To control the overpopulation of cats you should have your pet spayed
or neutered. Unfortunately millions of cats are euthanized each year
because they are unwanted or there is no one to take care of them. Even
if your cat is an indoor cat and there is no chance of your female
getting pregnant or of your male getting someone pregnant you should
still have your pet spayed or neutered to avoid potential problems of
spraying, heat, medical and behavioral problems. Bear in mind that just
one female cat and her offspring can produce over 400,000 cats in just
seven years. Spaying/neutering your pet will ensure that your pet will
not contribute to the pet overpopulation problem.
A female cat is spayed, this means that her ovaries and uterus
(reproductive organs) will be removed. Usually she can be spayed after 6
months of age or in between heats or litters.** Your cat can be spayed
during heat but it is more complicated and there is a slight risk due to
increased vessel size and lowered clotting ability. If your female is
not spayed she will often be in heat. This means meowing, crying,
spraying, pacing and roaming the house (or outside if there is anyway to
get out - beware a cat in heat is very, very clever) to look for a male.
Unspayed females can also suffer uterine infections or breast cancer.
A male cat is neutered - this is the surgical removal of the
testicles. This is a very simple procedure (much simpler than being
spayed) that can be done after 6 months of age.** An unneutered male
will go through severe spraying, howling, marking of territory and
looking for a mate. An indoor male will do just about anything to get
outside and find a female. Unneutered males are also prone to severe
aggressiveness and territorialism.
** There is much debate going on about the *best* time to
spay/neuter. Cats can be spayed/neutered earlier than 6 months of age,
studies are still in progress on whether or not such early
spaying/neutering is more or less beneficial than waiting till the cat
is older than 6 months of age. If you are in doubt about when to
spay/neuter consult your vet.
Medical and care advice on this article is for your knowledge and
information only. It is not a substitute for a veterinary appointment or
an actual diagnosis for your pet. If you feel your pet has a health or
behavior problem please consult your veterinarian immediately for
specific advice tailored to your individual pet.
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