Two of the most common questions I’m asked are, “Should I spay or neuter my cat,” and “At what age should I spay or neuter my cat?” Of course, the answer to the first question is yes! Absolutely, you should have your cat spayed or neutered! There are many reasons that spaying or neutering is the best option for your cat as well as for you.
- To prevent unwanted pregnancies – One female cat, having 3 litters a year with 6 kittens per litter can have over 20,000 descendants in one year’s time!
- There’s always the risk with pregnancy that your female cat may die from complications
- To keep your male cat from spraying – Though it is no guarantee that your male cat will stop spraying once he is neutered, most do.
- To avoid repeated heat cycles in your female – These rolling, yowling episodes will continue every 3-4 weeks and last for 2-3 weeks at a time until your female is spayed.
- Neutering your male cat will keep him from straying or fighting with other males.
- Outdoor, unaltered males are at the highest risk for feline AIDS.
- Spaying keeps your female calmer.
- Spayed female cats may have less health problems, including ovarian cysts, uterine infections and cancer.
- Neutered male cats have less risk of problems, including testicular cancer or prostate problems.
- Neutering your male will keep him more quiet and calm, gentle and affectionate.
- Neutering your male will keep him cleaner, as unaltered males can have skunky scented urine AND tend to not keep themselves very well groomed while thinking of mating.
Research says that last year alone, about 17 million dogs and cats were dropped off at animal shelters, but only one out of 10 found a home. This means that over 13.5 million had to be destroyed in just one year’s time. That alone should be enough to convince you to be responsible and spay or neuter your pet.
As to when you should have your cat altered, there are different opinions on this. Many breeders will have already had your kitten altered before you pick her up to bring her home, even at the early age of 12 weeks old. Others recommend waiting until your cat is a year old, and others somewhere in between. I recommend that they be altered around 5-6 months old, just before they reach their sexual maturity and start to make your life miserable by either continued heats or spraying.
This article, “THE Pros and Cons of Early Spay and Neuter,” by Brigitte S. McMinn, gives a detailed observation of the studies of early spay and neuter programs. Every article I’ve read on this subject says that kittens altered at 6-8 weeks old recovered no differently from kittens who were altered at 12 months old. Your vet should be happy to discuss all the options available and give you his or her own opinions.
I hope some of this helps you in your decision on whether to have your pet spayed or neutered and when the best time would be. If you have any questions at all, be sure to ask!
