How to prepare a cat for sterilization, do you need to vaccinate, can you feed it: advice from a veterinarian on preparation

In order to guarantee a seamless procedure and a speedy recovery for your pet, it is imperative that you prepare your cat for sterilization. There are a few important considerations to make, regardless of whether this is your first time or you’re just looking for a reminder. Vaccinating your cat and knowing when to stop feeding them are just two examples of the steps that contribute to keeping your cat healthy and stress-free.

Vaccinations are a crucial component of getting ready. It is probable that your veterinarian will advise ensuring your cat has received all of their shots prior to the procedure. This aids in avoiding any issues during or following surgery.

Knowing when to stop feeding your cat before surgery is also crucial. To prevent problems with anesthesia, veterinarians typically advise against feeding them for a predetermined amount of time. It’s best to consult your veterinarian for recommendations tailored to your cat’s needs.

Sterilization or castration?

It is widely acknowledged that sterilization is an operation used to remove a female cat’s reproductive organs, and castration is an operation used to remove a male cat’s reproductive organs. Veterinarians use the same language, but male cats and male cats are both castrated and sterilized so as not to confuse the animal’s owner. The most frequent procedure is castration. How does it vary from the sterilization process?

The reproductive organs of the animal are removed during castration: the testicles in the male and the ovaries in the female, typically along with the uterus. The spermatic cords and fallopian tubes are tied during sterilization, preventing the release of sex cells and conception.

Veterinarians prefer castration because sterilization does not alter an animal’s hormonal background or behavior—males continue to mark their territory and search for mates, while females continue to go into heat. Furthermore, pathologies of the preserved reproductive organs could potentially develop.

It’s important to be clear about the process and outcome when determining whether to remove a cat’s reproductive organs. It is necessary to discuss castrating the pet rather than sterilization if the owner wishes to end periodic estrus in addition to solving the issue of unintended pregnancies.

Any procedure needs to be prepared for the animal. You can discuss the specifics of this case with the veterinarian, but generally speaking, vaccinations, dewormings, and a particular diet the night before surgery are required.

Deworming and vaccination: on schedule or unscheduled?

To avoid many serious diseases, vaccinations should be administered on time and on a regular basis. It is best to vaccinate the cat in advance of surgery because, following the procedure, the body becomes weaker and is less able to fight off infections. The interval between the final immunization and the surgery should be approximately one month. The veterinarian can give the animal an immunoglobulin injection 14 days prior to castration if the owner chooses not to vaccinate the pet. This will prevent infections, but it will raise the cost of the procedure.

Your pet should have their deworming done while they are getting ready for surgery. Ten days prior to the planned day, this needs to be completed. The cat must have the helminths dewormed twice if the owner believes the animal has a high worm count. Wait 10 days after taking the anthelmintic medication, then perform a stool test. If parasite eggs are discovered, re-administer the anthelmintic. It’s crucial to get rid of worms before castration because, when a pet is unconscious, their muscles relax and the parasites spread throughout their body, eventually entering their esophagus and respiratory system and possibly causing death.

Deworming cannot be done again if it was done no more than a month ago. The animal is essentially never at risk of problems when vaccinations and dewormings are administered on a regular basis and on schedule.

Make sure your cat is healthy and ready for the procedure before having her sterilized. Veterinarians advise scheduling a check-up to rule out any health issues and vaccinating her a few weeks in advance to protect against infections. Avoid feeding your cat for approximately 12 hours the day before surgery because anesthesia can be dangerous when the stomach is full. Your cat will recuperate from the procedure more quickly and safely if you follow these easy instructions.

How to choose the right time for surgery?

When a cat is eight months old, surgery to remove the reproductive organs is advised. The animal has reached puberty by this point, and its hormonal background is steady. Castrating the cat before the first heat is preferable. You will need to wait and ensure that the pet does not become pregnant if the heat has already occurred. Pregnancy and lactation are not advised times to have the procedure done because there is a significant chance of complications.

See also: Drawing blood from felines: interpreting findings from general, clinical, and biochemical examinations

It is not recommended to castrate or sterilize an animal before it is eight months old. The cat’s ovaries are crucial to its puberty process; if they are removed too soon, an imbalance in hormones results, upsetting the body’s normal physiological functions. A disproportion in the animal’s head and body size may result from the removal of the sex glands during adolescence.

When the results of the ECG and ultrasound are positive, the older cats can undergo surgery. For tests, they also draw urine and blood. Castration is performed at the scheduled time if there are no contraindications (e.g., intolerance to the anesthetic drug).

A lot of people are curious about whether or not to castrate a cat before it gives birth. Because the joy of motherhood experienced by humans is unrelated to the birth of offspring in animals, this question stems from a lack of knowledge in zoopsychology. She won’t worry about this if the pet doesn’t have kittens. She feels enough love and devotion for her owner.

Is it possible to feed and water a cat before sterilization (castration)?

The cat may be fed one last time before sterilization (castration), up to twelve hours prior to the procedure commencing. The procedure is typically planned for the morning. The cat can be fed before 21.00 on the day of the castration if it is scheduled for 9 am. Water can be administered after the operation, but no less than three hours beforehand. In order to keep the cat from seeing and joining the other pets in the apartment, if there are multiple pets, they are fed in different rooms.

It is important that you approach the 12-hour fast sensibly in order to prevent problems. The cat’s gag reflex is triggered by anesthesia, and food particles in the stomach may enter the respiratory system. Aspiration pneumonia will result from this, and only an animal that is weaker following surgery will be able to handle it.

See also: How to insert a dropper into a cat’s paw or subcutaneously insert a catheter into your own withers at home, and how to take it out?

What should a cat be fed the night before castration? Make sure the food is similar to what the animal will need to consume post-surgery, such as boiled veggies and liquid porridge. Give the cat wet food if she consumes cooked food. Purchasing premium or super-premium cat food in advance is a sensible move for sterilized cats. Such food’s balanced composition guards against obesity, which is a risk factor for animals undergoing reproductive organ removal surgery.

What you should not do?

It is forbidden to change a cat’s diet or give it new items prior to sterilization. However, a light dinner will suffice for your pet, so you don’t need to overfeed her. It is preferable to keep the cat indoors prior to castration, especially if she is going to be walking by herself.

The cat will be in a stressful situation, so the apartment should have a calm atmosphere. Giving a pythomitsa is not advised because it is unclear how they interact with anesthesia. The veterinarian will approve the sedative and offer guidance on the selection and dosage if he is certain that the combination of drugs is safe.

Sterilization preparation for cats doesn’t have to be difficult, but it is crucial to adhere to a few basic guidelines to guarantee a successful procedure. It’s important to discuss vaccinations with your veterinarian because having your cat up to date will ensure their safety during the procedure.

Giving your cat food the night before surgery is also crucial. The majority of veterinarians advise fasting your cat for 12 hours prior to the procedure in order to prevent issues with anesthesia. Always do as directed by your veterinarian in this regard.

Lastly, you and your cat will experience less stress if you can keep your cat relaxed and at ease prior to the appointment. For your pet, a little preparation and consideration will go a long way toward making the process less stressful.

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