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The Importance of Neutering Every year 13 - 15 million dogs and cats are humanely(huh?) killed in shelters. These are the ones lucky enough to end up at caring animal shelters. The rest are not so fortunate and die from accidents, starvation, exposure, poisoning, disease, abuse, or neglect. You can make a difference! At the present time the best way to prevent the continuous breeding of domestic pets is by "neutering" (surgically spaying females and castrating males) and to get your furball from a shelter or adopt a stray! NEVER get a pet from the pet store and forget the breeder$, why promote the overpopulation??? There are many excuses for not neutering pets, but none of these reasons can justify adding to the overwhelming number of pets that must be euthanized daily  Don't confuse human emotional needs and relationships with those of your pet. After neutering, you pet won't know there has been any change, except to be more content and no longer driven to seek a mate. It is the owner's responsibility to have their pets neutered. It is very sad when a female cat has litter after litter, becoming more and more unhealthy with each pregnancy, but having no one who cares enough to stop the cycle. Cats, especially males, do put on fat and become more inactive after neutering. However, healthy benefits far outweigh this problem. Weight control can be aided by the owner through discipline regarding feeding and exercise. A male cat can father thousands of offspring in his lifetime.. Roaming tom cats fighting other cats are a neighborhood nuisance. Veterinary bills will be unavoidable with abscesses as a result of fighting. An intact male may also develop the bad habit of marking its territory by urine spraying. Strong urine odors make it almost impossible to live with an unneutered tom cat. Even if you find homes for your litter, those kittens are only competing with other kittens desperately in need of homes. Veterinary costs should be considered before acquiring a pet. If you would like to provide a good home for a pet, but cannot pay for the neuter, call you local animal shelter. They will be happy to provide information on low-cost neutering. The costs of having a litter are often more than the cost of neutering. There could be complications requiring hospitalization or surgery. The mother and kittens will consume a great deal of food. You will be faced with finding homes or keeping the offspring yourself. In a few months, those matured kittens will be having their own litters! The cost of one neuter eliminates the necessity of many neuters later. Going through a pregnancy and giving birth does not change a cat's personality permanently. More importantly, cats that have even one litter are more prone to develop breast cancer later in life. Mixed breed or purebred, there just aren't enough homes. Animal shelters receive purebred cats every day, many of which must be euthanized. Responsible purebred breeders have homes for their kittens BEFORE they are born. They also require neutering for pet-quality kittens. Through neutering, you can help your cat live a happier, healthier, and longer life. Spaying eliminates the constant crying and nervous pacing that is a sign that a cat is in heat. Castration stops the mating drive in males, reducing the urge to roam, which in turn, reduces the risk of fights, injury, poisoning, accidents, and contracting diseases. If you have more than one pet in your household, they will get along better if all are neutered. A long-term benefit of neutering is improved health. Early neutering nearly eliminates breast cancer, and totally prevents uterine infections and uterine and testicular cancer. WHEN TO NEUTER Neuter your cat before bad habits associated with sexual maturity begin (such as tom cat spraying). For females, this is four to six months of age; and for males, it is seven to nine months. Cats can go into heat and begin reproducing as early as four months, and can have a second heat and pregnancy while still nursing the first litter. DON'T WAIT! Millions of tax dollars are spent annually to round up lost, abandoned, and unwanted pets. Much of that money is spent to destroy these animals, as there is no alternative. Health is threatened by the danger of rabies, animal bites, and attack. Property may be damaged and livestock killed when pets roam in search of food. Yards and parks are fouled by animal wastes, proving a serious environment hazard. There are homes available for perhaps only one out of every ten cats and dogs born. The rest are either euthanized or end up living a pathetic life on the streets. It is only when ALL of us assume the responsibility for pet overpopulation that we will see any decrease in the problem. |
