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FACTS ON NEUTERING CATS - Did you know that a female cat can,
in just five years, be responsible for 20,000 descendants? From the
age of six months a healthy female cat can have up to three litters
each year with five or six kittens in each litter. That adds up to
18 good, caring homes to find each year - simply from the offspring
of just one cat! There is a common misconception that a female cat
should be allowed to have one litter of kittens before being spayed.
As a cat has no anticipation of motherhood, there is no benefit to
the cat from having a litter. A cat only recognises a kitten when it
squeals at her the first time she gives birth. This first experience
provides the memory therefore it would seem kinder to spay before
the first pregnancy.
Every year Cats Protection is left with the problem of finding new
homes for over 75,000 unwanted cats and kittens. There is no good
reason to allow a cat have one litter before spaying. It costs far
more to feed a pregnant cat and her kittens then to pay for a
spaying operation.
Did you now that a
neutered cat is less likely to catch FIV or FeLV? Feline
Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukaemia Virus are life
threatening diseases for cats. They are transmitted through the
cat's saliva which makes fighting cats more at risk. Neutered cats
are less likely to wander, aggressively protect their territory or
get into fights with other cats. They are therefore less likely to
get bitten and be infected with these diseases. An un-castrated male
marks his territory with strong smelling urine. This is called
spraying and he will do this inside the house as well as around the
garden. He will disappear for days or weeks, often turning up
injured or ill from untreated wounds. Most cats killed on the roads
are un-castrated toms. Most noisy singing cats are un-castrated toms
too. Neutered cats do not get fat. Only overfeeding makes them
overweight and subsequently unhealthy. Neutering does not affect the
cat's ability to catch mice. However a neutered cat is more likely
to stay close to home and therefore be safer and they also make a
better pet.
BE A RESPONSIBLE CAT OWNER AND HAVE YOUR CAT NEUTERED - SEE YOUR
VET NOW!!
FEMALE CATS should be spayed from five months or advised by your
vet. A short stay at the surgery followed by a second visit seven to
ten days later to remove the stitches (or these can be of the
dissolvable variety) is all that is involved.
MALE CATS should be castrated from five months or as advised by a
vet. A matter of a simple routine operation under anaesthetic with a
brief stay at the surgery.
So you see, rather than a common misconception that this is a cruel
procedure, the facts are the exact opposite. Not only does letting
your cat have litter after litter mean there are so many more
unwanted cats to find homes for, the practice of "granny dumping" is
now on the increase - this is where irresponsible owners are dumping
the older cat in favour of keeping the much cuter option - i.e. one
of the new kittens.
We, at Cats Protection will never, ever, rehome an un-neutered cat.
Even new owners of our kittens are provided in their rehoming
paperwork a "proof of neutering" certificate which they must return
to us to prove that the kitten has been neutered at the correct
time. To date, not a single owner has objected to this, as the facts
speak for themselves. Unless you keep a cat specifically for
breeding purposes - e.g. pedigree cats for showing, etc., neutering
must be carried out.
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Click on the photo above to read about
Arwen whose plight highlights the need for neutering |
Cats
Protection may be able to help with the cost of neutering
your cat!
Cats Protection champions neutering as the only effective
way to reduce the number of unwanted felines in the UK! We
seek to dispel myths, spread the neutering message and make
it easier for people on low incomes or means-tested benefits
to get their cat neutered. We recommend that all cats, not
required for breeding, should be neutered. This can be done
from four months of age or as advised by your veterinary
surgeon.
If you can't afford to have your cat neutered, because your
income is low or you are in receipt of means-tested
benefits, then Cats Protection may be able to contribute
towards the cost. If your application is successful, a
voucher will be sent directly to the veterinary surgeon when
your cat goes for its operation. |
The current value of
the vouchers is £26 for female cats and £20 for male cats. You will
need to pay the remaining amount yourself directly to the veterinary
practice.
For more information about neutering, please email us at:
cats-westlothian@hotmail.co.uk
Note: Financial assistance towards the cost of
neutering is also available for dogs - visit
www.dogstrust.org.uk for
more information.
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