiet (kept separate from other cats that like to play or fight, children, dogs, loud noises, etc.) to help the healing process.

A small amount of swelling may be the body’s reaction to “trauma” and suture material and is usually considered normal.  If there is a large amount of swelling, redness, or discharge or the cat is depressed or not eating, we should examine the kitty immediately.  Generally there are no problems, but it is better to be safe than sorry-please ask if you are unsure.

Having your cat spayed not only prevents her from cycling in and out of heat, but also decreases behavioral problems and greatly reduces the risk of medical problems such as mammary cancer and endocrine diseases in the future.  If your cat is not specifically going to be used for a breeding program, spaying is definitely the best decision.  We recommend having the procedure performed at approximately 4-6 months of age.  Please contact us with any questions!

"Neutering" or Orchiectomy/Orchidectomy

The following is a thorough description of the entire procedure we perform at The Cat's Meow so you more fully understand what is involved.  It is our policy to provide for each patient’s needs as they arise, so that individual attention to the safety and comfort of your pet is assured.  We've included a link from another site that includes pictures of the cat neuter procedure.

We now have the equipment to provide pre-anesthetic lab work to check the status of various organs prior to undergoing anesthesia.

Once you have dropped off your kitty, he is weighed and examined to ensure that he is healthy and fit for surgery that day.  According to weight, physical status, and age, a calculated dose of pain medication is administered.   Once the pain medication has had time to work, an injection of anesthetic is given, the eyes are lubricated to prevent dryness during surgery-the eyes do not always close completely- and the nails are trimmed.  The patient is maintained on inhalant (gas) anesthesia throughout surgery.

The surgical site is prepared by removal of the fur and scrubbing the area using iodine and alcohol.  Local anesthetic is injected into the scrotum to numb the surgical site.  As the technician is preparing the patient, the doctor is washing and applying gloves.

A testicle is isolated within the scrotum and a small incision is made directly over it.  The testicle is pulled out so the spermatic cord and vessel can be seen.  The vessel is ligated (tied off to prevent bleeding), and the testicle is removed.  The remaining cord is placed back into the scrotum and the procedure is repeated on the other testicle. 

The patient is allowed to recover from anesthesia in the hospital ward, where he is closely observed for any problems. If the kitty exhibits any pain, additional medication is given.  

The procedure for neutering a cat is technically less difficult, less time-consuming, and less invasive.  We allow cats to go home the same day as the procedure.  It is best if the environment remains relatively quiet (kept separate from other cats that like to play or fight, children, dogs, loud noises, etc.) to help the healing process.

A small amount of swelling may be the body’s reaction to “trauma” and is usually considered normal.  If there is a large amount of swelling, redness, or discharge or the cat is depressed or not eating, we should examine the kitty immediately.  Generally there are no problems, but it is better to be safe than sorry-please ask if you are unsure.  

Having your cat neutered not only prevents urine spraying and territorialism, but also decreases the urge to roam and fight.  If your cat is not specifically going to be used for a breeding program, neutering is definitely the best decision.  We recommend having the procedure performed at approximately 5-6 months of age.  Please contact us with any questions!