How to care for your cat after spaying and castration

Cat spaying: what you need to know

Deciding whether or not to neuter your cat is one of the most important decisions you can make as a cat owner.

While a bundle of kittens under the kitchen sink may be every child’s dream, it’s not a straightforward decision. There’s the cost of looking after a pregnant cat and her kittens as well as medical implications and risks to be aware of.

This guide will explain why you may decide to have your new kitten spayed or neutered, the cost of cat spaying and neutering and everything you need to know about their recovery.

What is cat spaying?

Spaying a cat is a common procedure that stops female cats getting pregnant. It’s an operation to remove female cat’s ovaries to prevent them getting pregnant.

Neutering is the general term for the operation in all cats. For males it’s called castration, and for females it’s called spaying.

Benefits of getting a cat spayed

Spaying a cat is a safe, painless way of controlling the cat population, making sure every feline friend has a safe and happy home. Cat spaying can also provide a whole host of health benefits.

Here are some of the reasons why you may consider spaying female kittens:

• Prevents unwanted pregnancies.
• Reduces the risk of womb infections.
• Helps the cat to stay healthy as having lots of kittens can cause the mums to fall more vulnerable to disease.
• Reduces the risk of certain tumours and cancers – mammary cancer is over 90% less likely to develop if the female is spayed before she is six months old.

Prevents unwanted behaviours from a cat in heat, like spraying, calling and trying to escape to find a mating partner.

When is the best time to spay a female cat?

Spaying is the name for the surgical procedure for neutering a female cat. While female cat spaying can happen at any stage of their life, it’s recommended to do so when the kitten is around four months old – after they’ve had their primary vaccinations. This is because female cats can start having kittens from around this age, so neutering a cat early on can prevent any unwanted litters. Spaying female cats before they’re six months old also can reduce their risk of contracting mammary cancer.

How much does it cost to spay a cat?

The cost of female cat neutering will vary depending on where you are in the country as well as which vet practice you choose. For an accurate price range, contact your vets or look at their website.

It’s important to remember that in most cases, the cost of neutering is more affordable than being responsible for a pet’s pregnancy and caring for their kittens and any associated medical bills.

What does getting a cat neutered involve?

Beforehand:

Neutering a cat, whether castrating or spaying, follows the same preparation care:

It’s a fairly quick operation – the vet will likely ask you to drop your cat off in the morning and collect them later the same day. 

Your cat will be under a general anaesthetic and your vet will advise you on the risks. You’ll need to complete your vet’s instructions for pre-operative care. This includes making sure that they don’t eat six to eight hours before the operation to make sure their stomach is empty. 

It’s usually fine to give them dinner the night before, but no treats after that or breakfast the next morning. Make sure they’re kept inside overnight – so they don’t get any extra food from elsewhere. You’ll also need to remove their water bowl the morning of the surgery, but your vet will advise on what’s best.

During spaying a cat:

Your vet will give your cat a last look over before the operation and ask some more questions about their health. Your cat will be given a sedative and pain relief, and the surgery site will be clipped, cleaned, and prepared for the operation.

A small cut is made in the abdomen and the ovaries and womb are carefully tied off and removed. The abdomen is stitched back up in layers. Spaying is usually done via the side of the cat, or the flank, but sometimes can be done midline, like male castration. Your cat may be sent home with some pain relief medication.

Your vet may recommend microchipping if your cat is not already chipped by the time they are neutered.  

How long will it take for my spayed cat to recover?

After the surgery, your spayed cat will be carefully observed until they’re good to go home. In most cases, cats will be able to return home after just a few hours. Your cat will be given a bodysuit or a cone to wear to stop them from grooming their incision.

It’s normal for your cat to be a little wobbly, tired, or even excitable when they come home after being under anaesthetic. Keep a close eye on them and give them a little more TLC until they’re back to themselves.

Spayed cat aftercare

It’s important to continue your cat’s care after you take them home to speed up their healing process. Try to:

•    Create a safe, quiet spot for them to recover.
•    Make sure they continue to wear the collar or bodysuit as long as the vet suggests.
•    Keep them as calm as you can so their wound can heal.
•    Check the incision every day for redness, discharge or swelling and call the vet if you have any concerns.
•    Keep them indoors as long as your vet advises – usually around 10 to 14 days after the surgery.
•    Make sure you give them the recommended medication.

Your spayed cat should have check-ups two to three days and seven to 10 days after the operation to check they are healing correctly. She may also need to have stitches removed seven to 14 days afterwards – unless the vet used dissolvable stitches.

Cat castration: What you need to know

What is cat castration?

Cat castration is an operation to remove a male cat’s testicles. It stops a male cat from being able to get a female cat pregnant.

Benefits of castrating a cat

As with spaying female cats, castrating male cats can also bring about lifestyle and health benefits. These include:

•    Reduce the risk of your cat roaming to find a mate.
•    Reduce the risk of fights with other males.
•    Prevent them from contracting and spreading infectious diseases like feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukaemia.
•    Prevent testicular cancer.
•    Weaken the smell of their urine.

When is the best time to castrate a cat?

Male cats reach sexual maturity at the same age as females. In order to avoid them getting a female cat pregnant, they should also be neutered as young as four to six months old.

How much does cat castration cost?

As with spaying, cat castration costs vary greatly depending on location and vet practice. It usually costs less to castrate than to spay a cat.

Some charities offer lower cost neutering, so it’s worth looking into if you’re struggling to afford it.

What happens during cat castration?

During male cat castration, a small cut is made in each scrotum of each testicle. Then they are tied off and removed. If your male is cryptorchid, meaning that one or both testicles aren’t in the scrotum, the procedure will take longer, as the vet will need to find them. 

Cat castration aftercare

Recovery after male cat castration is usually quicker than female spaying. Males usually don’t need stitches as the wound is small and can heal faster without them. They will also only need a collar or bodysuit if they keep licking their wound.

Male cats tend to only need one check-up after the procedure, but if you have any concerns always call your vet.

Can pet insurance help with cat spaying or castrating costs?

Most pet insurance providers will not cover neutering costs, or any complications that arise, as these are considered a routine or preventative treatment. However, there are some circumstances where neutering can play an important part in an insurance policy.

For example, Sainsbury’s Bank Cat Insurance will help with the cost of vet recommended behavioural therapy – unless this could have been avoided by neutering your pet. Take a look at our neutering guide for more information.

Please note that we won't cover any pre-existing conditions and that terms, conditions, excesses, exclusions and limitations apply.