Spaying and Neutering Your Cats: What Do Pet Parents Need to Know?

In the US, there is an issue of overpopulation among domestic cats, making it crucial to spay or neuter your feline pets. However, it can be a daunting decision, especially for those facing it for the first time.

In her YouTube video, “The Truth About Spaying and Neutering Cats: A Complete Guide,” Dr. Sarah Wootan discusses the benefits of spaying and neutering as well as common concerns. These are the main points addressed in her talk.

Female Cats Are Seasonally Polyestrous

Female cats are fertile from about six months of age and can have multiple litters a year. They will go directly into heat again after weaning a litter (after nursing for about six weeks). This is because they are seasonally polyestrous, meaning they go into heat multiple times a year. The number of times will depend on environmental factors such as temperature and daylight hours.

In the cooler northern climates, cats can be on their heat cycle from January to late fall. In tropical climates or where cats live mainly indoors, they can cycle year-round. Each heat cycle will last about six days; if the cat doesn’t mate during that time, she’ll return to heat again after a very short time. Female cats are engineered to reproduce and are highly prolific without intervention.

Benefits of Spaying Female Cats

In addition to contributing further to the overpopulation crisis, multiple litters will take their toll on your cat’s health. Further benefits of spaying female felines include:

• Reduced risk of pyometra — Cats that still have their uterus are at much higher risk of a life-threatening uterine infection called pyometra.
• Reduced risk of uterine, mammary, and ovarian cancers
• Fewer behavioral issues — Unspayed females in heat will do anything to escape and locate a mate. They can get aggressive, overly affectionate, and very loud.

Benefits of Neutering Male Cats

Unneutered toms (male cats) are distinguishable by their more pronounced facial features, which include skin folds that serve as protection during fights. They have a strong, musky odor that most humans find unpleasant, and they will mark their territory (including their home) by spraying it with strong-smelling urine.

In addition to making them more enjoyable to live with, neutering male cats will have the following benefits:

• Less desire to roam — Neutered toms will stay closer to home because they are not hormonally driven to find a mate. This protects them from cars, dogs, coyotes, and other dangers.
• Less aggression — The higher testosterone levels in unneutered males cause them to be aggressive and fight other toms, making them susceptible to injuries and infections.
• Reduced risk of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) — Unneutered toms are more likely to contract FIV, the feline version of AIDS. It is usually passed via biting and fight wounds.

Other Benefits of Spaying and Neutering Cats

There are about 70 million domestic cats in the United States alone. Cats are avid hunters, and feline overpopulation can decimate local wildlife. The decline in songbird populations is one example of this; songbirds make up 25 percent of the prey of feral and stray cats. Cats are also responsible for the decline of at least 27 small mammal species in the US.

Addressing Common Concerns

Understandably, cat owners may have concerns about the process despite the apparent benefits. These are the most common worries people have and how they can be addressed:

• Weight gain — Spaying and neutering procedures are most commonly performed at around six or seven months of age. This is the point where a kitten becomes an adult cat. Their growth slows down, and they need calories. The procedures can indeed slow down their metabolism slightly. However, many pet parents don’t adjust their pet’s food intake to account for them being an adult. Thus, weight gain can be erroneously attributed to the procedure.
• Depression/sadness at the loss of parenthood — This concern is anthropomorphizing, imposing our human conditions onto an entirely different species. Cats don’t care if they have kittens; they can live healthy, happy lives without them.
• Fears about pain and danger involved with surgery — Spaying and neutering are the most performed surgeries at veterinary clinics. Your vet will likely have performed thousands of them. So, if you are concerned about the safety and pain of your pet, discuss it with them. Ask about the sterilization processes, the anesthetic protocols, post-operative pain, and infection management. After the procedure, follow the post-operative care instructions and watch for signs of something amiss, such as redness, swelling, odor, discharge, or signs of pain.
• Urinary problems — There is conflicting evidence as to whether early neutering can impede the development of the urethra in male cats, causing blockages. It’s, therefore, best to wait until the cat reaches full sexual maturity at about six or seven months.
• Capital physis fracture — Early neutering has been linked to the fracturing of the capital physis (the growth plate at the top of the femur where it forms the hip joint), especially in obese cats. So, again, avoid neutering before six or seven months of age, and control your pet’s weight.

A single unspayed cat can potentially give birth to almost 5,000 kittens in seven years. Please be a responsible pet parent and ensure your cats are spayed and neutered.