[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"cms-promotion-neuter-promo-en":3},{"recordId":4,"slug":5,"title":6,"age":7,"excerpt":8,"date":9,"views":10,"image":11,"coverAlt":6,"descriptionHtml":12},"myfgtosncgw2fcy","neuter-promo","Spay and neuter promotion for your cat","Aged 6 months and up","Every question about spaying and neutering answered. Why does it matter? What are the benefits? Plus how to get ready before surgery and the right way to care for your cat afterwards, from specialist veterinarians.","2026-06-26",133,"https:\u002F\u002Feveryday-cat-r2.tumwebsme.com\u002Fpbc_2736752239\u002Fmyfgtosncgw2fcy\u002Fchat_gpt_image_aug_4_2026_12_10_02_pm_b38q0rurtl_xcz1mvhgsm_natc6my8ao_30ogdzcelr.webp","\u003Ch2>Why should a cat be spayed or neutered? The benefits, how to prepare, and how to care for your cat properly after surgery\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>Spaying and neutering is one of the most important decisions an owner can make for their cat. Beyond helping to reduce the number of stray cats, it also brings long-term benefits to a cat's physical health and behaviour. This article from \u003Cstrong>Everyday Cat Clinic\u003C\u002Fstrong> takes a closer look at the benefits, how to get ready, and how to look after your cat correctly after the operation.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2>Why should we have our cat spayed or neutered?\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>Many people worry that the surgery is doing harm to their cat, but in veterinary medicine it is regarded as an excellent way to prevent disease and improve quality of life. The main benefits are:\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cul>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>It lowers the risk of serious disease:\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cul>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>In female cats:\u003C\u002Fstrong> spaying greatly lowers the risk of mammary cancer, especially when it is done before the first heat. It also prevents infection of the uterus (pyometra), an emergency that can be fatal.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>In male cats:\u003C\u002Fstrong> it prevents testicular cancer and reduces prostate problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>It calms behaviour down:\u003C\u002Fstrong> male cats that have not been neutered are often aggressive and like to escape from the house to look for females, which raises the risk of being hit by a car or catching disease through bites (FIV or feline leukaemia, for example). Neutering reduces these instincts, so the cat stays home more and is more affectionate with its owner.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>It reduces spraying:\u003C\u002Fstrong> male cats tend to mark their territory by urinating on furniture or walls. Neutering can cut this behaviour by as much as 90%.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>It controls the population:\u003C\u002Fstrong> it prevents unwanted litters, which can lead to homeless cats later on.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\u003Ch2>Getting your cat ready for the operation\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>So that surgery goes as smoothly and safely as possible, owners should prepare their cat as follows:\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Col>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>A health check and blood test:\u003C\u002Fstrong> an essential step to assess the liver, the kidneys and the blood count before anaesthesia.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>No food or water:\u003C\u002Fstrong> withhold food for at least 8-10 hours and water for at least 4-6 hours before surgery, to keep food from being inhaled into the windpipe while the cat is under anaesthetic.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Have the equipment ready:\u003C\u002Fstrong> prepare a sturdy, well-ventilated carrier or basket, along with a recovery suit or an anti-lick collar to use after the operation.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Fol>\u003Ch2>Tips for caring for your cat after surgery (post-operative care)\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>The period after surgery is when a cat needs the closest attention, so that the wound heals quickly and no complications arise:\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cul>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Set up a quiet place to recover:\u003C\u002Fstrong> once your cat is home, keep it in a quiet cage or room, away from other pets or small children. Stop the cat jumping up to high places so the wound does not open.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Always use an anti-lick collar:\u003C\u002Fstrong> this is the one rule you cannot break. Your cat must wear an anti-lick collar or a recovery suit at all times until the stitches come out (about 7-10 days), because cat saliva carries bacteria that can infect the wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Give the medication exactly as prescribed:\u003C\u002Fstrong> give the full course of anti-inflammatories and painkillers the veterinarian prescribed. Never stop early, even if your cat already looks back to normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Watch for anything abnormal:\u003C\u002Fstrong> if your cat is very lethargic, refuses food for more than 24 hours after surgery, or the wound seeps blood, discharges pus or smells bad, take it to a veterinarian immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\u003Ch2>The right age for the operation\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>Most veterinarians recommend spaying or neutering from around 4-6 months of age, or once the cat reaches a body weight that is safe for anaesthesia (roughly 1.5 - 2 kilograms). At this age cats recover quickly and gain the greatest health benefit.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Would you like to book your cat in?\u003C\u002Fstrong> At \u003Cstrong>Everyday Cat Clinic\u003C\u002Fstrong> we have a spay and neuter package that covers the pre-surgical blood test, carried out by specialist veterinarians with clean, modern equipment, so you can be confident in the safety of the cat you love. [Click here to book the package at a special price]\u003C\u002Fp>"]