Cat Spaying and Neutering
Cat Neutering
Strangely, people are much
more reluctant to neuter their male cats than to spay their females.
However, a neutered pet is more manageable and is usually a happier pet.
Unlike female cats, the males
of the species are always ready to mate. They need only to detect
the scent of a female in heat to go out in search of her, exposing
themselves to many dangers. The mature, unaltered tom cat has an
uncontrollable desire to roam and fight, and his litter box will always
have a strong odour. If you keep him inside, he may begin spraying
urine to mark his territory. The spray has a highly offensive odour
which is almost impossible to wash away.
Neutering substantially
reduces the animal's desire to roam and usually eliminates spraying.
If a male cat is neutered at a young age he will probably never spray;
if the cat has an established habit of spraying, it may (in isolated
cases) continue after neutering but the strong odour will not be present.
Neutered cats are much less likely to fight.
Neutering (castration) is the
surgical removal of the testes, a safe and simple operation. Your
cat can be neutered at virtually any age, but it is preferable to have it
done before puberty, at approximately 6 months of age.
After surgery the cat will
have a more even disposition and will no longer experience stress related
to his thwarted desire to breed and fight with rivals.
Cat Spaying
Cats have been close
companions of humans for well over 5,000 years. Over that period
they have become perfectly adapted to domestic life, totally unsuited for
the wild. As man was the one to domesticate these animals, so is he
responsible for their health and well-being. It follows that we must
take serious measures to curb the current cat over-population problem
(hundreds of unwanted cats die on the streets from disease and starvation,
while many others must be euthanized by Humane Societies).
Preventing unwanted litters which will have to be destroyed is just one
important reason to spay your female pet. There are other reasons
more beneficial to you and your cat.
A spayed female never goes
into heat. She is less likely to roam and male cats will not wage
war over her on your front porch. Furthermore, the altered cat leads
a longer and healthier life than her unsterilized counterpart. Once
spayed, a cat will not be subject to many health problems such as ovarian
cysts, uterine infections, tumors of the womb and ovaries, abortion,
queen-ing difficulties, caesarian section, ruptured uterus, pyometria, false
pregnancy or mild fever. Nor is she likely to develop mammary
cancer. In addition you have the problems of providing the extra
care a pregnant or nursing queen needs. Properly looking after
litters of kittens is also time consuming and costly.
Spay surgery (ovario-hysterectomy) is a safe and simple operation. Your pet should
be spayed at six months of age, although this is not the only time, just
the earliest.
(Reproduced
with permission from the
Toronto
Humane Society's Animal Talk Newsletter.)
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