Neutering and spaying procedures can make cats a lot easier to live with

A lot of misinformation has been disseminated on the subject of pet neutering and spaying, such as the mistaken belief that such procedures might alter a pet’s personality. Among the more nonsensical assumptions are the ideas that a female should have one litter before spaying or that males need not be neutered. Unfortunately, cat overpopulation has become a serious problem, and it can't just be taken for granted that kittens, no matter how cute they are, will eventually end up in loving homes.

Since most spaying and neutering procedures are performed around puberty, when an animal’s personality and habits naturally undergo certain changes, some people may attribute such behavior to neutering or spaying. Others worry that their pet will gain excessive weight after undergoing the procedure, an issue that can easily be addressed by monitoring their pet’sdiet, as well as making sure that they engage in plenty of activity.

For female cats, spaying reduces the possibility of mammary tumors, an important protection when we consider that the majority of these tumors become malignant. In addition, spaying your female cat also helps to eliminate uterine infections. Because female cats have a number of heat cycles during the year, neutering prevents the behavior associated with these cycles; instead, a spayed female cat usually develops a calm and content demeanor.

Unneutered mature male cats have a tendency to roam, spray urine, and fight. A neutered male will typically stay on his home turf and lose (or never develop) the aggressive tendencies often found in a tomcat. Another benefit is that a neutered cat’s urine is much less odoriferous (a bonus to the person who cleans the litter box).

Female kittens are usually spayed around six months of age. Male kittens are generally neutered between six and nine months. As with all surgeries and other important decisions regarding your companion animal, a skilled veterinarian can determine the best time to neuter or spay your kitten.