As a licensed tech who has worked spay/neuter clinics for years, I'm shocked at the very thought of techs performing spays.

I know in a lot of places that techs do perform routine cat castrations - under direct supervision of a veterinarian. A cat castration is a relatively simple procedure and is pretty noninvasive. There is some debate over whether it even qualifies as a surgery, putting it into a legal 'grey area'.

A cat spay is a full fledged surgery, involving an abdominal incision and invasive technique. I cannot imagine any circumstances in which veterinary technicians would be permitted to perform such a procedure.

In fact, when we are trained as technicians, it is emphasized to us that the three things we are absolutely not permitted to do are Diagnose, Prescribe and Perform Surgery. Spaying a cat falls under number three.