Did you know that a female cat, in just five years, can be responsible for 20,000 descendants?

Did you know that a neutered cat is less likely to catch FIV or FeLV?

Why you should have your cat neutered now!

1. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) are life threatening diseases for cats. They are transmitted through the cat's saliva which makes fighting cats more at risk.
    
   Neutered cats are less likely to wander, protect their territory or get into fights with other cats.
   They are therefore less likely to get bitten and to be infected with these diseases.
    
2. An un-castrated male marks his territory with strong smelling urine. This is called spraying. He will do this inside the house as well as around the garden.
    
   He will disappear for days or weeks, often turning up injured or ill from untreated wounds.
    
   Most cats killed on roads are un-castrated toms.
    
   Most noisy, singing cats are toms too.
    
3. From the age of six months, a healthy female cat can have up to three litters each year with five or six kittens in each litter.
    
   That adds up to 18 good, caring homes to find each year - just for one cat's kittens!
    
4. Neutered cats do not get fat. Only overfeeding makes a cat overweight and then unhealthy. Neutering does not affect a cat's ability to catch mice.
    
   However, a neutered cat is more likely to stay close to home and therefore be safer and also make a better pet.
    
5. Every year Cats Protection is left with the problem of finding new homes for over 75,000 unwanted cats and kittens.
    
   There is no good reason to let a cat have one litter before spaying. It costs far more to feed a pregnant cat and her kittens than to pay for a spaying operation.

Female cats should be spayed from five months.
Or as advised by your vet.
A short stay at the surgery followed by a second visit seven to ten days later to remove the stitches.

Male cats should be castrated from five months.
Or as advised by your vet.
A simple, routine operation under anesthetic with a brief stay at the surgery.

There is a common misconception that a female cat should be allowed to have one litter of kittens before being spayed.

As a cat has no anticipation of motherhood, there is no benefit to the cat from having a littler. A cat only recognises a kitten when it squeals at her the first time she gives birth. This first experience provides the memory therefore it would seem kinder to spay before the first pregnancy.