Why should I have my cat de-sexed?
Responsible pet owners who do not intend to breed their animals have them de-sexed so as not to add to the horrendous problems of cat overpopulation. The cat as a species has an amazing reproductive capacity. For example it takes just 2 per cent of our domestic (non-de-sexed) cat population to replenish the entire cat population (the remaining 98 per cent) within one year. Or to put it another way just one female cat can through its offspring produce 1,048,756 cats in one year.
Currently animal hostels like ours are inundated with cats, mainly healthy kittens as part of the cat overpopulation crisis. Sadly most of these cats have to be put down as there are simply not enough homes for them. Each year Victoria’s animal welfare shelters receive more than 53,000 cats and more than 35,000 of those have to be put to sleep. It’s quite simply appalling.
De-sexing your cat offers it many benefits and usually results in positive behavioural advantages. The de-sexed cat will be less likely to wander, will not mark its territory by spraying in the house, be less likely to develop aggressive tendencies and will not suffer sexual frustration by sensing another animal in season but not being able to reach her.
De-sexing also eliminates the need to keep female cats housed to protect them from keen males.
All councils offer reduced registration fees if your cat is de-sexed as well as de-sexing vouchers for pensioners to help them pay to have their cat de-sexed by participating vets.
At what age should I have my kitten de-sexed?
Cats can safely be de-sexed after 8 weeks of age and should be spayed before puberty. Females come into season at 4 months and can have their first litter at six months, so the sooner the better. It is easier to de-sex kittens at the time you get them, usually between 8 to 12 weeks. Three months is also the age cats have to be registered by the local council. De-sexing may be less stressful for kittens that it would be for older cats. Younger animals can be easier, faster and cheaper to have de-sexed and they recover more quickly than older animals. Some vets are reluctant to do early age de-sexing, this may because they have little experience in handling younger animals. Animal welfare shelters have routinely carried out early age de-sexing for more than 20 years and many studies over time have shown it is just as safe as de-sexing older cats.
How much will it cost to have my cat de-sexed?
The prices charged by vets can vary considerably.. Clearly it pays to shop around. Animal welfare shelters will usually do the job for as little has half of that price and many councils offer discount schemes.
Is the operation painful?
Cats will experience some tenderness in the affected area immediately after the operation. Your vet can offer advice on caring for your pet after de-sexing. These days it is a routine operation and most cats bounce back very quickly. Most pets are fully recovered within 24 hours.
Will my cat get fat and lazy?
De-sexing your cat does not make it fat or lazy, only a lack of exercise or too much food will do that. De-sexed cats have longer, happier, healthier lives and do not roam. A de-sexed cat lives on average for 15 years compared with an the average life span of an entire cat of 3 years.
Will my cat lose it’s personality after de-sexing?
There is no evidence whatsoever to support this myth. Your cat will retain its own, individual personality after the operation. The only change in character resulting from de-sexing is that your cat may calm down a little.
Should I let my female cat have one litter first?
There is absolutely no benefit in letting your pet have a litter before it is de-sexed. It is actually better for her not to have a litter or a period of being on heat before she is de-sexed. Think very carefully before letting your female cat have a litter because you will be responsible for looking after the offspring until you can find good homes for them. Already there are simply not enough homes to go around. The last thing anyone needs is more kittens being dumped or left to fend for themselves. Dumping kittens carries a penalty of up to $1,000. Apart from being inhumane, these animals could add to the problems of cat overpopulation.
