What should I expect when I take my kitten to get neutered?

Question

When you take a kitten to get neutered, what are some of the other services the vet asks you to have done on the kitten at that time? I heard someone talk about blood work. Which of these "add-on's" are necessary? How much total should I expect to pay at the vet for the neutering and everything?

Answer 1

Prices vary from city to city, state to state, country to country...can't answer that one for you.

A PAP is a pre-anesthetic blood panel that tells the vet if there are any underlying conditions that may be reason to NOT put the cat under anesthesia at this time. It can show anemia, platelet count, infection, diabetes, and various other diseases, etc. If all looks well, this is great to have on file for future reference as a base line. Humans have bloodwork done prior to surgery, also.

A highly recommended FeLV / FIV test. This could determine the fate of the kitten and whether or not to go ahead and do the surgery.

Stool check - checks not only for intestinal parasites, but also for intestinal flukes like giardia.

FDRC vaccine, if he has not received it or needs a booster.

Rabies - cats are predators by nature, always better to side with caution.

Flea preventative. Fleas not only spread tapeworm, but can infest the home and cause major problems for you and the kitten. He could become anemic, have a flea allergy dermatitis and be scratchy and irritated. Prevention is cheaper than treating.

Declawing - once under anesthesia, this is a quick procedure and best when done when the cat is young. If you are debating it, best go for it now to save on the anesthetic costs, medication cost (if any), hospital stay, etc.

Once he is released from the hospital, keep him in a confined area for the rest of the day and for the following weeks, keep him calm (yeah, right) and don't allow him to jump on furniture, window sill, your bed, etc. to prevent possible injury.

Enjoy your kitten! You are off to a great, responsible ownership and he will bring you lots of joy and entertainment for years to come! Congratulations on an excellent decision to neuter!

Answer 2

If your cat is going to be indoors only and never goes outside except to the vet via a carrier then quite frankly, your kitten doesn't need any vaccinations at all. If your cat will be indoor/outdoor or out door only then get every shot the vet has to offer most especially for FIV AND FeLV! Also URI. As far as what to expect after wards, some kittens come home bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to play. Some come home and are very drowsy and some stagger around like little drunken sailors bumping into walls. If yours can't walk straight, keep him in his carrier and the carrier out of a high traffic area. Put a towel over the carrier to make it dark and cozy (this eliminates stress in most cats) and let him sleep it off. Don't let him out if he can't walk straight! Usually males calm down after neutering, however, just know that it can take 4 to 5 weeks for the current testosterone in the animal's body to fade away so there might not be an immediate change in his behavior. I hope you are having your cat microchipped at the same time!

Answer 3

Total depends entirely on where you live.

As with humans, animals requiring surgery are subjected to a battery of surgery-related tests to ensure that everything is ok.

To ensure that you aren't being asked to authorize unneccessary add-ons, question the vet on the tests. If the vet is honest - as most are - s/he will explain them to you.

If your kitten is up to date on his shots there no other services should be required. In fact, now that I think of it, it probably is a bad idea to give vaccinations at a time when a kitten is stressed

As for humane societies and cost - every one is different. We had to have our most recent cat neutered through the humane society and by the time all was said and done, it was $150; that's not including the other $40 I gave them toward his care.

Answer 4

Prices vary Vet to Vet. In our area, the local pound will help with neutering. Although Vets swear it does not make a difference, I like to let my kittens go through heat once. I don't think it is the full blown version, but just enough you realize oops, got to get this fixed. Drives me nuts, but yanking their ovaries out before then seems to lead to very hateful cats.

Answer 5

Never give a cat advil. My vet told me, it will kill them. They do make special kitty pain pills, but he wont need them. He'll be a little sleepy after the surgury, but he will soon forget all about it. You're doing the right thing. Neutered cats are less likely to stray and get hit my cars.

Answer 6

it will be more expensive if you have a girl kitty. There will be follow up visit to removed the stitches. Other than that, there should not be any additional charges. If you cat is in need of vaccinations... you just tell the vet you will come back later for that..

Answer 7

If you go through the humane society,it will cost you alot less as that is what they do. I went to our local humane society and they gave me a coupon to go to a vet that was a provider for them and they did my cat for 60.00. You don't need blood tests,They will try and sell you anything they can,including fecal exams for worms, etc. Just tell them NO THANKS.

Answer 8

the cost would depend onteh vet doing the surgery. as far as having blood work that is totally up to you. none of my cats had blood work done when they "had their bags unpacked". if he doesn't have his rabies shot that can be done at that time or just about anything else you want to have done. much easier to work on a sleeping cat then one that is awake and scared.

Answer 9

well i don't think that there is anything else that comes with it. but be prepared to pay at least 100 dollars. just joking, i don't really know anything about that, we got our cats fixed with a free clinic that came through town. but we paid a lot to have our dog fixed, they even gave her a flee dip.

Answer 10

There may be other shots that are necessary at the same time, check your vaccination schedule for that. Otherwise it should just be the surgery and nothing else.