At what age should I have my cat spayed?
The rule is to spay/neuter before your cat reaches sexual maturity.
Consult your vet concerning your cat, but remember to have the cat altered
before the sexual maturity (usually before the age of 5-6 months).
Will my cat get fat and lazy?
Numerous studies have show that spaying is not a cause of weight gain in
cats! You can and should spay your cat without allowing her to gain weight.
Cats become fat if they eat too much and don't get enough exercise, not
because of sterilization. The cat's personality is determined by its
genetic make-up and by external stimuli, not by its hormone glands.
Will my cat be deprived of the experience of
motherhood?
Please don't make the mistake of thinking about your cat in terms of
human experience. Cats are not bothered by our social concepts of gender and
gender-specific experiences.
Are there any risks involved?
As with any operation, there are some medical risks involved. However,
these pale in comparison to the medical and behavioral advantages of spaying
and neutering cats! As stated earlier, you will in effect be extending your
cat's lifespan and improving her or his quality of life. Also, please bear
in mind that these are among the most common operations performed by
veterinarians.
I really love kittens and I'm sure I'll find
good homes for all of them - why can't I let my cat breed?
Millions of cats are euthanized each year in the United States alone. In
many countries, stray and feral cats are simply poisoned by state and local
authorities. The fact is that there are simply not enough good homes for the
numbers of cats born each year.
Finding good homes for cats and kittens is difficult. Giving them away
from a cardboard box in your supermarket's parking lot is not considered
finding a good home! You need to make sure that the adopters are willing to
make the commitment to care for a cat for the next twenty years.
And what if those people think like you and let their cats have kittens?
Next year there will be dozens of kittens looking for homes! Do you really
think you can find good homes for all of them?
There are literally millions of wonderful cats and kittens waiting to be
adopted at shelters all over the country. If you're really good at finding
homes for kittens, why not start with some of those? If you know anyone
who's looking for a cat - great! Refer them to your local shelter and help
save a cat's life!
I have a purebred cat. Surely I can breed her
and find good homes for the kittens?
Please read the answer to the previous question. The Humane Society of
the United States estimates that one of four cats in the shelters is a
purebred cat. Unfortunately, purebred cats are just as much a part of the
cat overpopulation problem as mixed-breed cats.
Breeding cats can be very complicated and requires professional knowledge
about the breed and its genetics. Don't become a backyard breeder just
because you own a purebred cat. You could end up with a bunch of sick
kittens with congenital defects. As a matter of fact, unless the breeder who
sold you the cat specifically told you otherwise, your purebred cat is
probably not suitable for breeding programs and was sold to you as a pet.
If you are truly interested in breeding cats, start by reading on the
subject, visiting cat shows, and discussing the technicalities and problems
with as many breeders as you can. Don't start by breeding your cat without
the required knowledge and expertise.
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