Cat Spay Cat Neuter

Las Vegas Cat Spay & Neuter

At All About Cats Veterinary Hospital, our Las Vegas cat veterinarians strongly recommend spaying and neutering all cats. Spay and neuter surgery refers to the surgical removal of reproductive organs. The word Spay is used when talking about female pets, and the word Neuter is used when referring to male pets. Spaying and neutering helps reduce the population of unwanted litters of kittens, as well as offers important health benefits to each individual. Our Las Vegas veterinary care team has decades of experience performing this routine procedure. As a cats-only hospital, we understand the unique challenges that come with feline veterinary care and are dedicated to providing compassionate care in a safe, stress-free environment.

Las Vegas Spay and Neuter Cats: Health & Behavioral Benefits

The greatest health benefits occur when spaying or neutering kittens when they are little, as early as four months old. The earlier you spay or neuter your cat, the less likely you are to deal with issues like undesired urine spraying or unexpected pregnancy. It’s also safe to spay and neuter adult cats if the opportunity to perform the surgery during kittenhood is missed.

Spaying (Female Cats)

Spaying and neutering offers important medical and behavioral benefits. For female cats, spaying helps to prevent the development of uterine infections and breast tumors, which are often cancerous. It also prevents unwanted behaviors associated with the hormonal swings of the menstrual “heat” cycles. Heat cycles start at approximately 6 months old, lasts approximately 7 to 10 days, and will repeat every 2 to 3 weeks until the cat becomes pregnant or the seasons change. Heat cycles cause many undesirable behaviors for the female cat including restlessness, agitation, persistent loud vocalizations and attempts to escape the house.

Neutering (Male Cats)

For male cats, neutering prevents testicular cancer and reduces the risk for certain prostate problems. Intact males have a single mission: finding a female mate and protecting their territory. For cat owners, this can be extremely frustrating, as your male cat will stop at nothing to escape the house to roam freely, risking traffic injuries and fights with other animals. Un-neutered male cats can be aggressive toward other cats or people in the home as they are affected by the scent of female and male cats in the neighborhood which causes anxiety. If allowed outside, male cats typically have shorter lives due to fighting and the risk for disease and infection. Neutering male cats helps to re-direct their attention back to your family and home.

Spay and Neuter can Prevent Urine Spraying

Both female and male cats can mark their territory by spraying urine on walls and other vertical surfaces. Cats that are not spayed or neutered feel the need to mark their territory to alert other cats of their presence. Even indoor cats are influenced by the sight and smells of outdoor neighborhood cats and will mark their house with urine. This behavior is directly influenced by hormones and is much less of a problem in spayed and neutered cats.

Doing Your Part to Prevent Cat Overpopulation

Spay and neuter surgery prevents the birth of unwanted litters of kittens. Each year, overly crowded animal shelters are forced to euthanize thousands of homeless animals due to limited space and a shortage of funds.  In in Clark County, Nevada every year approximately 40,000 animals enter the animal shelter, and approximately half are euthanized. Even if a cat owner can successfully home a litter of kittens, each of those kittens means one less potential adoption home for a shelter animal. By spaying and neutering your cats, you help homeless cats leave shelters to find loving families.  

Cat Spay and Neuter: What to Expect and How to Prepare

Our Las Vegas veterinarians at All About Cats Veterinary Hospital recommend spay and neuter surgery for kittens at four months and older. Before, during, and after surgery, your cat's health and comfort are our top priorities. An experienced veterinary technician will be by your cat’s side throughout the entire surgical process (pre-operation to post-operation), carefully monitoring your cat’s vital signs and comfort level.

Prior to surgery, our veterinarian in Las Vegas recommends a full physical examination and optional diagnostic blood work to ensure the safe administration of anesthesia. During surgery, warm blankets and socks keep your cat comfortable and intravenous fluids and a catheter support your cat’s health. During and after surgery, all feline patients receive pain management and anti-inflammatory medication to ensure comfort and promote healing.

Spay and neuter surgery is typically performed in the morning. Neutered male cats are released in the afternoon. For female cats, we offer an overnight hospital stay, as the surgery is a little more involved compared to male cats. This overnight stay helps cats rest and recover in a safe, clean environment while our veterinarians make sure they have the right level of pain management.

The "Spay Package" at All About Cats (for female cats)

The "Spay Package" includes the following items, many of which are additional charges or add-on options at other veterinary hospitals. Kittens need to be at least 4 months old. (Please contact us for the price):

1. The Preoperative Exam
2. Anesthesia and Monitoring
3. Intravenous (I.V.) Catheter and Intravenous Fluids
4. Ovariohysterectomy Surgical Procedure, removal of the ovaries and the uterus
5. Post-operative Pain Medication
6. Post-operative Antiinflammatory Medication
7. One Post-Operative Overnight Stay 
8. Pain relief medication to use at home
9. Anti-inflammatory medication to use at home

The "Neuter Package" at All About Cats (for male cats)

The "Neuter Package" includes the following items, many of which are are additional charges or add-on options at other veterinary hospitals. Kittens need to be at least 4 months old. (Please contact us for the price):

1. The Preoperative Exam
2. Anesthesia and Monitoring
3. Intravenous (I.V.) Catheter and Intravenous Fluids
4. Neuter Surgical Procedure, removal of both testicles
5. Post-operative Pain Medication
6. Antiinflammatory Medication
7. One Outpatient Hospitalization Day (Overnight stay not necessary) 
8. Pain relief medication to use at home

For more information about the benefits of spay and neuter surgery or to schedule spay/neuter for your cat, call our Las Vegas cat veterinarians (702) 257-3222.