Most vets recommend waiting about five weeks after a cat gives birth before undergoing spay surgery. This is important for two reasons: the kittens will need time to get used to being separated from their mother, and the spaying will not disturb the newborn kittens’ development. Also, the spayed female will be fertile again shortly after giving birth. In case this is not possible, the mother should avoid intercourse with an intact male cat for at least six weeks.
Spaying a cat is a relatively simple surgery with minimal risks. Anesthetics are usually given to a cat prior to the procedure, and the veterinarian will monitor vital signs throughout. Once the cat has received the anesthetic, the veterinarian will make a small incision to remove the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus. Then, the veterinarian will suture the incisions and close the wound. Once the procedure is complete, the veterinarian may give your cat pain medications and post-operative instructions.
Another common question is how soon after giving birth can a cat be spayed. Some veterinarians will not perform the procedure until the cat has given birth. This means that the mother cat will have at least a month to nurse the kittens. However, if you can’t separate the kittens, it is best to wait until the mother cat is in the weaning stage. While this isn’t ideal for the cat, it is an excellent option to keep the mother and baby kittens separated from each other.
In some cases, an ovarian remnant will remain inside a female cat after spaying. This ovarian remnant is what triggers signs of heat in the cat. This is the reason why unspayed cats have problems getting pregnant. The ovarian remnant produces estrogen, which triggers heat in cats. Once the uterus is removed, the cat cannot get pregnant. After this, the cat will no longer be able to produce these hormones, and its reproductive organs will no longer be used.
Even if a mother cat is pregnant, she can still be spayed. However, spaying a pregnant cat is slightly more difficult than that during pregnancy, but it is still much better than producing more unwanted animals. During the pregnancy, the cat will continue to produce milk for her kittens. Some veterinarians prefer to wait until the kittens are weaned from the mother to perform the surgery, since the development of the mammary glands can interfere with the procedure.
Although a female cat can become pregnant while nursing its kittens, it is not uncommon for the mother to return to heat during the breastfeeding period. The gestation period for female cats is about 59 to 68 days. In the meantime, a female cat can become sexually mature after about four to six months of age. Having kittens at home during this time makes spaying a particularly beneficial practice for the cat’s health and longevity.
