Spay & Neuter Procedures

Help your cat live a long, healthy life.

Deciding whether to spay or neuter your cat can be a difficult decision for some pet owners. Although the thought of your cat having surgery may seem scary, we’re here to assure you that spays and neuters are common surgeries that are safe, simple, and generally quick.

How can my cat benefit from sterilization?

Spaying and neutering help cats live long, healthy lives. Having cats sterilized while they’re young reduces their likelihood of developing certain infections and cancers. Plus, it combats overpopulation which, sadly, leads to the euthanasia of cats who cannot be placed in good homes.

Other common issues that spaying and neutering help prevent include:

• Expensive and potentially life-threatening uterine infections called pyometras. Luckily, they’re 100% preventable if your cat is spayed.
• Cancerous mammary tumors that can spread to other parts of the body. If you spay your female cat prior to her first heat cycle, you’ll significantly reduce the likelihood that she’ll develop tumors.
• Testicular cancer and infections that can lead to malignant or benign swelling of the prostate.
• Unwanted behavioral problems such as aggression, territorial marking, and roaming.

What happens when a cat is spayed or neutered?

Cats are placed under general anesthesia to perform spay and neuter procedures.

Both procedures are performed through small incisions used to remove certain reproductive organs. After a spay, the incision is closed with sutures and the patient rests in a recovery ward until they are ready to go back home with you. We also do a post-surgical tattoo on spays to show that they have been altered.

After surgery, it’s likely your cat will appear sleepy or groggy, and you might notice redness, swelling, or a little bit of blood surrounding the surgery site. That’s normal. If you become concerned about your pet’s health or behavior following surgery, call your veterinarian to let them know. Your pet's doctors will see to it that all your questions are answered, and that your pet is back to normal in no time.

If you have questions about getting your cat spayed or neutered, or you’d like to schedule an appointment, give us a call at (617) 522-7877 or request an appointment online.