CatCare Blog

Love in the Time of COVID-19: Part 4

By May 7, 2020 No Comments

Happy Spays are Here Again!

We now have a directive from the Oregon Health Authority stating that veterinary facilities may now resume performing elective and non-emergent procedures that require personal protective equipment.  This means that we can resume performing non-emergency spay (ovariohysterectomy) surgery, which is crucial at this time when the major spring cat mating season is still in full swing.  Although approval to resume elective and non-emergent surgical procedures by veterinary clinics is somewhat conditional, depending on how the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, we are ready to book appointments starting the week of May 4 for feline patients who need spay/neuter surgeries, routine dental procedures, and other urgent as well as elective surgeries.

Cats can definitely be spayed when pregnant.  If you know that your cat is pregnant or think she might be, please tell us when you call for an appointment so we can prioritize her spay surgery.  Unless you are prepared to cover emergency health care expenses for the mother cat and/or kittens and find good homes for as many as 4-8 kittens, spaying your pregnant cat is the best choice you can make for your pet.  The same goes for cats in “heat” (estrus); cats’ “heat” cycles will repeat frequently until they are bred.  Male kittens who are becoming sexually mature and adult males who have not been neutered may start spraying urine in your house or may disappear, either temporarily or permanently, as they can walk for miles following the scent of females in heat.  Call us today at 541-302-5824 for your cat’s spay, neuter, or dental appointment.

There continues to be concern and controversy regarding the potential for infections with the COVID-19 virus in pets.  See previous posts on this blog to find links to reliable information from veterinary experts regarding this issue.  The post below, from the Winn Feline Foundation website (https://www.winnfelinefoundation.org/), clarifies the situation very succinctly:

“Winn is aware of reports about COVID-19 and cats and continues to monitor all available information. COVID-19 should not be confused with other coronaviruses commonly found in humans and animals.

At the present time, there is NO evidence that cats can transmit the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 to people.”

We continue our regular weekday office hours of 8:30 am-5:30 pm Monday through Friday, but for the month of May we will be closed on Saturday, May 16, a morning when we would normally be open for appointments as well as food and prescription drug pickup.  We will resume our regular Saturday hours in June when we will be open the first and third Saturdays of each month from 8:30 am-12:30 pm.

Also, we follow our normally excellent hygiene practices and adhere to current physical distancing guidelines and will accommodate our clients who are self-isolating in as many ways as we can, including curbside service for appointments, surgeries, food, and medication pickup, and payments.  Almost every prescription and non-prescription product we carry, as well as many others, are available through our online store, easily accessible via a button on the top bar of our website home page.  Wishing you and your pets the very best of health and well-being!