Editor’s note: The Daily Reporter occasionally features photos and stories of pets and their companions in the community. Here, local veterinarian Holly Jacobson shares iinsights about spaying and neutering cats.
I love cats. I have several of my own. I love their personalities. I love their aloofness, when they want to be, and their ability to be sweetly affectionate, also when they want to be. As author Terry Pratchett summed it up, “In ancient times cats were worshiped as gods; they have not forgotten this.” He was right.
As a fellow feline fancier, I have a secret to share with you: The world is not in danger of running out of cats. Some sources suggest that there are more than 600 million cats in the world! Of that 600 million, only about half are pets (or so the internet says). Which means that there are roughly 220 million to 300 million feral cats in the world. The statistics are a bit hazy, since cats cannot be counted on to mail back their census questionnaires. So, let’s just say there are a lot of feral cats roaming the planet.
The best method of reducing this population is, of course, sterilization of the existing cat population to reduce its ability to produce more unwanted cats. Males can be “neutered” (surgical removal of the testicles); females are “spayed” (surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries). As pet owners, we can help by making sure that if Fluffy does step out with that Tom Cat down the block, at least she won’t return home knitting booties for eight.
Decreasing the surplus cat population isn’t the only benefit of spaying your cat. A spayed cat will be less likely to develop mammary cancer and uterine cancer. Frisky will no longer experience “heats” and urge to find that Tom Cat down the street. In general, spayed cats are healthier and live longer lives than their intact counterparts, saving you future vet bills.
So how much does it cost? Well, like a lot of things, it’s complicated. First let’s start with that definition: “surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries” That’s “surgical” as in “surgery,” or cutting into a living animal to remove something. A spay is a routine but a serious procedure. It carries risks ranging from infection to death and should be approached with the appropriate amount of professionalism.
In a typical spay procedure at Westwood Veterinary Clinic, the veterinarian performs the surgery assisted by at least one veterinary technician. During a one to two-hour procedure, we administer anesthesia and constantly monitor Fluffy’s vitals to make sure she’s handling the procedure well. We make an incision in her abdomen, remove the offending bits, stop any bleeding, and then suture the incision. Then we keep Fluffy comfortable while the anesthesia wears off, administering pain medication as needed. By the end of the day, Fluffy is typically ready to go back to work as goddess of her household.
Assuming there are no complications, we charge roughly $300 for a feline spay. Take-home medications and pain killers are additional. We also suggest using the time Fluffy is “out” to draw blood for feline leukemia testing or any other test she may need, which adds to the final bill.
I understand that cost is always a concern for many of our pet parents. There also are low-cost spay clinics in the area that charge less than veterinary offices. I have nothing negative to say about them, but I prefer to think that vet offices with their caring and attentive approach to veterinary medicine, as well as our modern surgical equipment, is worth any difference in cost.
We strive to be the best vet for your pet. An ancient goddess deserves no less.
