Arguably the most important vet visit for your cat will be for spaying or neutering, often referred to as desexing in Australia. The technique for spaying and neutering cats can vary between vets and clinics, so I’ll share my thoughts and experiences based on what I know.
I strongly recommend that you talk openly with your local vet about any questions or concerns, as they’ll guide you based on your cat’s individual needs. For any vets reading this, please share your own experiences so readers can see the range of techniques and approaches that exist.
Contents
What is a spaying or neutering operation?
The spaying and neutering procedure – also known as cat desexing – involves removing your pet’s reproductive organs to prevent them from breeding in the future.
- In females, the operation removes both ovaries and the uterus (an ovariohysterectomy).
- In males, both testicles are removed (orchidectomy).
Because a male cat’s testicles are outside the body, cat neuter surgery is less technically demanding and generally less painful afterward than cat spay surgery.
Aside from preventing unwanted litters, desexing also reduces the risk of certain cancers, infections, and behavioural issues like spraying or roaming.
What can I expect when my cat is spayed or neutered?
The night before
Your cat should be fasted for around 12 hours before cat spay or neuter surgery. This helps reduce the risk of vomiting and aspiration under anaesthetic. It’s fine to leave water overnight so your cat doesn’t get dehydrated before surgery.
The morning of
You’ll likely be asked to bring your cat in early morning for admission. You may be asked to fill out forms and be asked about additional procedures such as microchipping or pre-anaesthetic bloodwork.
If your cat isn’t microchipped yet, this is a perfect opportunity – they won’t feel a thing while under anaesthetic.
Pre-anaesthetic blood tests may or may not be recommended depending on the clinic. While most kittens are healthy, there are some conditions that can occur during development that aren’t obvious in the first few months of life, such as certain liver and kidney diseases. These conditions can cause major complications with an anaesthetic, since most drugs are metabolised through either the liver or the kidneys. Blood test helps ensure your cat’s body can safely process the drugs used during surgery.
Before the operation
Before surgery, your vet will perform a thorough check-up to confirm your cat is healthy and well hydrated, with a normal temperature and clear heart and lung sounds.
Your cat may have an IV catheter placed, usually in a front leg. This allows your vet to administer fluids and medication during the operation. The small shaved patch or bandage you see on your cat’s leg afterward is from this step.
IV fluids help maintain blood pressure, protect the kidneys, and speed recovery. Because male cat neutering is a very short procedure (often 5–15 minutes), fluids may or may not be given – it varies by clinic.
Your cat will also receive premedication, usually a sedative and pain relief combination to ease anxiety and ensure a smoother anaesthetic and recovery.
Cat desexing surgery
Once your cat is asleep, the spay or neuter procedure begins.
- Male cats: Two small incisions are made over the scrotum to remove the testicles.
- Female cats: An incision is made along the midline of the belly (or sometimes the side) to remove the ovaries and uterus.
The area is shaved and cleaned with antiseptic, and your vet will work under sterile conditions. Internal layers are closed with dissolvable sutures, while external stitches may be either dissolvable or removed later. You might feel a bumpy hard ridge under the skin for 4-8 weeks after surgery as the sutures dissolve.
Female cats are often kept on oxygen and anaesthetic gas via a breathing tube and placed on a warming mat to maintain body temperature. Because male cat neuter surgery is so quick, this step may not be needed.
Post-operation
After surgery, your cat will be kept warm and monitored as the anaesthetic wears off. Recovery time varies depending on your cat’s metabolism, temperature, and whether fluids were used.
Vets will check for pain, bleeding, or complications and may give additional pain relief. Once your cat can swallow normally, any breathing tube is removed.
As they wake up, most cats will lift their head, start moving around, and may eat a small meal. If your cat tries to lick the incision or chew their stitches (females), they’ll be fitted with a cone (Elizabethan collar) to protect the wound.
Within a couple of hours, most cats are bright, alert, and ready to go home.
Home time
Once home, keep your cat warm, quiet, and indoors overnight. Some cats will be sleepy; others act like nothing happened. Offer a small meal and fresh water, as they may still feel slightly nauseous.
Recovery
Most cats recover fully within one to two weeks. If your cat has external stitches, these are typically removed after 10–14 days. This follow-up visit also gives your vet a chance to check the healing incision.
During recovery, keep your cat indoors and monitor the wound for redness, swelling, heat, or discharge. If you notice these, or if your cat seems unwell – is lethargic, not eating, or not using their litter box normally, call your vet straight away.
Routine antibiotics aren’t usually needed after spaying and neutering cats if the surgery was sterile and your cat is healthy. Pain medication may be sent home if required. Try to limit jumping and running during recovery to avoid irritation and swelling around the stitches.
Final thoughts
Having your cat spayed or neutered is one of the most loving things you can do as a pet owner. Not only does cat desexing help control the population of unwanted kittens, but it also supports your cat’s long-term health and happiness. Most cats bounce back quickly after surgery, and within a week or two, you’ll hardly know they’ve had an operation at all.
If you’re still feeling nervous about cat spay or neuter surgery, remember that your vet team performs these procedures routinely and with great care. It’s normal to have questions – so don’t hesitate to ask. The more you understand about what’s involved, the calmer and more confident you’ll feel on the day.
Have you recently had your cat spayed or neutered? How was their recovery, and what helped them heal comfortably at home? Share your experience in the comments.
🐾 If you still have questions, check out our Q&A on spaying and neutering cats.
Good and much needed info. I’m curious how desexing as a term came into use rather than spay/neuter?
Desexing is the term commonly used in Australia. I realise this contrasts dramatically with the USA but force of habit. I find it easier to use as a collective term when referring to both male and female animals, rather than specifying spay/neuter or spay/castrate every time. Also personally I really dislike the term “fix/fixing/fixed” in this situation so I chose to go with desexing. Not sure how it came into common use in Australia or how long the term has been around.
This is such a wonderful and informative post. Spaying and neutering is SO important, and we are grateful for you helping spread the word!
Thank you for such an informative article, it’s reassuring to understand what happens when your pet goes to the vet to get spayed. My kitten was spayed at the shelter before I adopted her when she was about 8 weeks old, I always wondered about the recommended age for this operation and whether 8 weeks was too young???
Happy World Spay Day!!
Multiple studies, both long and short term, have shown that early age desexing (from 7 weeks of age or even younger) is safe and has no long-term detrimental effects compared to desexing at the ‘traditional’ age of 6-7 months old. Early age desexing is especially important for shelters and adoption agencies since their goal is to reduce pet overpopulation. Despite many shelters having a ‘desexing contract’, where the adopted cat should be returned at an older age for desexing, followup has shown that 60% or more do not return for the operation! So ethically, shelters need to desex at a young age.
Early age desexing has been endorsed by many veterinary associations, including (but not limited to!) the American Association of Feline Practitioners, International Society of Feline Medicine, ASPCA, American Veterinary Medical Association etc.
The anaesthetic and surgery are safe (although extra precautions should be taken), it does not stunt growth, rates of obesity are the same for early age or traditional age desexed animals (the metabolic rate is actually slower in desexed animals so they require less food), there is no increased risk for musculoskeletal problems, urinary problems, behaviour problems or immune suppression/risk of infectious diseases. One study showed cats desexed at an early age may be more timid and younger kittens actually recover quicker from surgery and show less post-operative pain.
So rest assured that your little girl should be just fine, despite being desexed young. The ‘traditional’ age that we vets recommend is just that – based on tradition. There is no evidence supporting that that is the “right” time to do it. But because older anaesthetics weren’t as safe in young animals, it was often put off until >6 months old and that has just stuck.