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13. Spay/Neuter & Veterinary CareGetting the cats spayed and neutered iswhat the hard work of trapping is all about.When the big Spay Day arrives, you want to beas ready as possible. This means educatingyourself ahead of time on your clinic’sprotocols, getting the cats ready and knowingwhat choices you will make for the cats’ care. Preparing for surgery• Withhold food & waterFor adult cats, all food should be removedfrom their traps by 10 p.m. the night before thesurgery. It’s important for a cat’s stomach tobe empty while under anesthesia. Otherwise,there is a chance the cat will vomit whileunconscious and the regurgitated food couldphoto: Meredith Weisscause him to choke or gag, a potentially fatalcomplication. Water should be withheld, too, although veterinarians differ on when towithdraw it. To be conservative, remove the water at the same time you remove the food.In order to maintain a healthy energy level, food and water should not be withheldfrom kittens for as long as adults. Exactly when food and water should be taken awaydepends in large part on their age. The younger they are, the closer in time to the surgerythey should be fed. Consult your veterinarian for the precise timing, keeping in mind thatwhatever age the kittens are, there is some period before the surgery that food and watershould be withdrawn.• Traps and coversFeral cats should always be brought to the clinic in traps or transfer cages, one cat pertrap or cage. When a cat is in a trap or transfer cage, veterinary staff can use a trapdivider to pin the cat against one end and then sedate him through the bars with a longneedledsyringe. In contrast, if the cat is in a carrier or even a feral cat den, staff mayneed to open the door and reach in to get at the cat. This can be very dangerous,exposing staff and the cat to injury. This is why many clinics now require that feral catsbe brought in traps or transfer cages or they will not be treated.Each trap should be covered with a sheet to keep the cat calm. Cotton sheets, likethose used to cover the cat during the trapping, will do the trick. Write your name oryour group’s on the sheets with indelible ink if you want to be sure to get the same onesback.113