Whether or not to spay or neuter a cat is a choice that every pet owner has to make. With feral cat populations at an all time high, and animal shelters being forced to put down entire litters every kitten season, there are few legitimate excuses for allowing a cat to retain his ability to reproduce. What is worse, many reasons that people do give are based on misinformation. Here are a few of the worse excuses for not spaying or neutering a cat.
1. It's Healthier for Her to Come into Heat/Get Pregnant at Least Once
Female cats live longer, healthier lives if they are spayed before they can come into heat for the first time. Cats that have been allowed to come into heat, even once, have a much greater chance of breast cancer, as well as other cancers of the reproductive organs. Cats that have been spayed will also live longer because they will not have their energy used up by carrying and caring for multiple litters of kittens.
2. My Cat Has a Right to Be Pregnant/Feel Like a Real Man
Cats do not have egos based on abstract values of right and wrong, nor a corresponding concept of sexuality. They will not notice any lack of opportunities, particularly if they are spayed or neutered as kittens. Consider the kittens that will lose the rights to their lives if another cat is allowed to produce an unwanted litter. Even if good homes can be found for all the kittens in a particular litter, it leaves fewer available homes for kittens that are already in shelters. There are so few homes and so many homeless cats, that every time an unwanted litter is successfully rehomed, it means another litter may have to be destroyed. Better if those litters don't come into the world in the first place.
3. It Will Make My Cat Fat and Lazy
While it is true that there are hormonal differences in a cat that has been spayed or neutered, weight gain is generally due to poor diet and lack of exercise. Cats that are fed nutritionally balanced meals and kept active through games or other activities will not gain weight.
4. My Cat Is too Old to Be Spayed/Neutered
If a cat is still coming into heat, she is probably still young enough to be spayed. A vet can determine whether or not she is able to endure the anesthetic. Having the operation, even at a later age, will still be beneficial to her health. Male cats can sire many litters in their twilight years and should also be assessed by the vet for what is a less invasive operation.
5. The Operation Is Too Expensive
There are many organizations that are willing to help cat owners with subsidies to get their animal spayed or neutered. Talk to local animal shelters or vets for more information on available options.
There are few good reasons to delay spaying or neutering a cat and millions of reasons to do so currently sitting in animal shelters. Getting a cat that operation will save the lives of kittens, improve the cat's health and contribute to the well-being of the community as a whole.