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20 reasons why you should spay yor cat

Updated on January 29, 2013

Kittens are cute, but what if they can't find a home?

There are too many good reasons to spay!

 

At some point or another, new cat owners may start debating if they should spay or not their kitty. The debate usually starts once the heat cycle kicks in, when owners are either going nuts because of the cat's incessant meowing or because of the long line of Tom cats showing up behind the door.

The difference between an owner that decides to have their kitty undergo an ovariohisterectomy (the technical name of the procedure)and the one that opts not to, lies basically in how much either of them is informed.

TOP 5 REASONS WHY OWNERS OPT *NOT* TO SPAY

-They cannot financially afford the procedure.

It is true, spaying can end up being pretty costly. But it is a one time precedure that lasts a lifetime. It can be considered as an investment in health and peace of mind. More and more low cost spay and neuter clinics are opening. Ask you nearest Humane Society if they offer or if they are aware of clinics that offer low spay programs. Most offer the procedure for under a 100 bucks, some even closer to 50-60 bucks.

-They fear about the anesthesia

We all would like to spare our pets from any sort of surgeries. However, spaying is considered a routine procedure meaning that hundreds of spays are routinely performed in clinics safely each day. Clearly the benefits of spaying highly outweigh the risks.

-They fear their cat will get obese and lazy

This is a myth that is hard to get rid of. Cats get fat simply because they overeat and lack the exercise they need. Spaying is not related to how much food your cat is given or how much exercise she does.

-They want to breed their cat

Either they want to show their children the miracle of birth or they just simply think their cat is beautiful. Either way owners that think this way are contributing to the enormous cat overpopulation.

-They simply do not give spaying a thought

Owners that keep cats in the country, or generally outdoors usually are not interested in having their cats spayed just because they think that's the way nature goes. They have no interest whatsoever in getting their cats spayed because they give no thought about the cat's life, therefore, they allow their cat to go into heat, mate, and have several litters throughout their lives.

Now that we have seen the top reasons why owners decide *NOT* to spay here are instead all the several good reasons why a cat *SHOULD* be spayed.

TOP 20 REASONS WHY TO SPAY YOUR CAT

1)You will help maintain the cat overpopulation low

Each year thousands of kittens are born. In order to understand the cat overpopulation you do not need to be a mathematic. Simply think that each unspayed cat may have up to 8 kittens 2-3 times a year. Some of these kittens will die from natural causes or accidents others will be brought to an animal shelter. Being cute and cuddly a good part may be adopted, but being so numerous unfortuantely a large percentage will end up euthanized. To have an idea of how many unwanted kittens there are pay a visit to your local humane society, you will be surprised!

2)Your cat will not have heat cycles again

A cat's heat cycle is not just a cycle. The hormones create major behavioral changes. If you hear a cat cry out in the middle of the night very likely it is a female in heat. Cat's in heat tend to be very vocal and clingy. They may simply drive an owner nuts. This will not occur any longer if your cat is spayed.

3)Your cat will live longer and healthier

Just the simple fact of having several litters a year may play a big role in reducing your kitty's health and life expectancy.

4)No more tom cats around

Other than your cat meowing desperately looking for a mate, you will have to deal with the long line of Tom cats presenting to your door. Your female cat will not need to log on to E.Harmony.com to find a mate. Her cries and her urine smell are sufficient to make her the most popular gal in town.

5)No more roaming

Even female cats tend to escape when in heat and may not show up for a day or two. By spaying, your cat will be less likely to make it through the door looking for a mate.

6)Less risk of getting FIV/FELV

If your female cat goes in heat she may roam around the neighborhood and be an easier target of many serious diseases that may be caught by getting in contact with tom cats. There are various diseases that can be easily be caught by bites. Because tom cats give a "love bite" when they copulate, if the bite is given with too much passion it could transmit deadly disaeses such as FIV and FELV.

7) No venereal diseases

Even though not that common, cats may also get sexually transmitted diseases. Another good reason to spay!

8)Your cat will have a better disposition

With all the hormones out of the way, your kitty will be much calmer and easier to deal with. Some cats even become sweeter and more cuddly.

9)Your cat will be less likely to hurt or get hurt by other cats

If you have ever watched the process of a cat's courtship, you will notice it is not a mellow process. Male cats will follow the female in heat and attempt to mate even with the use of force. The female cat may defend herself with teeth and claws if she is not ready. The whole process can turn out pretty ugly for both your cat and others cats fighting over for her. Not a nice sight indeed.

10)Lower chances of getting mammary cancer

Ideally, spaying before the first heat will dramatically lower the chances of getting mammary cancer. However, even spaying at a later time will contribute to lowering the chances.

11)Spaying reduces chances of tumors of the uterus and ovaries

With no more uterus and ovaries which are taken out during the spay procedure, of course the chances of getting tumors of these organs are close to none!

12)Spaying reduces the chances of infections of the uterus

Same here, with the uterus removed your cat will not be prone any longer to a dangerous life threatening uterine infection called Pyometra.

13) Spaying will save you money

Spaying is a one time surgery that will last a lifetime. It will save you money in the long run because unspayed cats are more prone to illnesses and caring for a litter may easily cost a lot more than the spay procedure itself.

14)Spaying will avoid birth complications

Birth is a natural event but the risk of complications are always there. Are you ready to take over the fiancial burden of having your cat seen on an emergency basis should a complication arise? Birth complications are not that rare and they can be fatal to both mom cat and kittens

15) No need to rehome kittens!

With shelters over full, it can turn out to be challenging finding a home for a litter of kittens. Of course, it would be terribly irresponsible to leave a boxfull of kittens in front of vet hospitals or shelters,yet it does happen quite often!

16) If your cat just mated or is in heat she can still be spayed

Ok, your cat went in heat, and you noticed it too late and she is already hanging out with a boyfriend. Good news is that you can still spay her and spare her from having kittens. However, there may be an extra charge for the spay procedure for cats in heat or pregnant.

17) No false pregnancies

Some cats that are not mated when in heat may resort to simulating a pregnancy. This behavior seems to increase as the cat ages. This annoying behavior is avoided with spaying.

18)Spaying is a relatively safe procedure

Spaying is a routine procedure, it has a high success rate with low percentages of complications. While it is true that as any surgery there are risks, the benefits highly outweigh the risks.

19) You can spay as early as four months!

It is a fact that small kittens recover more swiftly than older aged kittens. If you have a four month old kitty have her weighed, chances are she can already be spayed cutting recovery time in half!

20)You will set an example

Last but not least, by spaying, you will set an example for your community. You will educate and spread the voice of the many benefits of spaying hopefully thanks to this article!

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