Spaying or neutering your cat is an important decision that faces many pet owners. If you’re an animal lover, it’s important to understand the impact of your choice. Consider the facts: the world is facing a huge pet overpopulation problem. In the United States alone, over 10 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year because there are no available homes for them. These are not just unwanted “street animals”—they are the puppies and kittens of cherished family pets!
Many people believe that their pet’s kittens could never end up in a shelter, but every time your cat slips out under your fence to visit your neighbor’s pet, the result could be an unexpected litter of kitties. The best and surest way to avoid unplanned breeding is to spay your female cats and neuter your male cats.
Spaying or neutering essentially prevents your cat from being able to reproduce. Both surgeries are performed under anesthesia, so your furry friend won’t feel a thing! In general, pets are fully up to speed within a day of their operation, which is considered painless and routine.
Aside from helping to prevent animal population, the spaying and neutering procedures are actually beneficial to your cat’s health. These cats generally live longer and healthier lives than those pets who haven’t had the procedure. Pet owners report that their animal’s behavior dramatically improves post-surgery, and also say that their cat is less likely to roam the streets outside and become injured or lost in the search for a mate.
Spaying your female cat will also prevent them from enduring any more heat cycles. Female cats who aren’t spayed normally go into heat several times during the year and can last from anywhere from several days to several weeks! Females in heat frequently display such behaviors as spraying urine, howling, and marking their territory with their urine. When you neuter a male before he hits puberty, you will eliminate his natural instinct to roam around in search of a mate, which puts your cat at a greater risk for fighting, infection, disease, and being hit by a car.
By spaying or neutering your cat, you will be doing your furry friend, and the thousands of cats and kittens that need a loving home, a great service!
