Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) are life-threatening diseases for cats. They are transmitted through the cat's saliva, which makes fighting cats more at risk.
Neutered cats are less likely to wander, protect their territory or get into fights with other cats. They are therefore less likely to get bitten and be infected with these diseases.
Neutered cats do not get fat. Only overfeeding makes a cat overweight and then unhealthy. Neutering does not affect a cat's ability to catch mice.
However, a neutered cat is more likely to stay close to home and therefore be safer and also make a better pet.
From the age of six months, a healthy female cat can have up to three litters each year with five or six kittens in each litter.
That adds up to 18 good, caring homes to find each year - just for one cat's kittens!
An un-castrated male cat marks his territory with strong smelling urine. This is called spraying. He will do this inside the house as well as around the garden.
He will disappear for days or weeks, often turning up injured or ill from untreated wounds.
Most cats killed on the roads are un-castrated toms.
Most noisy, singing cats are toms too.
Every year Cats Protection is left with the problem of finding new homes for over 75,000 unwanted cats and kittens.
There is no good reason to let a cat have one litter before spaying. It costs far more to feed a pregnant cat and her kittens than to pay for a spaying operation.
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Be a responsible cat owner and have:
your cat neutered. See your vet now!
We even offer FREE neutering for pets of owners who are on benefits or low income (subject to funds being available).
Female cats should be spayed from five months or as advised by your vet.
A short stay at the surgery followed by a second visit seven to ten days later to remove the stitches. There is a common misconception that a female cat should be allowed to have one litter of kittens before being spayed. As a cat has no anticipation of motherhood, there is no benefit to the cat from having a litter. A cat only recognises a kitten when it squeals at her the first time she gives birth. This first experience provides the memory therefore it would seem kinder to spay before the first pregnancy.
Male Cats should be castrated from five months or as advised by your vet.
A simple, routine operation under anaesthetic with a brief stay at the surgery.
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