Cat neutering in Manchester
Neutering (spaying and castration) is one of the most common procedures we perform, and our skilled vets have neutered thousands of cats and kittens. Neutering has has lots of health and behavioural benefits, as well as protecting against unwanted litters.
We know that your cat didn't choose to come to the vets, and for some, having a day away from their safe home environment can be a little scary. We take care to make their visit as stress-free as possible and like to make sure that every cat who comes in gets the TLC that we would want for our own cats.
Should I get my cat or kitten neutered?
Unless you are a cat breeder, yes! It is recommended that kittens are neutered at 4 months of age. Male cat neutering is called castration (removal of the testicles) and female cat neutering is called a spay (removal of the ovaries).
If your cat is already older than this, they can be safely neutered too, but your queen is currently at risk of unwanted pregnancy and your tom is at risk of abscesses from fighting, catching FIV, developing a strong odour and urine spraying. There is no benefit to letting your female cat have a litter of kittens before spaying her.
If your queen has had kittens recently, we will wait until her milk has dried up and her hormones have settled down before spaying her.
If your cat is in season (heat), she can still be safely neutered. There is a theoretical slight increase in the risk of bleeding, as her uterus will have an increased blood supply. However, in reality, we spay cats in season very regularly, especially in the spring/summer when cats can go into season repeatedly. It is still a very routine procedure with an extremely low risk of complications.
For more information on the benefits of neutering and what the procedure entails, see the iCatCare website.
The Cat Population Control Group also gives plenty of evidence to back up the safety and importance of neutering 4 month old kittens.
What happens when I bring my cat for neutering?
On the morning of the procedure, your cat will have an admit appointment with the vet or veterinary nurse. You will have been instructed to starve your cat from midnight the night before so that they have an empty stomach before the anaesthetic. Please ensure they have constant access to fresh water.
At the admit appointment, we will ensure you understand the procedure and any risks involved. You will be asked to sign a consent form - this is usually sent to you by email the day before the appointment so that you have time to read it and e-sign it at home. Please ensure that the person bringing your cat to the appointment is able to answer any questions we have when admitting your cat.
Your cat will get settled into their kennel in our state-of-the-art ward. Veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses will check them regularly throughout the day.
Your cat will have a short general anaesthetic to for their surgery. Male cats will have their testicles removed through two small incisions (one on each side of the scrotum). Female cats will have their ovaries removed through a small incision, usually on their left side although in cats who may be pregnant or colour-point cats (whose fur can temporarily regrow a different colour) we may use a midline approach. The spay incision will be closed with an invisible dissolvable suture within the skin, so no stitches need to be removed.
We will either arrange a discharge time at the admit appointment, or call you when your cat is fully recovered to arrange this. When you come for the discharge appointment, one of our veterinary nurses will explain how to monitor your cat following their surgery and how to administer their pain relief for the next few days.
How much does it cost?
At Manchester Cat Clinic, we aim to keep our pricing straightforward and transparent. Many of our procedures, including neutering, are fixed cost packages. The price is inclusive of the general anaesthetic, surgery, take-home pain relief, a buster collar (for female cats) and two free post-op checks.
Are there any risks?
Any general anaesthetic carries a small risk of complications. However, the risk in young healthy cats is incredibly small. At Manchester Cat Clinic, all cats undergoing anaesthetics are closely monitored by our highly skilled nursing team.
All surgery carries a small risk of complications such as infection or bleeding. It is also extremely rare to have surgical complications following a routine neutering surgery, especially with our very experienced and skilled surgeons. However, it is still important to monitor your cat following their surgery and inform us as soon as possible if you have any concerns. We will arrange a free post-operative check for 3-5 days after your cat's procedure so one of our nurses can check their wound and make sure they are healing well.
How do I book in?
Speak to our reception team via email or telephone and they will arrange an appointment on a day that is convenient for you.
