What are spaying and neutering?

Spaying or neutering make your kitten unable to reproduce. Spaying is performed on females. It consists of an ovario-hysterectomy, the removal of the ovaries and womb. Neutering, for males, removes the testicles.

Most cats should be spayed or neutered around six months of age. Both operations are performed under general anesthesia and may require a short stay at the vet’s. When you take your kitten to your local vet practice for his or her first thorough examination, ask them to explain the operation in detail and set up a time to have the procedure done.

What are the benefits for my spayed or neutered kitten?

For most pet parents, the expense, time and expertise involved in breeding cats responsibly is beyond their reach. Here are some advantages to having your kitten spayed or neutered:

  • Health and longevity – Having your pet spayed or neutered may give them a longer life by preventing health concerns like pyometra and breast cancer in females, and testicular or prostatic cancer in males.

  • Better behavior – Females will no longer call or wail, as they do when they are in season. Neutered males tend to be less aggressive, have less of an urge to mark territory and are less likely to roam than unneutered males.

  • Preventing overpopulation – Spaying or neutering your pet will also keep them from bearing more litters. There are already more pets out there than people to take care of them. By neutering your kitten, you can help reduce cases of homeless and euthanized pets.

Also worth reading

Care 2 min reading time

Adopting an Older Cat

Care 2 min reading time

How the Aging Process Affects Your Cat