Is spaying safe for my cat? Risks, recovery, and will she be happy?

I don't have a number for you - but the risk is very, very low (less than 1%). A spay is a common, everyday, low-risk surgery and the complication rate is extremely low. To provide one anecdotal example: I've been practicing for 7 years, have performed spays weekly, and have never had a spay patient die.

Risks involved in cat spay surgery are minimal, it is a very simple surgery that all vets are comfortable with as well as having a lot of experience performing it (usually several times a week). you should not be worried about having this surgery done for your cat.

I am sorry to hear about your kitty! We do routinely do surgery in many pets that have seizures, and as long as we are aware ahead of time we can prepare for this concern by doing things such as selecting certain drugs for anesthesia and having an IV catheter in place in case a seizure occurs so we have quick access to a vein to administer medication. I would say that the risk of not being spayed is a greater health risk than the risk of being spayed. I would, however, recommend having your cat examined/have work-up done which may involve bloodwork and ultrasound to ensure there isn't a cause for seizures such as a liver shunt that needs to be addressed if your cat hasn't already been examined for the seizures. I would also recommend you have your cat spayed at a full service vet clinic and not a spay/neuter low cost clinic because of her issues she is going to need more intensive monitoring than they can offer. The risks involved in spaying are the same for any surgical procedure and include adverse reaction to the anesthetic drugs, bleeding during surgery, and infection of the surgical site. These complications are extremely rare.

The chances of something happening to Princess under anesthesia is very minute. That doesn't mean there is no chance. She is a living, breathing being and just like in humans, anything can happen. Veterinarians use very safe anesthetic drugs that are often what is used in humans despite all the safety precautions adverse reactions can still happen. While no one can give you a guarantee, I can tell you that the benefits of having her spayed far outweigh the risks of the procedure. Unspayed animals have an extremely high instance of mammary cancer which is often life threatening. Here is a link to an article that reviews the benefits of spaying. ( https://www.petcoach.co/article/spaying-ovariohysterectomy-the-benefits-in-cats/ ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Any animal can die from any operation, just like any person could. There is never a guarantee. That being said, the chance of her passing from surgery is extremely low - like less than 0.001%. I agree with your vet that she should be done right away. You can’t continue letting her be sick. I know you are anxious but you need to do what is best for her.

The best thing you can do is make sure she is not over weight. Also, when she is spayed, she will need to be separated from any kittens so that they do not injure the incision. I recommend to discuss your concerns with your veterinarian. Things that help a procedure recover if an emergency arises are to make sure bloodwork is done prior to the surgery, that she has an intravenous catheter placed prior to the procedure and that she receives intravenous fluids during the procedure. These will help to keep her safe. Just like human medicine, all sedative procedures have some risk but the vast vast majority of people and pets will do fine. You may consider interviewing a few veterinarians to ask about their protocols and safety record. It's always be to be informed. Having her spayed will provide protection from a variety of other health conditions and is generally safe. I hope this helps.

You should get her spayed, no questions about it, there is no high risk in having that surgery done at her age, she is still very young and it is a very simple surgery. cats are in very high risks of mammary gland tumors if they are not spayed and this condition is almost always fatal.