Neutering

What is neutering

Neutering is a surgical procedure which prevents female cats (queens) becoming pregnant and male cats (toms) mating and making females pregnant

A female cat is spayed – her uterus and ovaries are removed

A male cat is castrated – his testes are removed

Why neuter?

Neutering has many health benefits, as well as helping to reduce the number of unwanted cats.

Neutered Male Cats

- Are less likely to roam, reducing risk of being involved in a road traffic accident
- Are less likely to fight, reducing the risk of injuries
- Are less likely to contract serious disease such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) or Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) from fighting
- Are less likely to display territorial marking behaviour such as spraying
- Won't develop tumours of the testicles

Neutered Females Cats

- Are unable to get pregnant and have unwanted litters of kittens
- Will not going to call like entire queens do when in season
- Are less likely to fight and contract diseases such as FIV and FeLV spread by fighting
- Are less likely to develop mammary cancer – especially if neutered under the age of six months

Neutering facts

- There are around 2.5million stray cats living in the UK
- One entire female cat can be responsible for 20,000 descendents in just five years
- It is not beneficial for a cat to have a litter before being spayed
- Cats are pregnant for only approximately nine weeks and can come into season just six weeks after giving birth
- A cat can have up to three litters a year with five or six kittens in each litter, thats up to 18 kittens needing homes

Claire York RVN