By Cynthia Elias, President, The Daniel J. Elias Memorial Foundation (Purrsonalities™)
If you own a cat that has been spayed or neutered, congratulations! You have taken the single most important step toward ensuring a happy and healthy life together. If your cat has not been fixed, pick up the phone and call your veterinarian or low-cost spay/neuter program today. It will be the best purchase you can make for your cat and for yourself. Fortunately, the tri-county area has many excellent veterinary clinics and great low-cost spay/neuter programs for cat owners on a budget.
You may think that there is no hurry to spay or neuter your cat — you will get to it eventually. Actually, it is always better to have the surgery sooner rather than later, although spaying or neutering at any age will confer health benefits for your cat and may prevent or stop behavior problems. Spaying or neutering your cat removes the reproductive organs and prevents breeding.
Most cats just show up at a house and, if they are lucky, the owner gives them a home. A recent study speculates that because many cats were not purchased or intentionally acquired, owners may think that they need little veterinary care. While most fixed cats are indeed delightful low-maintenance companions, it is extremely important to spay, neuter, and vaccinate your cat in order to prevent health problems, behavior problems, and overpopulation. You should consult with your veterinarian about the best time to schedule surgery. Low-cost spay/neuter programs offer surgery any time after the cat is 2 months old and weighs 2 pounds, and the American Veterinary Medical Association actually supports early spaying and neutering for cats. Our foundation strongly recommends spaying or neutering cats no later than 6 months of age, if at all possible. After surgery, periodic checkups will help keep your cat healthy.
Why Spay or Neuter Your Cat?
Unaltered males may try to get outside and may start spraying once they reach sexual maturity. If they do get outside, they may fight with other males, which can result in injury or disease such as feline leukemia or FIV. Mating with females will add to the millions of homeless cats that are euthanized or killed by predators or cars every year. Neutering your male cat may make him calmer and, especially if done when young, will likely prevent spraying. Research indicates that even if your cat has been spraying for a while, there is a 90 percent chance that neutering him will solve the problem. Neutering will also prevent testicular cancer in male cats.
By spaying your female cat, you will be doing your part to not add to the millions of homeless cats. Even if you can find a home for kittens, often a difficult task, they also may end up reproducing and adding to the problem of homelessness, or they may be abandoned. Cats can have a litter at 6 months of age and can get pregnant even when nursing their kittens. Spaying will stop the irritating problems caused by your cat going into heat, including yowling and agitated behavior. Spaying your cat before her first heat will greatly reduce her risk of breast cancer, but spaying her at any age will prevent future uterine or ovarian infections and cancers. There are no health benefits to allowing your cat to go into heat or have a litter before spaying her.
If you have an unaltered cat, make your life and your cat’s life easier by scheduling a spay or neuter surgery today. For more information or to make an appointment, contact The Daniel J. Elias Memorial Foundation (Purrsonalities™). Call 309-360-7455, email:
purrsonalities4peoria@yahoo.com or visit online at purrsonalities.net.
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