The Benefits of Spaying and Neutering
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By having your female cat spayed, the possibility of uterine and ovarian cancer is removed and greatly
reduces the chance of breast cancer later in life. Breast cancer is generally malignant which means that
it will quickly travel to other organs in the body. Spaying will also decrease exposure to Feline Leukemia
and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, or Feline AIDS which are spread by sexual contact. There is not a
cure currently for either one of these viruses and only a vaccine for Feline AIDS. The only way to
protect your cat is to prevent exposure by keeping your cat from territory fighting and intercourse. By
spaying your female cat, you will decrease behavioral problems by eliminating aggression to owners and
other cats in the household. This is due to female cats becoming territorial while in heat. One other
benefit to spaying is removing the risk of a uterine infection that can occur in middle-aged and elderly
cats. This is a life-threatening condition and emergency surgery and extensive veterinary care is the
result of this condition.
If you have a male cat, there are many benefits to neutering as well. Neutering decreases the chance of
developing prostatic disease and hernias and removes the chance of developing testicular cancer. Many
behavior problems will also be eliminated. Urine marking behavior or “spraying” will decrease, or never be
a problem if your male cat is neutered before reaching adulthood. Neutering your male kitten before 6
months of age will avoid urine marking behavior throughout your house and unfortunately, once urine
marking starts, even after neutering this may not stop the problem. Aggression may also become a
problem in the unneutered male. The cat may take out his aggression on another cat in the household, or on
you and may require behavior modification after neutering to remove this aggressive behavior. Male cats
also tend to try to escape outside if they are strictly indoor cats to look for stray females to mate
with, and if they escape outside, there are the dangers of getting hit by cars, in fights with animals
other than another cat, and into fights with other male cats all which exposes the cat to abscesses
caused by biting which often go untreated by owners due to them starting out as tiny puncture wounds.
Abscesses can cause very high fevers and dehydration. This can cause damage to the heart and/or kidneys
due to the fever and bacterial infection traveling through the bloodstream. One abscess is often more
expensive to treat than neutering your cat! Cat fights also expose your cat to Feline Leukemia or Feline
Immunodeficiency Virus/Feline AIDS.
The myth that spaying or neutering your cat will cause them to become obese and lazy is exactly that, a
myth. If you watch the quantity of food you give your cat, they will not take in more calories then they
can use. Older pets also need fewer calories than younger ones due to being less active and are done
growing. Play and exercise, along with diet are what will keep your cat healthy and in shape.
If you cannot afford to spay or neuter your pet, there are sources available for financial assistance. The
humane society in your area often has low cost spay and neuter programs and many veterinary clinics also
specialize in low cost spaying and neutering. Contacting your veterinarian is the first step that should be
taken if you need financial assistance.
Spaying and neutering also helps the community you live in. Cities spend a lot of money to control
unwanted animals. Animal shelters and pounds are already overburdened with homeless cats and prevents
needless deaths by euthanization of healthy and lovable cats. By just spaying or neutering your cats, you
save needless suffering by your cat due to medical issues and eliminating the possibility of abscesses or
death by them being or escaping outdoors.
