NEUTER & SPAY - IS THERE A QUESTION ?

What is spaying?
A spay (ovario-hysterectomy) is the surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries from the abdomen of an animal.

What is the purpose of spaying?
The spay is the only foolproof method of birth control for female cats.

Will spaying eliminate heat cycles?
A spayed animal no longer goes through heat cycles. Female cats normally come into heat several times a year. Spaying ends several problems associated with the heat cycle, including spraying urine, and the irritations of howling cats in heat.

Are there other good reasons for spaying?
The risk of mammary cancer is reduced if a cat is spayed before its first heat. Also spayed pets cannot develop pyometra, a serious uterine infection. Finally, difficult pregnancy and delivery in older or ill cats is prevented.

Should cats have at least one litter before being spayed?
No. Your cat does not need to have a litter to mature.

What is neutering?
Neutering (castration) is the surgical removal of the testicles from the scrotum of an animal.

What is the purpose of neutering?
Neutering is the primary method of sterilizing male cats.

What are the benefits of neutering?
Neutering an immature cat usually prevents development of mating behavior and the obnoxious habit of spraying urine to mark territory around the house and yard.

An unneutered cat cannot control its mating instincts. Given freedom to wander, such an animal may become hurt or lost and is almost certain to be responsible for unwanted litters.
Humane Societies cannot place all unwanted animals; millions must be put to sleep each year. Countless others are abandoned left to survive on the streets. They endure starvation, death by vehicle, cruel torture, disease, the elements, and their young left to suffer.

NEUTER or SPAY! It’s the ONLY way!

Ask your veterinarian about spaying or neutering your pet. Feral cats can be spayed or neutered at TNR (trap-neuter-release) programs. Call your local Humane Society for information on free clinics in your city for feral cats. Remember: Feral cat clinics are strictly for feral (untamed, un-owned cats). It is NOT for pets. There are affordable spay/neuter clinics available in your city for pets. Check out where to go in your city: www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html