Safe, Professional Desexing for Male and Female Cats

Desexing is one of the most important decisions you can make for your cat’s long-term health and wellbeing. It helps prevent unwanted litters, reduces the risk of certain diseases and can minimise hormone-related behaviours.

At Lutwyche Veterinary Surgery, we perform cat desexing using modern anaesthesia, comprehensive patient monitoring and tailored pain management to help ensure your cat’s safety and comfort throughout the procedure.

Whether you have a playful kitten or an adult cat, our experienced veterinarians are happy to discuss the most appropriate timing for desexing.What Is Cat Desexing?

Cat desexing is a routine surgical procedure performed under general anaesthesia to prevent reproduction.

• Male cats undergo castration, where both testicles are removed.
• Female cats undergo ovariohysterectomy (spey), where the ovaries and uterus are removed.

Both procedures are commonly performed and most cats recover quickly with appropriate post-operative care.

Benefits of Cat Desexing

Desexing offers many health and lifestyle benefits for both male and female cats.

These include:

• Preventing unwanted litters
• Eliminating the risk of pyometra (uterine infection) in female cats
• Reducing the risk of mammary tumours when performed before the first season
• Preventing testicular cancer in male cats
• Reducing roaming behaviour
• Reducing urine spraying and territorial marking in many male cats
• Reducing fighting between male cats
• Helping control the unwanted cat population

Our veterinarians will discuss the benefits and considerations based on your cat’s age, lifestyle and individual circumstances.

When Should My Cat Be Desexed?

Most kittens are desexed from around four to six months of age, before they reach sexual maturity.

However, the most appropriate timing may vary depending on your cat’s health, breed and individual circumstances.

If you’re unsure when your kitten should be desexed, our veterinarians are happy to provide personalised advice.

What Happens on the Day of Surgery?

Your cat’s safety is our highest priority.

On the day of surgery:

• Your cat receives a pre-operative health examination.
• A veterinarian performs a full physical assessment before anaesthesia.
• An individual anaesthetic protocol is tailored to your cat.
• Pain relief is administered before, during and after surgery.
• Your cat is closely monitored throughout the procedure by our veterinary team.
• Recovery is supervised until your cat is awake and comfortable before going home.

We’ll also provide detailed home-care instructions and answer any questions you may have before discharge.

Caring for Your Cat After Desexing

Most cats recover quickly following desexing.

To support a smooth recovery, we generally recommend:

• Keeping your cat indoors while recovering.
• Restricting jumping and vigorous activity for approximately 10–14 days.
• Preventing licking of the surgical site using an Elizabethan collar or recovery suit if required.
• Giving all prescribed medications as directed.
• Checking the wound daily for swelling, discharge or redness.
• Attending any recommended post-operative rechecks.

If you notice any concerns during recovery, our team is always available to help.

Is Cat Desexing Safe?

Cat desexing is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in veterinary medicine.

While every anaesthetic carries some degree of risk, modern anaesthetic protocols, patient monitoring and pain management have made the procedure very safe for healthy cats.

Before surgery, we’ll assess your cat’s overall health and discuss any factors that may affect their anaesthetic risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will desexing change my cat’s personality?

No. Desexing does not change your cat’s personality. Some hormone-driven behaviours, such as roaming or spraying, may decrease, but your cat’s individual temperament remains the same.

Can female cats become pregnant before their first birthday?

Yes. Female cats can become pregnant as early as four months of age, which is why early desexing is often recommended.

Will my cat gain weight after desexing?

A cat’s metabolism may change slightly after desexing, but maintaining a healthy weight is largely achieved through appropriate diet and regular activity. We can provide feeding advice following surgery.

Does my cat need blood tests before surgery?

Pre-anaesthetic blood testing may be recommended to help identify underlying health problems before general anaesthesia. We’ll discuss whether this is appropriate for your cat.

Why Choose Lutwyche Veterinary Surgery?

We understand that leaving your cat for surgery can be stressful.

Our experienced veterinary team is committed to providing compassionate care, modern anaesthetic techniques and personalised pain management to help ensure your cat’s procedure is as safe and comfortable as possible.

From admission through to recovery, we’ll keep you informed and provide comprehensive aftercare advice to help your cat recover smoothly at home.

Book Your Cat’s Desexing Procedure

If you’re considering desexing your kitten or adult cat, we’d be happy to discuss the procedure and answer any questions you may have.

Contact Lutwyche Veterinary Surgery on (07) 3161 6237 or book online to arrange a consultation with one of our experienced veterinarians.