• Age: The ideal age to get a cat fixed is usually between 5 and 6 months old. If you are planning to get a stray fixed or do not know the age of the cat you have adopted, you must consult your vet to determine whether the cat can be operated upon.

• Health: Ensure that your cat does not have underlying health issues. This can be ruled out by a set of pre-operative blood tests suggested by your vet (This usually includes a Complete Blood Count and a Serum Biochemistry Test).These tests can help rule out abnormalities in the blood, liver kidney and pancreas, which if found could postpone the surgery.

• Weight: You must check with your vet whether your cat is of the ideal weight (At least 2 pounds / 0.9 kg) before the surgery. If your cat is too underweight, it may cause complications.

• Vaccinations: It is recommended that your cat is vaccinated against communicable diseases (Feline Parvovirus, Distemper and Upper respiratory diseases) before the surgery. If you have had your cat since they were a kitten, you have probably ensured that their vaccinations are regular after 8 weeks of age. In case of stray cats, try to get them vaccinated much in advance. In case of emergency sterilizations, at least ensure that your vet vaccinates them after the surgery anyway.

• Follow the fasting guidelines provided by your vet. It is usually recommended to fast your cat for 10-12 hours before the surgery i.e. no food, treats or water. Some people may keep water out at night but to be on the safer side, cut off everything.
• Ensure that your cat has comfortable transportation to and from the vet clinic.
• Prepare a comfortable recovery area at home, preferably a separate room (especially if you have other pets) and a cozy sleeping area.

• Most Stray Cat Sterilizations are Trap-Neuter-Release which means it’s preferable you trap the cat and keep them at your place overnight to ensure the fasting is done correctly.
• If it is not possible for you to keep them at your place, find a foster who can keep them overnight and are adept at pre-op and post-op for cats. Some of them (in India) take care of the complete process including.taking them to the vet for the operation.
• In either case, ensure you have the best arrangements for transport, stay and recovery.

• Your vet will tell you to monitor your cat closely for the first 24-48 hours when their anesthesia starts to wear out.
• They may regain consciousness within this period (if they do not, contact your vet immediately) when they do, ensure that they are warm and comfortable
• You can pet and talk to them calmly and make sure they are in a cage or a small restricted space for sometime. This is especially more important for a female cat whose surgery tends to be more complicated than a male cat’s.
• Make sure that their physical activity is restricted to prevent strain on the incision.
• Prevent your cat from licking or biting the incision site.This can be done by an e-collar, soft cone collar or a Cat Sterilization Surgery Recovery Suit
• Offer small amounts of water and food (only wet food) as recommended by your vet.
• If you have a stray cat sterilized and being taken care of by a foster, make sure that the above steps are followed.

• You would need to monitor your cat's diet and physical activities life-long after spaying or neutering because cats tend to gain weight after the procedure.
• Consult your vet for a long-term diet and design an active playtime routine to keep your cat healthy post neutering / spaying.

• Ensure your cat is ready for surgery with a thorough checklist.
• Choose a qualified vet with experience in spay/neuter surgeries.
• Follow pre-operative instructions to prepare your cat for surgery.
• Prepare a comfortable recovery area and have necessary supplies ready.
• Provide attentive post-operative care and monitor for any signs of complications.

Hope this blog has been helpful for you to take those steps for a healthy and long life of your fur baby. So take that step and wishing your cat all the best and a speedy recovery!