It’s one of those moments in a cat parents life that’s nerve-wracking. You’ve adopted a kitten and she’s going to need to be spayed. But, when? And is there a wrong or right way? Here are some things you should know about spaying your kitten.
Tips On Spaying Your Kitten
- While it is important to spay your kitten before her first heat cycle, we recommend waiting as long as possible. Studies show that female cats are healthier when spayed, but the procedure itself doesn’t come without risk. A cat’s immune system should be fully developed before undergoing medications and surgery. This is usually around 6 months of age. By waiting until at least this age we can help reduce risk of side effects.
- You have options when it comes to spaying your kitten and you should research which option is best for your kitty before making the appointment with your veterinarian.
- One option for the spay is an Ovariohysterectomy. This is the common spay procedure that many conventional veterinarians conduct. This surgery removes the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus and makes her unable to reproduce. This also eliminates her heat cycle and instictive “sex drive” (if you will).
- A less invasive spay procedure is called an Ovariectomy. This is where the ovaries are removed from a female cat, but the uterus remains in tact. This also makes your cat unable to reproduce, eliminates the heat cycle and reproductive drive, however, it reduces the risk of bleeding when you leave the uterus in place.
When we had Girl Friday spayed, we were able to wait until she was 8 months old and we went with the ovariectomy procedure for her. The healing time was very quick, she never needed a cone and we feel confident that it was the best decision for her.
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