Spaying your cat can be a huge responsibility. If you are a novice cat parent, spaying can be even more distressful. However, it is crucial to spay your cats for several reasons. Are you ready for it? Here is a checklist to make spaying your cats hassle-free.
Make sure that the appointment details are smooth.
Your cat is not the one that is responsible for the nitty-gritty. Remember, you are your cat’s guardian. Functionally, you are responsible for the smooth sailing of the entire procedure. Before anything else, the first order of business would be to sort out the appointment.
The timing, slot, and location of the procedure are all crucial. Moreover, you must also consider the cost to spay a cat and get your cat insured beforehand. Cat insurance can reduce the financial burden on cat owners by offering financial coverage for their treatments.
You must also look into finer details. For instance, make sure you don’t look too tense. After all, your cat will sense your behavior. If you are distressed or shocked by anything, there is a high possibility that your cat will mirror your energy. That will only complicate the operation because it can make your cat non-cooperative. Make sure your cat does not suffer from anxiety issues because of your behavioral changes. Hence, be calm to make your cat calm!
Regulate the food timings
The spaying of a cat is a long procedure. That is why you need to make sure that the pre-operation instructions are followed closely. One absolutely necessary regulation is that of your cat’s food timings.
If you are spaying an adult cat, follow the rule of thumb. Generally, you absolutely do not want to feed your cat anything post-midnight of the night before the scheduled date of the procedure. Of course, the best way to go about it would be to just ask the operators or vets responsible for the procedure. Follow their advice regarding feeding timings to the t. Your vet might also suggest a specific diet for your cat after a few days of spaying. Make sure you follow it to ensure your catto’s well-being.
Your cat’s cleanliness is key
Your cat is, after all, an animal. It might have rolled around in mud just moments before. But it is important to keep your cat very clean, especially right before the appointment for spaying it. Give your cat a shower the night before, if possible. This will make sure that it is clean during the surgery.
Also, make sure the shower isn’t right before the surgery. You absolutely do not want to bring in a cat with damp fur for spaying! Keeping your cat dry and clean reduces the possibility of infections during the procedure. Besides, it also helps potential wounds to heal faster. Finally, it will make your cat feel great too!
However, make sure you do not shower your cat right after the surgery, unless the wound heals. You can clean the wound occasionally and apply antiseptic ointments. Remember, damp skin can cause infections and it would be best to avoid bathing your cat.
Get your cat to answer nature’s call before the procedure
Make sure that you give your cat the opportunity to get its biological chores done. A cat that has to hold in metabolic wastes is going to be restless and possibly non-cooperative. That will only complicate the spaying procedure.
Besides, the surgery means that your cat might not be in a place to take care of its needs for a while from then on. So, it would be a great idea to take your cat out to answer nature’s call before the surgery starts or before it is admitted for it.
Be abreast of the preoperative blood tests
In the clinic where the spaying will take place, you may be asked for your cat’s medical history. It is very likely that your cat might need to perform some blood tests and tests in general before the procedure starts. This can be especially true in the case of a cat that is an adult or is rather old. This is to ensure that the procedure won’t add to complications around the health of your cat.
Your duty would be to thoroughly monitor the tests. You have to be very particular about getting the tests done following due procedure, and about making sure that the results reach the necessary hands. Remember, your cat depends upon you for all this!
Make sure that your cat is comfortable
Cats are quite intelligent creatures. More importantly, they actually read human behavior quite well. The impending possibility of the procedure can exert some sort of pressure on your cat. It isn’t unnatural for a cat to sense that something is about to happen and this can actually lead to a lot of stress and anxiety on their part.
Do your best to show your cat affection if it begins to show signs of stress or anxiety. Physical touch and positive affirmations can go a long way! You need to keep your cat’s psychological state in mind while you are preparing it for the spaying. So, make sure that you do your best to make it feel contented and secure.
Make sure that your cat receives humane transportation
Your cat will need to be trapped and transported to the clinic where the spaying will happen. It is up to you to make sure that it receives humane transportation. The box or cage it is trapped and contained in must be comfortable and well-ventilated. If you are dealing with multiple cats, make sure you have separate cages for each.
Cramping the space your cat has, right before it goes in for surgery, can make it really irritable and non-cooperative. You can’t leave the cat for too long in a closed space or inside a car either. The lack of ventilation and temperature adjustment can prove fatal. Basically, take care so that your cat is comfortable on its ride to the clinic! Remember, cats can be restless when they are trapped and it is your duty to ensure it is at ease. This is beneficial for both the vet and your cat.
Finally, remember to check up on your cat
Your cat is going in for major surgery. Just as you would do for a relative or friend, check up on your cat. This is important especially if you are close to the cat being spayed. Check up on it right before the operation, after it gets admitted. The same goes for post operation, before its release. It will give your cat a sense of security and they will feel a lot better after their surgery! Remember, you cat loves to see you even in times of distress and meeting them once in a while when they are admitted can be