I recently adopted an adult cat that is estimated to be between 13 and 18 years old. No one know her past medical history, but my vet said that if she was at the shelter for 5 months and never went into heat then she is probably spayed. Well, guess what! Now that she is in a calm and stable home she is going into heat!! I'm going to get another opinion from my regular vet, but a different vet had told the shelter a while ago that this kitty (Mona) could not be spayed because she is too old.
What are the risks involved when using anesthesia in older cats? How old it too old? I would love to hear from anyone who has experience with this type of problem.
Ron, I am not sure about age...Traci or davet should be along later and can better answer those questions...
I just wanted to say welcome to the board, and bless you for adopting an "older cat" most people want the little kittens and these older ones get left by the wayside...
if all athe proper proceedures are met,, ie general physical, blood chemistry and other "thinking factors"---like i think this is a good candit=date in the mind of the surgeron....age will not be a factor...i have done pyometras on dogs 15 to 18 years old...have anesthetized the elderly when they have fracture from auto trauma......with todays anesthetics the risk in minimal----- and lots of surgerys can be done under tranquilizers or light sedation and local anesthetics....even spay, c- sections etc etc....every thing has to be checked out thoroly before it is done....but if it is a mater of "life or death withou doing it then you do it..
also this heat cycle is not really a bad thing because in some cases it can be controlled buy drugs...
Thanks to davet and Tambrey for your responses! I've talked to my vet since I posted a couple of days ago, and what he had to say was pretty much what davet said. He is going to do some bloodwork first to make sure liver and kidneys look normal. Mona is scheduled for her spay this coming Friday (3-11)!
Good luck to Mona!!! Bless you for taking care of her. I'll keep her in my thoughts and say a little prayer for her on Friday. Let us know how she does!
I'm going to get another opinion from my regular vet, but a different vet had told the shelter a while ago that this kitty (Mona) could not be spayed because she is too old.
