Benefits of neutering your cat
I FIRMLY believe that getting your cat neutered before it can breed is an essential part of responsible cat ownership.
Cats are very effective breeders and the number of kittens they produce increases in line with the amount of food and shelter available. Without neutering, the local cat population can quickly get out of control. Please don’t add to the plight of the thousands of unwanted cats already out there. Overpopulation increases feline infectious disease, stress related disease, feline conflict and compromises cats’ welfare.
Neutering is a surgical operation which stops female cats – queens – from becoming pregnant and male cats – toms – from making females pregnant. When a queen is neutered, her ovaries and uterus are removed and when a tom is castrated, his testicles are removed.
Neutering is the best way to deal with the problems of unwanted pregnancies, by preventing the problem in the first place. Neutering also prevents some cancers and infections, reduces straying, fighting and spraying.
Neutering has many health benefits, as well as helping to reduce the number of unwanted cats. Neutered males are less likely to roam, reducing the risk of them suffering from car accidents, they are less likely to fight which reduces the risk of them getting injured or contracting serious diseases such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) or Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV). Neutered females won’t become pregnant, so there will be no expense associated with litters of kittens and they do not call or wail as unneutered queens do – so less disturbed sleep for the owner and neighbours.
The operation for both male and female cats is very simple and usually you will be able to drop your cat off and pick them back up on the same day. Your cat will need to spend a day at the veterinary surgery and will be given a general anaesthetic, so no food should be offered in the hours prior to the operation.
Cats are very resilient and stoical – far more so than humans – and usually recover very quickly from the operation.
While the majority of owners do neuter their cats, sadly a large number of owned cats are allowed to breed before being neutered, adding to the overpopulation problem and the demand on overstretched animal charities. Please don’t leave it too late.