Some Things to Know about

the Neuter Station at Operation Catnip

1. Keep it clean! Always put your scalpel blade and hemostats on the “sterile” paper towel when not using them.

2. What the heck is all this stuff? The two structures we tie together in an open castration are the pampiniform plexus (the thermoregulatory blood supply to the testis) and the ductus deferens (exit path of the sperm to the urethra, where it will join with seminal fluid).

3. And what the heck am I doing here? An “open” castration involves cutting through the scrotum, then making a second incision through the vaginal tunic, revealing the testicle and the epididymis. This technique is used on larger tomcats (any cat over about 1 year, or about 4-5 lbs) to reduce the incidence of complications. A “closed” castration involves only cutting open the scrotum, exposing the testicle still contained inside the vaginal tunic. The pampiniform plexus and the ductus deferens are clamped together in the hemostat and tied on themselves. This is used on smaller cats; anything under a year, or under about 4 lbs.

4. Ever peeled a grape? We pluck the hair from the testicles to decrease the amount of contaminants in the area. Hair is a great reservoir for dirt, bacteria, and some fungi. Plucking the hair reduces the chance for irritation in the area, whereas shaving could cause razor burn, leading to an itchy rash, increasing the incidence of excessive licking and self-mutilation.

5. You’re sticking that where? We vaccinate these cats in the right hip for rabies (clear pink vaccine), and the left hip for feline leukemia, panleukopenia, calicivirus, and rhinotracheitis (cloudy pink vaccine).

6. You’re how old? Cats are a little harder to age than some animals, but it still can be done. The easiest way to do it is to look at the canine teeth. Kittens lose their baby canine teeth at approximately 5 months old. You can estimate the age after that by the staining and plaque on the canines.

7. Oh #@&! The most common complications of neutering cats are hemorrhage and infection. Before you turn your cat over for anesthesia reversal, just watch the incision site for any bleeding or swelling. Handle the tissues carefully to reduce trauma, and NEVER (not ever) tie hair into your knot. Always make sure that you can visualize your incision edges, and be sure they are not puckering in. This usually indicates that there is hair stuck in your knot, and for that, you will be hunted down and neutered yourself.