10 Reasons Why to Spay or Neuter your Cat or Dog
The 22 February is World Spay Day an international day that emphasises the spaying, or neutering, of animals. Spaying is a proven way of saving the life of a cat or dog and it helps to miminise the feral community of stray cats and dogs who might find themselves put down in a shelter or killed on a street.
The day aims to spread awareness of the long-term health benefits of spaying and neutering your cats and dogs. There are many reasons why spaying and neutering your pet is the best thing to do. Below Perfect-pets has outlined the top 10 reasons.
They live a longer and healthier life
Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast cancer, which is fatal in 50% of dogs and 90% of cats. Neutering male pets can prevent testicular cancer, if done before pets are six months and older. On top of preventing disease, spaying and neutering also protects your pet from unwanted and unplanned litters which has become an even greater issue since 2020 due to mandatory lockdowns.
Spayed female cats and dogs won’t go into heat
While cycles can vary, female felines usually go into heat for four to five days every three weeks during breeding season. To “advertise” for mates, they’ll yowl and urinate more frequently, sometimes all over the house. Female dogs go into heat on average twice a year for two to four weeks each time and also exhibit undesirable behaviours including messy discharge.
Your Male cat or dog Won’t Roam from Home
An unneutered male cat or dog will do just about anything to find a mate! That includes digging his way under fences or dashing out the door to escape from the house. Once he’s free to roam, he risks injury in traffic and fights with other animals. This urge is lessened after neutering.
Neutered pets are much better behaved
Dogs and cats that are not neutered may mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house or on your favourite sofa! On the other hand, neutered pets focus their attention on their human families, and early neutering may help avoid aggression problems.
Spaying or neutering will not make your cat fat
Lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your pet to pack on the extra pounds, not spaying or neutering! Your pet will remain fit and trim as long as you continue to provide energetic activities and monitor food intake.
Spaying and neutering is cost-effective
The cost of your pet’s spay or neuter surgery is a lot less than the cost of having and caring for a litter. It also beats the cost of treatment if your unneutered pet escapes and gets into a fight with the neighbourhood stray!
There is no need to become a professional breeder
Letting your pet produce offspring you have no intention of keeping is not a good lesson for your family, especially when so many unwanted animals end up in shelters.
Spaying and neutering helps fight overpopulation
Every year, millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are euthanised at animal shelters or suffer as strays. These high numbers are the result of unplanned and unwanted litters that could have been prevented by spaying and neutering.
It’s the right thing to do
As a pet owner it is your responsibility to offer the best care possible for your cat or dog. As part of your duty of care spaying and neutering your pet is the right thing to do and should be one of the first things addressed once your pet is acquired.
Spaying and neutering your pet is good for the community
It is sad to see a stray cat or dog unkempt without a home. Stray animals pose a real problem not only to themselves but to other cats, dogs, and people. They can cause traffic incidents, carry, and spread disease, and frighten people and their pets. Spaying and neutering packs a powerful punch in reducing the number of animals on the streets.
To get the best guidance on how to offer the best care possible our essential guides will give you a helping hand. Visit: www.perfect-pets.org for further information.
