Getting your cat spayed or neutered comes with a variety of benefits. Here, our Merced vets explain when you should get your cat or kitten fixed, and the benefits of spaying or neutering your cat.
When should I spay or neuter my cat?
Kittens can be spayed or neutered as young as six to eight weeks of age, however standard spay and neuter surgeries are most often performed when the kitten is between five and six months old. That said, it's important to note that provided your cat is healthy, these procedures can be performed at any time during your cat's life.
Spaying vs Neutering
Neutering is the sterilization of male animals. This is done by surgically removing the animals testes. Spaying is the sterilization female animals. Females are sterilized by removing their reproductive organs.
Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Cat
Female cats that are spayed before their first heat have a reduced risk for malignant mammary tumors later in life.
Spaying also helps to reduce your cat's chances of developing an infection of the uterus, and of developing cancers of the reproductive organs.
Undesirable behaviors in female cats can be reduced with spaying, including; increased and overly intense affection, intense rubbing on objects, marking territory with urine, the desire to wander and heat-induced howling.
Neutering male cats also offers a number of benefits. It reduces unwanted behaviors such as cat aggression and roaming which can help to reduce your cat's risk of injury.
Your male cat's risk of developing testicular and prostate cancer are also reduced with neutering.
Cat overpopulation is a serious problem. Spaying and neutering helps to reduce the number of unwanted cats in your area.
More cats are born each year than there are homes available for them. Homeless cats frequently wind up on the streets, and can ultimately end up being euthanized in shelters.
By spaying or neutering your cat you are helping to reduce the rates of cat homelessness and euthanization in your area.