Ensuring that you spay or neuter your cat is not only about preventing unwanted kittens, it also has an abundance of health benefits for your feline friend. Today our Middlesex vets discuss some of the things you should know about getting your cat spayed or neutered and what the benefits are for getting them fixed.
Getting Your Cat Spayed & Neutered
While we sometimes refer to reproductive surgery in cats as spaying or neutering we may also refer to it as your cat being fixed. But what are spaying and neutering?
Spaying is the sterilization of female animals by removing their reproductive organs. Neutering is the sterilization of male animals by removing the testes.
When is a Good Time to Have my Cat Fixed?
Early or pediatric spay/neuter is typically done at around six to eight weeks of age, while standard spay and neuter is most often performed at around five to six months. That said, these procedures can be performed at any time during your cat's life as long as they are in good health.
Benefits of Having a Female Cat Spayed
It is estimated that in as little as seven years, one female cat and her offspring can produce an incredible 420,000 kittens. In order to help manage the population of stray and unwanted cats, it is very important to always make that you spay female cats.
Beyond preventing the arrival of unwanted kittens, spaying your female cat has a number of health benefits. For example, there's less risk of your cat developing malignant mammary tumors later in life if she is spayed before her first heat.
Spaying can also help to prevent your cat from developing an infection of the uterus, and of developing cancers of the reproductive organs.
Spaying may also help to eliminate some unwanted behavours in female cats, including heat-induced howling, increased and overly intense affection, intense rubbing on objects, marking territory with urine, and the desire to wander.
Benefits of Having a Male Cat Neutered
The health benefits of neutering your male cat include a reduction in the risk of your cat developing testicular and prostate cancer.
Male cats that are neutered often show less inclination to fight with other male cats, helping to reduce the risk of serious injuries caused by fighting.
Neutering your male cat may reduce your cat's desire to roam in search of females. Less desire to roam helps to reduce the risk of injury due to traffic accidents as he travels long distances.
Having your male cat fixed may also help to prevent him from spraying around your home and property to mark his territory, and will prevent your cat from fathering countless kittens.
Why Are Unwanted Kittens Still a Concern if my Cat is a Male?
When it comes to controlling the population of unwanted cats in our neighborhood we all need to play our part. The number of kittens that one unaltered male cat could father in a single year is in the hundreds, and those kittens will be old enough to breed in just 6 months. It is estimated that by neutering just one male cat and spaying one female cat we can prevent a whopping 2000 unwanted kittens from being born within just four years!
Right now, across the US there are far more cats being born each year than there are homes available for them. Many of these homeless cats wind up on the streets, or ultimately end up being put down in shelters. You can help reduce the rates of cat homelessness and euthanasia by having your own cat spayed or neutered before they can reproduce.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.