Author:
Marcus Baldwin
Date Of Creation:
15 June 2021
Update Date:
24 June 2024
Content
Sterilized cats are unable to produce offspring and do not have estrus. If you decide to take a stray cat or a cat from a shelter to your home, it will not be superfluous to check if it has been spayed. In most cases, responsible owners (as well as shelter workers) try to sterilize non-breeding animals aged three months and older, when kittens are already at least 1.4 kg in weight. It is possible to understand that a cat has been spayed by a number of external physical and behavioral signs.
Note: This article only applies to cats, not to cats. If you have a cat in your arms, see the article “How to know if a cat is neutered or not”.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: External signs of sterilization
1 Check for a shaved belly. Turn the cat over on its back to get a good look at its belly. If a cat has recently undergone a sterilization operation, then the hair on its belly will be noticeably shorter than on the rest of the body, since the veterinarian shaves the cat's belly before performing such an operation. - However, please note that a number of other veterinary procedures may also require hair removal from certain areas of the animal's body, so a shaved belly cannot be one hundred percent proof that the cat has been sterilized.
- In some cases, the operation to sterilize young kittens is carried out through the side. If you have a fairly young animal, also check the condition of the coat on its left side and see if there is a shaved or trimmed square area between the ribs and the thigh.
2 Check for a postoperative scar. Take the cat so that it is on its back with its belly up. Spread the fur on her belly as much as possible. Once you get to the skin, look for any traces of surgery scar. This can be difficult as the sterilization instruments currently used leave behind a very narrow scar that can become very inconspicuous when healed, making it difficult to see. - Usually, the scar is a thin, straight line running down the middle along the abdomen.
- Also try looking for a scar on the cat's left side between the ribs and thigh. If the vet was doing the spay through the side, then the scar must be here somewhere.
3 Look for a veterinary tattoo near the surgical scar or on the inside of the ear. After neutering, the veterinarian may tattoo the cat to leave a clearly visible sign that the animal has been operated on. Usually the tattoo is done in green and is a thin line next to the scar from the surgery. The tattoo should be easily visible when the belly fur is spread apart, but it is wise to take a closer look. - You can also check your cat for tattoos inside the ears, as this is where veterinarians often put down important marks about pets. For example, a tattoo in the form of the letter M (as is customary in the United States) can mean that the animal has a microchip implanted, and almost all other tattoos indicate sterilization.
4 Note the cut ear of the cat. In some cases, Russian veterinarians and shelters use a rather common in Western countries method of marking sterilized cats by truncating the ear tip. In this case, the tip of one of the cat's ears (usually the left) is cut off, so that it ceases to be pointed. The procedure is performed when the cat is still under anesthesia from the surgery, and the ear then heals quickly enough. 
5 Take your cat to the veterinarian to make sure that it has indeed been spayed. Sometimes a spayed cat may lack any external marks of the operation. In this case, it is best to show the cat to the veterinarian. An experienced professional will be able to tell almost immediately whether a cat has been neutered or not. And if he has any doubts, he will prescribe additional diagnostic procedures to give you an accurate answer to the question posed. 
6 When purchasing a cat, ask the breeder or pet store seller if the animal has been spayed. If you buy a cat from a breeder or pet store, they probably know if it has been spayed. This information is more difficult to find out when you are picking up an animal from the street or from a shelter, so in such situations it is better to contact your veterinarian if you have any doubts.
Method 2 of 2: Signs of heat in a cat
1 Pay attention if your cat suddenly becomes too intrusive and rubs against you more often than usual. Unsterilized cats regularly have periods of rut (at the time of estrus), which are characterized by increased sexual activity. The rutting period can last up to three weeks, although the external manifestations of estrus are usually not so long. - During estrus, a cat becomes very intrusive, insanely playful, rubs against both people and inanimate objects, and also somersaults.
2 See if the cat is getting into an “invitation” position and trampling with its hind legs. During estrus, cats often exhibit sexy signs, standing in an "invitation" stance or falling to the ground, while the pelvis remains raised, the tail is either lifted up or turned to one side, and the head is lowered to the ground. Most often, this behavior appears in the presence of cats. - When the cat lands on the ground, it also usually begins to trample with its hind legs. At the same time, she quickly alternately raises her paws, as if walking in one place. It is believed that this is how cats are attracted to cats, since trampling in this position causes the cat's genitals to move up and down.
3 Pay attention to the crying howl or loud meow of the cat. During estrus, cats tend to meow loudly and make other inviting sounds. This noisy behavior usually begins with heat and gradually gets worse. During peak periods, these sounds can be very frequent and similar to painful or very upset screams, although the animal itself is not really in any danger. - There are also other (more rare) types of calling signals, ranging from a quiet interrogative meow to an excited squeal.
4 See if your cat tends to spend more time outdoors. A domestic cat that is in heat may suddenly show the habits of street cats. During estrus, the domestic cat will try to get out into the street in order to find a partner. Therefore, the usually uncharacteristic tendency to scratch under the front door, meow near it and even try to escape from the house as soon as someone opens the door may appear in the behavior. - Keep a close eye on the cat when entering or leaving the house. If the cat runs away from home, it may return already pregnant (due to the fact that it is not spayed).
5 Notice if the cat is starting to tag with urine. Unsterilized cats provide urine signals to potential mates that they are in heat. Urine marks are a common reproductive signal in cats (not just cats), but this behavior can be avoided by spaying the animal. A cat can tag both at home and outdoors, especially in the presence of cats. 
6 Pay attention to a cat's vaginal discharge. During estrus, unsterilized cats may have clear, watery or blood-stained vaginal discharge.You can notice the discharge some time after the onset of estrus. It is very likely that before this the cat will deliberately stand in an “invitation” position and trample with its paws so that the secretions come out. - However, in case of heavy discharge, the cat should be shown to the veterinarian, as it may be a symptom of uterine inflammation.
