Both my male cats are neutered, poor guys. They were gone for a little over a year before the vet got out the ol’ scissors and snipped off their little love sacks. Sorry, Pippin and Jiji. Today’s NYT Mini Crossword clue is all about veterinary procedures.

Okay, that's it. Stop scrolling! I'm going to give away the answer.

Got it? The answer to five questions in today's NYT Mini Crossword is "SPAYS". Spaying is the term used to remove an animal's ovaries and uterus so that they can no longer reproduce. It is the male form of neutering and veterinarians recommend the surgery for the health of your pet.

Injection is generally considered a more complicated procedure than castration, requiring surgery on the internal organs.