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Cat overpopulation is a very serious problem in this
country. There are simply
too many cats and too few people to care for them.
Responsibility is the key to cat ownership, and a major part of
that responsibility is guaranteeing that your cat doesn’t reproduce.
Neutering and spaying are two of the most commonly performed elective
procedures.
Not only do they help curtail cat overpopulation, they also bring
many health and behavior benefits to both you and your cat.
Spaying is the procedure used for females.
The ovaries and uterus are removed, and the cat can usually go home the
same day. The advantages of
spaying are: no more heat cycles, no more crying, yowling, or trying to
escape outside, no more unwelcome visits by unneutered male cats (not a
problem for most Manhattan apartment dwellers
J), no uterine infections,
no ovarian cysts, and greatly reduced incidence of mammary tumors if
spayed before the first heat.
Neutering/castration is the procedure used for males.
The testicles are removed, and the cat can go home the same day.
The advantages of neutering are: a reduced urge to roam, stopping
the mating drive, stopping or preventing urine spraying, a lower
incidence of prostate problems, and less aggression (reducing the risk
of cat-fight abscesses).
Many
cat owners are concerned, however, that spaying or neutering their cat
will result in undesirable changes in their behavior.
One concern is that the cat will become fat and lazy.
The truth is that most cats get fat and lazy because they are fed
too much and they don’t get enough exercise.
After spaying or neutering, you should monitor your cat’s appetite
and activity patterns, and adjust the diet accordingly.
Some
people feel that neutering their male cat will result in him feeling
like less of a male. It’s
understandable to feel this way, however, cats don’t have any concept of
sexual identity or ego and they don’t suffer any kind of emotional
reaction or identity crisis when neutered.
A
popular misconception is that it is better for a female cat to have one
litter before spaying.
Medical evidence, however, shows the opposite to be true.
Dogs that are spayed before their first heat rarely, if ever,
develop mammary tumors. The
same holds true for cats.
This is important, as feline mammary tumors are much more malignant than
those seen in dogs and they carry a worse prognosis.
Dogs
and cats are not being deprived of parenthood by being spayed. Unlike people, dogs and cats do not experience a sense of
fulfillment by giving birth or by the mothering process.
Some
people want to breed their cat because they are hoping that the kittens
will be exactly like the mother.
This is a misconception.
Breeding two purebred animals rarely results in offspring that are
exactly like one of the parents, and with mixed breeds, it is virtually
impossible to have offspring that are exactly like one of the parents.
The idea that a cat should have a litter so that children can
witness the miracle of birth is troubling.
There are countless books and videos available to teach children
about birth in a responsible manner.
Letting a cat produce offspring that the family has no intention of
keeping is teaching children irresponsibility.
Those of us who have seen animals euthanized in shelters due to
lack of a good home know the truth behind this dangerous myth.
In fact, as former employees of The ASPCA, we at Manhattan Cat
Specialists believe that the most important reason to have your cat
spayed or neutered is to prevent the birth of unwanted kittens. More than 12 million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters
each year. Approximately
75% of all cats entering shelters are euthanized.
Yes, you may be able to find homes for all of the kittens in your
cat’s litter, but each home you find means one less home available for
cats at shelters and humane organizations that need good homes.
If any or all of your cat’s offspring were also to have his or her
own litter, you’ll be adding even more animals to the population.
Having your cat neutered or spayed is a sign of responsible pet
ownership. You’ve done the right thing by having your cat sterilized.
Updated 2/9/06
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