The Benefits of Spaying and Neutering Your Cat

If they’ll never come into contact with other cats, is it really necessary to spay or neuter indoor-only cats? The short answer is: absolutely. Even if the risk of unwanted litters is very low, spaying and neutering can bring positive health benefits for pets. Reproductive health is vitally important, but unless selective breeding is on the horizon, pet cats are actually considered healthier without their reproductive organs. 

Basics of Feline Health

We understand the impulse to keep pet cats intact. This can be partially explained by cat owners not wanting to subject their cats to a scary trip to the hospital and a possible traumatic experience. While this is valid, we can assure all cat owners that we take every step toward calming down our feline patients, treating them with special care and consideration, and maintaining a safe space for them. 

The Aging Process

Depending on their breed, pet cats reach sexual maturity between 3.5-12 months for females and 9-12 months for males. Daylight hours can affect reproductive cycles, so spring and summer are known as “kitten seasons.” Female cycles vary between female cats, but many cats can enter heat more than once per season (February-October). 

During reproductive cycles, female cats will display affectionate behaviors and may urinate more often. The males they are trying to attract may show up suddenly, spray in and around your yard, and may engage in territorial fighting with other males. 

Behavioral Concerns

Cats have powerful instincts to mate. The desire to escape the home, roam the streets, and find a partner far outweigh any human-cat bond or the appreciation for creature comforts. Cats will holler, yowl, wail, and screech in the pursuit of perpetuating their species, and they really can’t help these behaviors. 

If That’s Not Enough

Feline hormones, for both male and female cats, push their boundaries, expose them to fights and serious injury, and increase their risk and vulnerability to loss. Even if you don’t end up with a pregnant female cat, you could be responsible for expensive treatment of contagious diseases, such as feline leukemia virus, serious injuries, like bite wounds or abscesses, and even permanent loss or separation. Plus, delivering a litter of kittens isn’t always straightforward or risk-free. 

Reducing Risk of Serious Conditions

Spaying and neutering pet cats reduces dangerous behaviors, but the benefits to their reproductive health is astounding. For starters, neutered male cats are less likely to develop testicular cancer and prostate disease. Intact female cats have a higher incidence of mammary and uterine cancers and life-threatening infections of the uterus. 

Your Cat, Your Choice

At the end of the day, cat owners can choose whether or not to spay or neuter their cats. We hope that cat owners will consider the benefits of this simple, straightforward surgical procedure and reach out to us at (530) 823‑6306 with any questions or concerns. Our veterinarians are always here to help cats achieve excellent health and happiness.