SECTION VI 



CASTRATION OF THE CAT 

 (SPAYING) 



The principal reason for nnsexing female cats is to 

 prevent the annoyance occasioned by estrum and its 

 usual culmination in pregnancy with the too frequent 

 reproduction of undesirable offspring. 



Age for Operating-. — Animals that are in a thrifty 

 condition are best unsexed when about six or eight 

 months of age. However, this operation may be per- 

 formed when the cat is fully matured and the operation 

 has not proved impractical in subjects grown to five or 

 six years of age. Reason convinces us, though, that 

 the attendant shock would naturally be much greater 

 in animals of advanced years. 



Anatomy. — The principal structural differences in 

 the parts directly concerned for the operation of spay- 

 ing, between the cat and the dog, are that the cat 

 possesses a very thin abdominal wall, longer uterine 

 horns and smaller ovaries. The oviducts and ovaries 

 of the cat are not dissimilar to those of the sow. 



Preparation of the Subject. — Pood should be with- 

 held for 24 hours and a laxative given. During the pre- 

 paratory period they should be kept in clean, comfort- 

 able quarters that are quiet and secluded, and pro- 

 vided with ;i box of sawdust oi' sand 1o encourage nor- 

 mal bowel evacuation. 



Restraint. — As has been mentioned in the castration 

 of male cats, these animals should be gently and care- 

 fully handled because of their pecu.liarly sensitive or- 



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