Not Spaying Vs. Anesthesia: Ruth Shares Her Lessons, Decision
When it comes to our cerebellar hypoplasia cats, it can be difficult to make some decisions. We want what’s best for them, but sometimes their condition makes those decisions difficult.
That’s exactly the position Ruth found herself in when considering whether or not her CH cat Betty should be spayed.
Ruth learned a great deal after sharing her concerns with her vet, and she was kind enough to share what she learned with us. Here’s her story:
“Not sure if I’ve posted this info before, but it’s become one of my new causes.
I mentioned to my new vet that Betty hadn’t been spayed because I was leery of the anesthesia with a cat who had neurological issues. He explained to me that when cats go into heat, they stay in heat until their pregnant or spayed. This is a big problem with indoor cats. Over the years, their little bodies are working at optimum efficiency for an intended pregnancy. Their little engines are running full steam – from the moment they first go into heat until they are spayed or pregnant.
Here’s the scary part: If allowed to continue for a very long time, the uterus can become infected. Fatally.
After I spoke with the vet, I made arrangements and took Betty in for spaying. It was one of the most frightening days of my life as I worried whether or not she would make it and if she would come out the same cat she went in. It was worth the worry. The vet had to remove her uterus along with her ovaries. He told me that it had been a matter of weeks before she started experiencing a fatal event.
My recommendation to everyone I speak with about this is to make sure your vet is aware of and uses the anesthesias and procedures recommended by this CH site. Then take her in and have her spayed.
My desire to keep Betty safe from anesthesia almost killed her.”
Life with Cerebellar Hypoplasia Cats 
Thank you, Amanda. I’ve been finding out that most people I speak with have no idea of the long-term repercussions of not spaying an indoor cat. It’s not just a matter of putting up with annoying behavior every now and then. Let’s hope your website continues to spread the education so needed for CH, and able-bodied, cats.
Thank you, Ruth, for sharing your knowledge. My little CH kitten is 9 months old now, and shows no signs of going into heat. She’s also very tiny, (4 1/4 lb.) and the vet did not want to spay her until she reached 4 lb. which has been within the last month. She may be finished growing, I don’t know. She also might not be normal in the reproductive department, because she has incontinence issues. But I will talk to the vet about whether they can predetermine whether she’s normal, and if so, spay her. Glad you reminded me to get going on it! 🙂
Ruth! I am glad you spayed her as you and I were in the same boat about the anesthesia fear. I kept up with Betty on that big day and so glad all went well and she is doing good. Also not spaying raises the risks of Mammary cancer in addition to a uterus and ovaries to be a mess. Not knowing back then what I know now I could kick myself . Shakey has cancer and was spayed while having a lumpectomy and they saw in X rays her uterus enlarged full of puss and and old blood ready to blow at any time like Betty. So please spay or neuter yes!!!! This truly lowers the risk of cancer in which now we are faced with and now an evasive surgery for our poor CH Kitty!
XXXXOOOO To Betty and see you soon I hope!
Deb, I’m so sorry to hear Shakey had the same thing along with the cancer 😦 The scariest thing is thinking you’re doing the right thing and finding out it’s not. All we can do is spread the word. I have Shakey in my prayers and hope that she does incredibly well with her treatment. Betty sends her regards and we’re both looking forward to your next trip to Florida. HUGS!!
I was in the same boat with Moto, a young CH cat that lives at our store(she showed up a year and a half ago). We never noticed her coming into heat, but this winter I made an effort to supplement her feeding with canned food, and she came into heat for the first time that we noticed in Jan. The vets I talked to weren’t sure if she’d survive anesthesia, so we debated the risk-for a bit too long! She was pregnant! She needed an emergency c-section, as she was not having contractions, but she had two healthy, big, normal kittens who are now 8 weeks old. I had to help her with them, she wasn’t real good at cleaning them at first, and didn’t produce a lot of milk (but,as I told the vets, its obviously enough milk, the kittens grew like weeds!) She is now happy,healthy and ready to go back to her friends at the store-she has a lot of fans!!