A female kitten appeared in the house. All so cute, fluffy, affectionate and very playful. Several months pass, and the animal turns into a teenage cat. This is where her first estrus comprehends. The cat walks around the apartment, bends in unimaginable poses and screams loudly. And the owner goes crazy with these cries and thinks what to do next? Whether or not to sterilize is the question.
Let's talk about this topic and think together whether it is possible to sterilize a cat during estrus.
What is the difference between castration and sterilization
"Stupid question," someone will think. Cats are sterilized and cats are neutered. We are accustomed to such a separation of concepts in veterinary medicine. But in reality, how are things?
Here is how. Sterilization is the removal of the ovaries in cats and the ligation of the seminal canals in the case of a cat. Castration removes all the glands of both cats and their girlfriends.
Maybe we should not?
Can a cat be sterilized during estrus? The answer to this question we will learn necessarily, only a little later. Let’s talk about whether it’s worth interfering with the cat’s life at all.
Why do not the owners deprive their pet of genital organs? Common reasons:
Once it is necessary for health.
I want kittens.
The cat should feel like a mother.
It is dangerous to her health.
This is against nature.
Not humanely, that's the point.
Now we will consider these points in detail. Health is necessary, then? Cats get no pleasure from intercourse, unlike humans. On the contrary, females experience pain. The pain from the conception of kittens, then 60 days of restructuring of the body, then a painful childbirth and feeding the cubs. When the kittens turn one month old, mom cat looks exhausted and very thin. What is your health there?
I want kittens. To whom? Cat? Hardly. Rather, the owners. You can understand the owners of expensive thoroughbred animals with an excellent pedigree and the highest ratings at exhibitions. Such kittens cost a lot of money, and here it is clear why they knit a cat.
But if Murka the noblewoman gives birth to children, then where will they be? Hand out to friends? Alas, most often outbred kittens are not needed by anyone. Throw to the street? Destroy? Leave the whole brood to yourself? Not the best options.
The cat should feel like a mother. Did she say that? Or did the owner decide? The cat owes nothing.
It is dangerous to her health. Much more dangerous are drugs such as the "sex barrier" that destroy the liver. Or hormonal failure in the body of the animal.
This is against nature. The strongest belief, for some reason. People do many things in their life against nature. And cat sterilization is not the worst among them.
This is inhumane. Is it more humane to drown kittens or put them to sleep? Just sterilization is the most humane method to prevent the birth of unnecessary kittens.
The benefits of surgery
The owner decided to sterilize the pet. To sterilize the cat or not: the advice of the veterinarian in this case is everything. What do the experts say about this?
Doctors for animals agree that sterilization in our time is a humane and safe procedure performed under general anesthesia. Veterinary medicine has stepped far forward, and unlike the same 90s of the last century, when such a procedure could cost a pet’s life, now it is 95% safe.
What are the benefits of sterilization and castration?
The animal ceases to be tormented by "thoughts" about the cat.
Contrary to popular belief that sterilized cats and cats live less, this is not so. The lifespan of such animals is increasing.
A cat is at lower risk for cancer and other ailments.
The cat stops rolling concerts, from which I want to run to the end of the world to the owner.
The body of the pet does not collapse under the influence of "sex blockers."
This is the most humane way to prevent an unwanted pregnancy.
Minuses
Castrate a cat or not? The advice of the veterinarian in this case is obvious. Yes, it is advisable to do this procedure. But you need to know about its cons. There are only two of them, but in each barrel of honey there is a fly in the ointment.
Castration is an operation. It is worth remembering this. In order to avoid severe consequences, such as discrepancies in the sutures and their suppuration, all the doctor’s recommendations for caring for the cat after surgery should be followed.
Now it has become popular to carry out this procedure at home. Better not, take the pet to the clinic. The fact is that sterilization and castration imply the observance of ideal cleanliness in the room. This is hardly possible at home.
How is the procedure
Is it possible to castrate a cat during estrus? It is better to wait for the end of the "red days of the calendar" at the pet and only then carry out the plan.
How is the operation? Under anesthesia, the cat will not be hurt. The whole procedure takes 20-30 minutes. Then the cat comes out of anesthesia, lives with stitches for another two weeks and walks in a special cufflink, which does not give her the opportunity to contact the stitches. And all, you can forget about such a nuisance as estrus.
Care after surgery
The owner should remember that the final withdrawal from anesthesia is about a day. At this time, the cat behaves like an astronaut on another planet. He walks with difficulty, as if he is in outer space. Jumps in slow motion. Maybe eat and fall asleep in the bowl. Or go to the toilet and fall asleep in your own tray.
It all seems funny when you read. In fact, seeing such a favorite's behavior is strange. What to do to the owner? First of all, make sure that the cat does not try to jump. This is dangerous for her. Secondly, provide access to food and clean fresh water. If possible, organize a "hospital" for the pet so that she can eat and go to the toilet near the place where she sleeps.
Recommendations for the care of sutures are given by the veterinarian. Most often, the cat will be forced to wear a special blanket that protects the sutures from bacteria on them. Once a day, the blanket is removed, the seams are processed, dry, and again the blanket is put on the animal. But again, a specialist will tell about all this in detail.
Can a cat be sterilized during estrus? Let us dwell on the fact that it is better to wait for its end.
How to prepare a cat for surgery?
When can a cat be neutered: during estrus or is it better to wait? Wait as we found out above.
What is the preparation for the operation? Nothing complicated. 12 hours before the procedure, the animal is not fed. On the day of surgery, too. After the pet has moved away from anesthesia, there must be clear water in its access zone. Food can be given 3-4 hours after surgery.
When to carry out the procedure?
Some owners are sure that the sooner the better. This is not true. The kitten’s body is not yet fully formed, and the baby may not withstand anesthesia.
When can a cat be sterilized: during estrus first or during second? The optimal period for the operation is the age of the animal from 7 to 9 months. Before the first estrus. If the owner has missed this moment, it is better to wait out the heat and sterilize the pet in the interval between the first and second heat.
Limitations
Are there any prohibitions on the operation? Yes, the procedure is prohibited for animals of the following groups:
- Kittens up to 7 months.
- Very elderly cats.
Also, there are contraindications if the cat has heart problems. It is likely that she will not suffer anesthesia.
When is it better to sterilize a cat: during estrus or after? The presence of estrus implies the abandonment of the operation before the end of the "red" period in the animal.
Food after the procedure
Cats lacking internal genital organs are obese. To prevent this, the pet should be fed special food for sterilized and neutered animals. Manufacturers indicate feeding rates on the packaging.
Food is given twice a day, morning and evening. Do not forget about the cat’s access to clean water.
Summarize
We found out when to sterilize a cat (after estrus or during) and came to the conclusion that surgery should be performed outside of oestrus. The operation is preferably carried out after estrus.
Conclusion
From the article we can draw the following conclusions:
Reproductive organ removal surgery is safe in general. The main limitations are the age of the animal and the presence of heart disease.
Is it possible to sterilize a cat during estrus? As we found out, that is extremely undesirable.