There are many different responsibilities that come with owning a cat. Worrying about what you are going to feed her and ensuring that she has all of her preventative healthcare in place are probably your immediate priorities. Nevertheless, there is another vitally important thing that you can do for the health and wellbeing of your cat – get her spayed or neutered.
Spaying/neutering are the terms used to describe a surgical process carried out with the purpose of removing the reproductive organs from an animal. Females tend to be referred to as having been spayed, while neutering is a more general term and often used to describe males that have had their reproductive equipment taken out. Both procedures are commonly performed, fairly straightforward and low risk. Nevertheless, they offer a range of important benefits for your cat.
Reasons why you should make spaying/neutering your cat a priority
Spaying and neutering can benefit both your cat and your family and should be made a priority for a number of different reasons.
Tackling overpopulation
If you know anything about pets, you will know that the country is in the midst of an overpopulation crisis. The number of domestic animals, and in particular cats and dogs, that do not have homes has reached exponential levels, and with shelters across the U.S full to bursting point, countless animals are being euthanized each year simply because there is not space to house them or people willing to adopt them.
There are several key factors that are contributing to this heart-breaking situation. Firstly, there is the demand for young animals. Kittens are generally considered to be far cuter than cats, and many owners want to opt for a baby so that they have a long as life as possible with them. This demand and the potential to make money from breeding keeps feeding the overpopulation problem. Secondly, a large number of people don’t bother to spay/neuter their pet, leading to unwanted pregnancy and babies, including kittens, being abandoned. Finally, many people choose to take on a pet without realizing the commitment and financial obligation that they are signing up too. A few months after the novelty wears off and they may try to rehome their kitty. If they don’t have any success, their furbaby may be abandoned.
However, by choosing to neuter your cat, you can do your part to help tackle the overpopulation crisis and prevent your feline from procreating in the future!
Benefits of neutering male cats
There are several major health benefits when you neuter your male cat including lowering the risk of prostate cancer and entirely preventing testicular cancer. Both of these can pose a considerable risk to your male cat, particularly as he gets older.
In addition to the health benefits, your male kitty will also behave much better after he has had his reproductive organs removed. Aggression problems should be avoided, and he should not feel the need to mark his territory by spraying urine around your home and yard. He will also be less likely to chase and harass female cats in the area – something which they will undoubtedly be very relieved about!
Benefits of spaying females
There are also some serious health benefits to choosing to spay your female cat. Doing so has been shown to increase the life expectancy of the average female feline, preventing uterine infections and breast cancer in around 90% of cats if the procedure is carried out before her first heat.
Spaying your female will also prevent her from the messiness and behavioral changes that occur when she goes into heat. This is something that tends to happen for approximately 4/5 days every 3 weeks during the breeding season. Not only will she experience bloody discharge during this time, but she will also be inclined to yowl and wail to try and attract a potential mate.
If your female likes to roam outdoors, spaying her will ensure that she doesn’t become pregnant and leave you with a litter of adorable-but expensive and demanding kittens that need to be re-homed.
If you have any questions about spaying/neutering your cat and would like further advice, our veterinary team in Navarre, Florida would be happy to help and reassure you. If your furbaby has not yet had her reproductive organs taken care of, contact us to schedule a spaying/neutering appointment.
