The weather is getting warmer and spring is finally here, which means more daylight, more flowers and for those of us in veterinary practice, more kittens!
Every year we see litters of kittens born as strays and brought in to us by concerned passers-by, often infected with feline influenza and requiring weeks of treatment.
More fortunate litters are born to pet cats with owners, who are left with the problem of finding homes for their new arrivals as well as the expense of feeding and caring for them until then.
Aside from the welfare of the animals themselves, having a large population of stray cats around can also be a nightmare for local residents – the unique smell of tom-cat urine is not easily forgotten if it finds its way into your home or car, and cat owners may find their pet receiving unwanted attention from feral friends or foes.
Owners of unspayed female cats will find their pet’s behaviour changing distinctly when she is in season and aware of toms in the area, and the tom cats will stop at nothing to reach her, potentially causing damage to your property as well as the possibility of surprise kittens.
The only way to guarantee that your cat will not be able to contribute to this feline overpopulation issue is to have him or her neutered. (“Neuter” is the term used for either sex – the procedure undergone by females is called a spay, and castration is the term used for males.)
Not only does this obviously prevent pregnancy, but it will also avoid the difficulty of dealing with a female in season and the attention she attracts.
Owners of male cats may not be the ones who will have to deal with unwanted kittens, but neutering is still strongly recommended not only to avoid breeding but also because neutered males are far less smelly to live with and are less likely to go out straying and fighting with other cats (potentially saving you the time and financial cost of regularly needing treatment for infected bites!).
The general guidance is that cats can be neutered from the age of five to six months depending on their size, although some welfare charities now advocate earlier neutering due to the number of cats found to be pregnant at four or five months old.
The operation is performed under a general anaesthetic.
Spaying a female involves making a small incision into the abdomen (usually on the flank) and completely removing the uterus and ovaries, while castration for males is a less invasive procedure as the testicles are outside of the body and can be removed without having to enter the abdomen.
Recovery time is usually fast, with most owners finding that the biggest challenge is trying to keep their pet from charging straight back into normal life the day after the surgery.
Neutering is the most effective way to combat the issue of stray and unwanted cats, and has advantages which benefit the individual pet as well as the owner – certainly worth a call to your veterinary practice to discuss or book an appointment.
Supplied by Alder Veterinary Practice, 58 Bourne Road, Spalding, PE11 1JW. Call 01775 766646. Opening hours 8.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 10am alternate Saturdays. 24 hour emergency cover.
