Spaying A Cat: The Procedure And Recovery Timeline

Spaying is a common procedure for cats, which involves the removal of the ovaries and uterus to prevent reproduction. The procedure typically takes between 20 minutes and an hour and a half, depending on the size of the cat and any medical considerations. Cats are generally put under general anaesthesia for the operation and will need a few hours at the hospital for check-in, an initial assessment, surgery, and recovery.

The procedure

Before the procedure, your vet will run diagnostic tests to ensure your cat is healthy enough for the operation. They will also advise you to fast your cat the night before, typically from midnight, although water is usually allowed. Fasting helps to reduce the risk of vomiting during surgery.

On the day of the surgery, you will drop your cat off at the hospital in the morning. Once they are prepped for surgery, the procedure itself can be completed in less than 20 minutes. An incision is made in the abdomen, just below the belly button, and the reproductive organs are removed through this incision. The incision is then closed with several layers of stitches, which are often removed after about a week.

After the procedure, your cat will need time to recover from the anaesthesia. They may be groggy and uninterested in food for the rest of the day, and it is important to keep them calm and quiet. Your veterinarian will provide appropriate pain management medication to keep your cat comfortable.

Most cats will start to feel better within 24-48 hours, but full recovery takes about 10-14 days. During this time, you should aim to keep your cat calm and refrain from any vigorous activities that could cause the incision to reopen. The incision site should be checked daily for any signs of infection, such as redness, discharge, swelling, or a foul odour.

Anaesthesia

It is important to fast your cat the night before the surgery, as advised by your veterinarian. This is because an anaesthetised cat loses the normal reflex ability to swallow. If there is food in the stomach, the cat could vomit while under anaesthesia or in the early post-anaesthetic period, allowing food to enter the lungs and cause aspiration pneumonia, a potentially life-threatening condition.

The duration of the spaying procedure itself can vary depending on the veterinarian, the age, size, and health of the cat, and any special medical considerations. The procedure typically lasts between 20 minutes and an hour and a half, or up to 90 minutes in some cases. However, you can expect your cat to spend a few hours at the hospital, including check-in, an initial physical assessment, surgery, and recovery from anaesthesia.

After the procedure, your cat may be groggy and uninterested in food for the rest of the day. Increasingly, veterinarians are giving injections of timed-release pain medications and sometimes antibiotics prior to discharge, so you may not need to administer any additional medication at home.

Recovery

The recovery period after spaying a cat is generally quick, with most pets starting to feel better within 24 to 48 hours. However, it is important to allow for a full recovery, which typically takes between 10 to 14 days. During this time, it is essential to keep your cat calm and restrict their activity to prevent the incision from reopening. The Elizabethan collar, or e-collar, can be used to prevent your cat from licking or irritating the surgery site.

It is important to monitor your cat's behaviour during the recovery period. If, after 48 hours, they still seem lethargic or are not eating or drinking, it could be a sign of infection. Contact your veterinarian if you notice any of these symptoms or if you observe any redness, discharge, swelling, or a foul odour at the incision site.

The incision site should be checked daily for signs of infection. Common post-operative complications include inflammation or infection of the incision, the incision reopening, swelling under the skin at the incision site, and bleeding. These complications can occur if the cat licks or irritates the surgery site or if they are not kept calm and restricted from activity as directed.

To promote a calm and comfortable recovery environment, choose a quiet location where your cat feels comfortable and can be easily observed. Provide clean, dry bedding, a clean litter box, and fresh water. Keep outdoor cats inside during the recovery period.

Your veterinarian may recommend a follow-up appointment to monitor your cat's recovery and remove any stitches or staples after 7 to 10 days.

Overall, the recovery process after spaying a cat is generally straightforward, and most cats make a full recovery within a couple of weeks with proper aftercare.

Potential risks

The spaying procedure typically takes between 20 minutes and an hour and a half, depending on the pet's size and any special medical considerations. In older pets or large-breed dogs, the procedure can take longer and may require two surgeons.

Spaying is a major surgical procedure that requires general anaesthesia. As with any surgical procedure, there is always a small risk of potential complications. While these are rare, they can include:

• Anaesthetic reaction: Any individual cat can have an unexpected adverse reaction to the anaesthesia. While these cases are extremely rare, they are impossible to predict.
• Aspiration pneumonia: If a cat has not been properly fasted prior to anaesthesia, they may vomit while under anaesthesia or in the early post-anaesthetic period, allowing food to enter the lungs and cause aspiration pneumonia, a potentially life-threatening condition.
• Internal bleeding: This can occur if a ligature around a blood vessel breaks or slips off after the abdomen has been closed. This is very rare and is more likely to occur if the cat is extremely active. Clinical signs include weakness, pale gums, depression, anorexia, or a distended abdomen.
• Post-operative infection: This may occur internally or externally around the incision site. In most cases, the infection can be controlled with antibiotics. A post-operative infection most commonly occurs when the cat licks the site excessively or is in a damp environment.
• Suture reaction or sinus formation: Although extremely rare, the body may react to certain types of suture material used during surgery, resulting in a draining wound that may appear several weeks after the surgery. A further operation may be required to remove the suture material.
• Seroma: A seroma is a non-painful pocket of clear fluid involving the incision, which usually occurs if the cat has been too active in the first few days after surgery. Seromas will resolve over time but some can open onto the skin, requiring antibiotics to prevent secondary infections.
• Herniation: This may result from a breakdown in the abdominal wall, although it is rare.
• Uterine infections: If an ovariectomy is performed but the uterus is left behind, or if small portions of the uterus are left behind during an ovariohysterectomy, an infection may occur. However, uterine infections are extremely rare if both ovaries have been removed.
• Inflammation or infection at the incision site: This can be caused or made worse by the cat licking or chewing the skin at the incision.
• Incision re-opening: This can be caused or made worse by the cat being too active after surgery.
• Swelling under the skin at the incision site: This can be caused or made worse by fluid buildup or the cat licking the wound site.
• Bladder infections: Spayed cats may be at risk of developing bladder infections.
• Urinary incontinence: In rare cases, spayed cats may experience urinary incontinence.

Benefits

The spaying procedure itself is relatively quick, taking between 15 and 90 minutes, depending on the pet's size and any special medical considerations. However, you can expect your pet to spend a few hours at the hospital, including check-in, an initial physical assessment, surgery, and recovery from anaesthesia.

Reduced risk of cancer and other diseases

Spaying your cat drastically reduces the risk of mammary, ovarian and uterine cancer. It also prevents reproductive disorders like uterine infections (pyometra), uterine rupture and torsion, metritis, and cystic changes. These conditions can be fatal and are not always treatable, but they are preventable through spaying.

Behavioural advantages

Spaying can help fix undesirable behaviours such as being excessively vocal, roaming, and marking territory. It also reduces the risk of your cat wandering outside, where they are exposed to other cats, cars, wild animals, fights, diseases, and injuries.

Prevent unplanned pregnancies

Spaying your cat prevents unplanned pregnancies, which can be costly and potentially dangerous for your cat. It also helps to keep cat populations in check, reducing the number of homeless cats and those given to shelters and rescues.

Frequently asked questions