What about Early Sterilization of our Cat

'That couple from Soi 4 are here with some new kittens they found on their roof,' my receptionist announced.

This wonderful couple has found and saved dozens of kittens. Stray mother cats must know they will take care of them.

'We get a lot of pleasure out of helping these poor creatures and then trying to place them in homes, but we wish people would be more responsible by fixing their cats and keeping them in,' the Misses says.

I examined and treated the 4-week-old's. We cleaned their filthy coats and tearful eyes, and the lovely couple took them home, nursed them back to health, weaned them and found them homes. They trapped the queen and had her fixed.

Unfortunately, the cycle would repeat in a few weeks when a new queen and kittens appeared at their house. We see many litters during the spring and summer; unfortunately, most are unplanned.

Many myths surround sterilizing cats; however, neutering your pet before puberty (usually around 6 months) is usually the best option. 'I didn't know my kitty could get pregnant when she is only 7 months old!' a client told me. Another complained about the cost of repairing the bite abscess on his intact male's shoulder. 'He would fight another male to get to a female?' he asked.

Tens of thousands of healthy cats are killed every year because no one wants them. Cute, cuddly balls of fur outnumber people who want to make a commitment to them. Anyone who 'just wants to have a litter' should spend a day at an animal shelter and see what happens. Even if you want to take responsibility, you might not have enough friends and neighbors to ensure loving homes for an entire litter.

Spaying, or ovariohysterectomy, involves removing a female cat's uterus and ovaries. Cats recover amazingly quickly from this surgery and usually return to normal the next day. Human females undergoing the same procedure take weeks to recuperate.

Your cat will not benefit from experiencing a heat cycle or carrying a litter first. In fact, sterilizing before sexual maturation has distinct advantages. Cats spayed before the first heat have virtually no rick of breast cancer. The risk increases significantly with each cycle. Intact females also rick pyometra, a potentially life-threatening uterine infection.