Animal Castration 213 



CHAPTER VI. 



CAT SPAYING. 



Objects and Indications — Cats are submitted to spaying opera- 

 tion for the purpose of preventing "heat" and pregnanc3% princi- 

 pal]}^ the latter. After spaying they remain at home better and ai-e 

 more desirable pets than before. 



Age — The best results are attained if the cat is spayed before 

 she "comes in heat" the first time (prior to pubity). On account 

 of small size of cat — especially if an attempt is made at an early 

 age — the operation is extremely tedious. Best to operate at 6 to 

 8 months old. 



Season — Winter, spring and fall. 



Preparation — Withhold food for 24 to 30 hours previous to 

 operating in order that the alimentary tract may be empty. 



Methods — Flank method and belly method. The author pre- 

 fers the belly method. 



Anaesthesia — On account of a natural as well as an acquired 

 tendency to bite and scratch ferociously whenever submitted to 

 operation of almost any character, general anaesthesia should be 

 employed whenever possible. 



Instrmnents — 1. Miles' hook knife (Fig. 25). 2. Canine and 

 feline emasculator (Figs. 102, 103). 3. Wound retractor (Fig. 

 .180 a). 4. Surgeon's full curved needle No. 5 (Fig. 180 h), carry- 

 ing 18 inches sterilized braided silk No. 10. 5. Long, slender probe. 

 6. Haemostatic forceps. 



Anatomy — The cat is the most difficult and tedious of all do- 

 mestic animals to spay. The anatomical conformation and small 

 size of the parts and organs concerned in the operation largely 

 account for its extreme tediousness. As for the author's part he 

 would greatly prefer spaying ten heifers to one cat. In fact, he 

 would prefer spaying twice ten heifers to spaying one kitten. As 

 a general proposition the internal generative organs of the cat 



