Can't tell if cat has been spayed

noelphobic

I don't know my cat's full history so haven't been able to establish if she's been spayed. Neither has the vet.

I've had her for 6 months and have heard that she'd have been on heat in that time and I'd have known about it. However, I've heard of cases where the first owners have known about it is when the cat got pregnant.

I'm trying to trace her history but, failing that, the vet has said that the only way to be sure is by doing an ultrasound. I have a friend who runs a cat shelter and she said that she routinely books cats in to be spayed when she doesn't know if they have been.

It's not uncommon for the vet to open them up, find they've already been done and close them straight up again. I think this is possibly cheaper than the ultrasound.

I don't want to put her through this if it can be avoided and would rather she had the scan.

Does anyone have any other ideas?

missbiggles1

Won't she have to have a GA to have the ultrasound done?

noelphobic

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Won't she have to have a GA to have the ultrasound done?

I did wonder about that. I was hoping not. Even if she does, they wouldn't have to cut her though.

Don't know if sedation would be enough maybe?

HappyMJ

noelphobic wrote: »

I don't know my cat's full history so haven't been able to establish if she's been spayed. Neither has the vet.

I've had her for 6 months and have heard that she'd have been on heat in that time and I'd have known about it. However, I've heard of cases where the first owners have known about it is when the cat got pregnant.

I'm trying to trace her history but, failing that, the vet has said that the only way to be sure is by doing an ultrasound. I have a friend who runs a cat shelter and she said that she routinely books cats in to be spayed when she doesn't know if they have been.

It's not uncommon for the vet to open them up, find they've already been done and close them straight up again. I think this is possibly cheaper than the ultrasound.

I don't want to put her through this if it can be avoided and would rather she had the scan.

Does anyone have any other ideas?

I'd do something to the tom cat's in your garden. I'd secure the garden so the cat was restricted only to the house and garden. Not sure what your neighbours are like but neighbours around here really do not like cats and they will/could injure a cat if it were to wander on to their property and defecate in their garden. I wouldn't want that.

You would hear if tom's were fighting over her if she were in heat they can be very loud...so yes you'd know about it if she were. Better to be safe though.

mrsHall2b

opening her up then closing her up isnt really a huge deal, My cat went in for a full spay/microchip/injections thing and was back home within 5 hours and was her normal self pretty much when she got home. but she had quite a bit done. then we had to try keep her away from her stitches but it healed really fast and had no effect on her really. they would need to open her up if shes not already spayed anyways so why not have her ready just incase?
if you take her for the ultrasound and they find shes not spayed youll have to rebook in and wait for the spay, if you take her straight away for a spay theyll open her up and do it there and then without having 2 anesthetics and 2 trips to the scary place that is the vets.

noelphobic

HappyMJ wrote: »

I'd do something to the tom cat's in your garden. I'd secure the garden so the cat was restricted only to the house and garden. Not sure what your neighbours are like but neighbours around here really do not like cats and they will/could injure a cat if it were to wander on to their property and defecate in their garden. I wouldn't want that.

You would hear if tom's were fighting over her if she were in heat they can be very loud...so yes you'd know about it if she were. Better to be safe though.

Not letting her out at the moment until jabs are sorted out. It isn't really possible for me to secure my garden.

She has a litter box in the house so not sure she would do it outside. She did eat the neighbours' grass and throw up on their lawn once but I'm sure they wouldn't hurt her.

The garden on the other side was literally like a jungle (long story!) and I didn't like her going in there. The house was empty for a while but I have new neighbours and the garden has been sorted out.

When I was letting her out it was only on a handful occasions and she didn't stay out long. However, she did start crying to be let out, which makes me wonder whether she was on heat. She hasn't been too bothered lately but that could just be because she hasn't been out for weeks.

jenny-wren

Our vet simply shaved the fur on our cat's side and belly to look for a spay scar. She was a stray that we took in so we didn't know her history. It's not a definitive answer but if there's a scar there it's most likely from being spayed .... and it would surely be less stressful for the cat than surgery.

noelphobic

jenny-wren wrote: »

Our vet simply shaved the fur on our cat's side and belly to look for a spay scar. She was a stray that we took in so we didn't know her history. It's not a definitive answer but if there's a scar there it's most likely from being spayed .... and it would surely be less stressful for the cat than surgery.

When I phoned to make the appointment the receptionist said this was probably what they would do. However, when I said this to the vet said the scar probably wouldn't be visible.

I was sceptical about this but I have a friend who runs a cat rescue and she agreed with this.

I'm due back in a couple of weeks for the boosters and am thinking it would be a good idea to see another vet for a second opinion. She was very good with Tilly but if there's a chance another vet can give me an answer with minimal trauma to Tilly then I'd like to give it a go.

TBagpuss

mrsHall2b wrote: »

opening her up then closing her up isnt really a huge deal, My cat went in for a full spay/microchip/injections thing and was back home within 5 hours and was her normal self pretty much when she got home. but she had quite a bit done. then we had to try keep her away from her stitches but it healed really fast and had no effect on her really. they would need to open her up if shes not already spayed anyways so why not have her ready just incase?
if you take her for the ultrasound and they find shes not spayed youll have to rebook in and wait for the spay, if you take her straight away for a spay theyll open her up and do it there and then without having 2 anesthetics and 2 trips to the scary place that is the vets.

Talk to the vet - they may be able to arrange to do the ultrasound under GA and to do the spay straight away if it has not been done, rather than anethetising her twice, if you authorise them to do so instructions you give them. The spay only involves a very small incision, (unless she is already pregnant, when I guess a bigger incision might be needed)and they do normally recover pretty quickly - mine was completely back to normal by the next day, although she did have to wear the Cone of Shame for a couple of weeks to ensure she didn't get at the stitches.

noelphobic

TBagpuss wrote: »

Talk to the vet - they may be able to arrange to do the ultrasound under GA and to do the spay straight away if it has not been done, rather than anethetising her twice, if you authorise them to do so instructions you give them. The spay only involves a very small incision, (unless she is already pregnant, when I guess a bigger incision might be needed)and they do normally recover pretty quickly - mine was completely back to normal by the next day, although she did have to wear the Cone of Shame for a couple of weeks to ensure she didn't get at the stitches.

Hopefully she's not pregnant. She's not been out much and not for the last few weeks. I would hope that the vet would have discovered the pregnancy when I took her in.

spookylukey

My cat had an ultrasound recently, definitely no general anaesthetic required. I think they do have to sedate them if they're wrigglers but I'd rather sedation than a GA.

Personally I'd go for the ultrasound option rather than GA and open up. I paid £50 for a kidney ultrasound recently (with no sedation). Even if they don't go through with the spay you'd be paying for the anaesthetic and other costs so can't see there being too much of a difference and I'd rather pay a bit more for the non-invasive scan as it sounds like she is spayed imo.