We believe having your cat desexed is an essential part of responsible pet ownership.

A female cat is spayed (her ovaries and uterus are removed)

A male cat is castrated (his testes are removed)

Desexed male cats are:

• Less likely to roam and therefore less risk of injury such as an RTA (Road traffic accident).

• Less likely to fight and therefore less risk of “hit by cat” therefore also reduces the risk of contracting diseases such as FIV and FeLV

• Less likely to display territorial behaviour such as spraying.

• Will not develop testicular cancer.

Desexed female cats are:

• Unable to get pregnant and have unwanted litters of kittens

• Not going to wail and call, as queens in season do.

• Less likely to contract disease such as FIV and FeLV through fighting.

• Unable to contract cancers of the uterus and ovaries

• Less likely to develop mammary cancers-especially if spayed by the age of 6 months.

The Operation.

Your cat will need to be admitted for a day stay at the hospital. They will need to have been fasted for at least 12 hours, usually no food after 8pm the evening before.

It is always prudent to keep them inside overnight as cats tend to have a sixth sense regarding vet visits and usually disappear!

You cat will be given a pre-medication ( a mixture of drugs to decrease anxiety, provide pain relief etc) before the operation and then will be given a general aneasthetic.

Your female cat will have a patch of fur shaved from her side and will have some stitches which will dissolve on their own in 4-6 weeks. The fur will grow back in 3-4 weeks.

Your male cat will have no stitches, the hair is usually shaved or plucked from his testicles after he has been anaesthetised!

Young cats recover very quickly from this operation and it is rare to have any complications.

They are then able to be discharged in the afternoon and it is advised that male cats are kept indoors overnight and female cats for 7 days to recover from the affects of the general anaesthetic and to reduce the risk of complications following surgery.

It is advised that your female cat wear a buster collar for the 7 days post-op to restrict her access to the stitches.

Desexing Facts

• One entire female cat can be responsible for 20,000 kittens in just 5 years.

• Cats can become sexually active from 4 months of age.

• It is not beneficial to let your cat have just one litter before spaying.

• Gestation in cats is just 9 weeks and cats can come into season just 6 weeks after giving birth.

• Pregnancy and feeding are physically very demanding on cats and repeated litters will take its toll on their health.

• Cats will breed with their brothers and sisters.

• A cat can have up to 3 litters a year with 5-6 kittens per litter. That's a lot of kittens to home!

Myths About Spaying and Neutering

MYTH: Pets get fat and lazy after they are spayed or neutered.

FACT: As long as you correctly monitor your pet’s diet and provide them with plenty of exercise, your pet will remain healthy and active. This is true of any pet, independent of spaying and neutering.

MYTH: It’s better to have one litter first.

FACT: There is compounding medical evidence that reflects that spaying your pet, especially before her first heat cycle, reduces or eliminates the risk of developing mammary tumors or ovarian and uterine cancers.

MYTH: I want my children to experience the miracle of birth.

FACT: Birthing in cats and dogs typically occur at night, so it is unlikely your children will witness the actual birthing process. Furthermore, mothers tend to prefer privacy while they are giving birth, thus watching the process may add unnecessary stress to the situation. An alternative you should consider is fostering homeless kittens and puppies for your local animal care center or rescue organizations. This way, your children can get the same experience, but they also learn the social responsibility of caring for animals and the impacts of pet overpopulation.

MYTH: My pet is a purebred.

FACT: There are networks of responsible, professional breeders that work to preserve the breed. 25% of dogs in animal care centers are, in fact, purebred. It is unnecessary for you to breed your purebred dog just because your dog is purebred.

MYTH: I do not want my male pet to feel less “manly,” or I do not want my female pet to miss out on the miracle of birth.

FACT: Cats and dogs do not have any concept of sexual identity or ego. Spaying and neutering does not have any emotional affect on your pet.

MYTH: My pet is so special and I want to produce more just like him.

FACT: It is possible for the offspring to look similar to your pet. However, when you factor in the new genes from your pet’s mate as well as the different environmental factors, it is virtually impossible for your pet’s offspring to be just like your pet. The offspring will be individual animals with entire personalities of their very own.

MYTH: I will find good homes for all the puppies.

FACT: You may be able to find homes for each of the offspring, but what about when each of them have litters?

Will each of those offspring be placed into a good home? The fact of the matter is that there are more pets than there are homes for them. Pet overpopulation is created and perpetuated with each new litter.

MYTH: Dogs are less protective if they are spayed or neutered.

FACT: Spaying and neutering does not affect a dog’s instinct to protect their home and family. A dog’s propensity for protectiveness is dictated by personality, training, and genetics – not by sex hormones.

MYTH: It is too expensive to spay or neuter my pet.

FACT: The cost of care for a pregnant female and her litter or for a pet that has developed ovarian, uterine, or prostate cancer is MUCH more than the cost of a simple spay or neuter.