Every year, hundreds of thousands of cats and kittens are destroyed because they are unwanted. Animal shelters that take in these animals and try to find them homes are overcrowded. With so many animals in need, they cannot support all animals indefinitely. The solution is not to open more shelters, but for cat owners to become more responsible about spaying and neutering their pets.
A female cat can have two litters of kittens each year. The average survival rate is about 2.8 kittens per litter. If her offspring are not spayed or neutered, the result is 12 cats the first year, 66 cats in the second year, and at the end of ten years, the total would be 80,399,780 cats.
"Spay" is the term used for the surgical removal of a female animal's uterus and ovaries. When a male's testicles are removed, it is called "neutering." Both procedures leave the animals unable to reproduce. Besides preventing unwanted pregnancies, spaying and neutering of pets has other benefits for cats and their owners.
Benefits of neutering a male cat
* Neutered cats are less likely to spray strong urine
* Neutered cats will lose the urge to fight
* Neutered cats will be less likely to try to escape
* Neutered cats will not suffer the abscesses from fighting
* Neutered cats will be less likely to contract diseases such as FeLV and FIV
* Neutered cats will not be subject to testicular cancer
* Neutered cats will not likely develop "stud tail," caused by overactive glands in the tail
* Neutered cats have a decreased risk of mammary cancer
Spaying a female cat prevents mating behaviors such as fighting and yowling/hyperactivity in females. Spayed cats don't roam the neighborhood as much, protecting them from the dangers of vehicles and aggressive dogs. Their tendency to stay closer to home also provides protection against deadly diseases such as FeLV and FIV. Finally, "fixed" pets tend to be more loving, because they are not subject to the erratic effects of hormones.
One of the biggest benefits of spaying/neutering is that it dramatically reduces the cat's risk of developing cancers of the reproductive system. A female cat spayed before her first cycle, or heat, has a greatly reduced chance of mammary cancer. Less than a decade ago, conventional wisdom dictated that pets should be neutered at between 5-7 months of age. Recent studies have found that it is not only possible to spay/neuter cats at a younger age, it actually is better for them. Today, cats undergo spay/neuter procedures at about 7 weeks of age. They recover much more quickly than if it was done later, and ensures that a female does not become pregnant with her first heat.
In the past spaying was limited for a number of reasons
* It was better to let a female cat give birth to one litter of kittens before spaying.
* That female cats in particular, might later develop incontinence as a result.
* That certain behavioral problems might result.
However, these theories have since been disproven.
In the past, animal shelters and humane societies sent unaltered cats/kittens to their new home because they wanted them to start their new life as soon as possible. Usually, owners signed documents promising to have the animal neutered. Some facilities took it upon themselves to follow up with phone calls to make sure the owners were living up to their commitment. The overwhelming number of animals coming and going in a shelter today makes this unfeasible. Instead of allowing their charges to add to the overpopulation problem, most animal welfare/adoption groups routinely spay and neuter animals before they are made available for adoption. A number of municipalities have passed laws so that no animal can leave a shelter unless it has been spayed/neutered.
Pet Medication Supplies [http://www.pet-medication-supplies.net] can help you get the best possible http://www.pet-medication-supplies.net. Advantix, Arthramine, Cosequin, Frontline, Heartgard - find the best deals in pet medication for flea and tick control, arthritis and lyme disease. Upto 50% discount everyday on brand names.
professional cleaning service Glencoe ...Introducing your puppy to the crate should be an easy... Read More
For realistic tips for humans who are moving with cats,... Read More
Pilling a cat can be a "nightmarish" experience. Cats don't... Read More
Twenty-six percent of the dogs at the six Los Angeles... Read More
While excitement and anticipation will be at the top of... Read More
This is general information on Discus, a member of the... Read More
The American Kennel Club recognizes 150 different dog breeds. There... Read More
In compiling some information on achieving a proper fit to... Read More
Selecting a Kitten It is best to choose your... Read More
Most dogs live between ten and seventeen years. The relationship... Read More
Believe it or not boutiques for dogs are everywhere. Nowadays,... Read More
Training Tips for a Happy and Healthy Relationship with Your... Read More
Most of the diseases that threaten goldfish can be cured.... Read More
If you're reading this I think it's safe to assume... Read More
Beautiful as they are, Boston Terriers have some genetic traits... Read More
The wearing of charms dates back to 400 or 500... Read More
Do you have at least one framed photo of your... Read More
Poor Dog. Subjected to my most ambitious experiments, she still... Read More
German Shepherds were among the first dogs trained for police... Read More
Thanks to Disney's Motion Picture 'Finding Nemo,' almost everybody is... Read More
Owning a dog is a serious responsibility, one that should... Read More
Dog's come in all shapes and sizes ? out of... Read More
Cat arthritis is not a very common ailment among healthy... Read More
Almost all communities in the U.S. require at least one... Read More
The Discus fish has its habitat in the South American... Read More
elite cleaning services Glenview ...Animal Communication, or telepathy with animals, is as common an... Read More
Congratulations on your choice to bring home a West Highland... Read More
The performing of dog tricks, while not a necessary part... Read More
Puppies have a natural instinct inside that causes them to... Read More
If you are keen on breeding Goldfish, you should know... Read More
A well-train dog usually leads a happier and healthier life... Read More
Whether you are searching for something to say "Happy Birthday"... Read More
Some say it started with the Taco Bell dog. A... Read More
Nutrition and Your Dog's Behavior Proper nutrition is the fundamental... Read More
Attempting to train your dog to walk on a leash... Read More
When Lucky was starting to show signs of aging, we... Read More
The pet food industry, a billion-dollar, unregulated operation, feeds on... Read More
As you likely know already, horses have at least 10... Read More
Do you want to save money, anxiety for your kitty,... Read More
Is your cat talking to you?Many cat lovers claim that... Read More
Why is it that cats get no respect? Are they... Read More
Yesterday we talked a little about the 6 Keys for... Read More
All puppies are small dogs ? some, however, won't be... Read More
Bringing home a new puppy, ushers in a wave of... Read More
If you are looking for tips on breeding tropical fish,... Read More
"Doggy breath" ? that unpleasant odor emanating from the mouths... Read More
Gain some insight into how your favorite feline actually feels... Read More
Poor Dog. Subjected to my most ambitious experiments, she still... Read More
Scottish Terriers are short-legged dogs, at a height of ten... Read More
There is a lot of talk going on about what... Read More
Pet |