I had other plans for Mo-Cats Day, honest. I had planned to send my human to Kitten Rescue to take photos of some of the cats needing homes so we could have lots of cats on this blog post. Then a heat wave threw a blanket of high temperatures over the city and I realized that there was no way my human would get good photos of them — they would probably all be napping away the sweltering afternoon. So I decided that instead of talking about “Mo” cats, I’d talk about having less cats. I know you are shocked, but let me explain. I figured this would be as good a time as any to talk about spaying and neutering. And this totally ties in with Mo-Cat Day. You will find out how at the end of this post.
When it comes to spaying and neutering, I know I am preaching to the choir here. You all know how important it is for a cat’s health and happiness, and with the exception of a tiny handful of you who are breeders, you all have your cats fixed as soon as they are the right age for the operation. But I can bet that quite a few of you know some humans who aren’t as enlightened as you are and who have not had their cats spayed or neutered because they do not understand how important it is. I think that if you explain it properly, you can change the minds of most of these humans, so I have put together a paw-point list of reasons why kitties should be spayed or neutered:
- Less drama at home. Intact male cats mark territory by spraying especially potent-smelling urine. They also get into fights over girlcats in heat, and are more likely to use fisticuffs when defending their territory. They are also more likely to roam and disappear for days at a time while they are scoping their territory for kitties in heat. Female cats, meanwhile, howl like mad when they go into heat and plot ways to get out of the house so they can get together with a hot-to-trot mancat. These episodes can last for days and repeat every two or three weeks! When fixed, male cats are way less likely to spray and are not as battle prone, while female cats don’t have those crazy-making heat cycles.
- Less vet bills. Those fighting, intact male cats often come home with injuries that can turn into abscesses, and the healing process and meds will cost you. Or they can get hurt in their wanderings in other ways — they could get hit by a car or attacked by a dog or other predatory animal. Mating for cats can get rough, and female cats can get hurt. And if they come home pregnant and things don’t go well, you may wind up at the emergency vet, running up a big bill to save her life. Intact cats are also more prone to certain diseases: testicular cancer for the male cats and mammary cancer for females. The likelihood of these cancers goes way down for fixed cats.
- Oh yeah, kittens! Congratulations, you just added to the feline overpopulation problem. You say you have friends who will adopt them? Great, that means that there are cats at shelters and rescues who aren’t getting a home today, and who might be euthanized because your friends did not bother to look at these places to add to their feline family. You say your friends really wanted kittens, not grown-up cats? Trust me, these places get kittens all the time. And do you really know these people who will adopt your kittens? Are you sure that friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend isn’t going to sell them to a laboratory? Or that they will take proper care of a kitten? Are you sure they won’t just toss it out the door the first time it scratches the furniture or relieves itself on the rug? Why subject innocent lives to such a potential fate? And if you have a male cat and are not worried about getting saddled with kittens, shame on you for looking the other way. Your cat is off somewhere creating this very problem for someone else.
- Kittens can be spayed or neutered as young as two months, and it is a good idea to do it before they reach sexual maturity, so it should at least be done by the time they are five or six months old. But adult cats certainly can be fixed too, although they may not bounce back as quickly as a kitten. I was six months old when I had it done and I wanted to play the day I came home!
- It does not have to cost a lot of money to spay or neuter your cat — the ASPCA has a partnership with PetSmart Charities and has a database to help you locate low cost spay and neuter programs near you.
Oh, and how does this fit in with Mo-Cats Day? The less time humans spend dealing with unwanted kittens, and all the issues caused by intact cats, the more time they have to devote populating the internet with kitties! Because every day should be Mo-Cats Day!
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Hear! Hear!!!!
Well said, Sparkle!!!
I was probably abandoned because my previous owner did not spay me and I became pregnant.
You look especially stunning in your very dignified picture today, Sparkle.
Super important post! You goooo Sparkle!!!!
There is also http://www.nootersclub.org which is a directory of low cost spay neuter clinics throughout the U.S.
That’s a great post! You did really good. Happy Mo Cats Day.
There was a method to your “madness.” Good point.
Excellent advise Sparkle!
Happy Mo CATS!!
purrs
>^,,^<
♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥
You are so, so smart, Sparkle! Sometimes less is MO! Happy Mo Cats Day! 🙂
with the usual typos I should learn by now to look for before I press send..but that would be too easy!
Sparkle, you outdid yoursef AND you touched on points even my mom hasn’t thought od=f..such as cats in shelters not being looked at or chosen to live and hve a home because your irresposible human allowed kittens and said there were friends to give them to. Going to rescue us out of shelters is far better than letting us breed and hopefully f=giving away our kittens.
You said it better than I am..I’m just sort of repeating what you said. I’ll quit with “great post”.
Sparkle, you are as smart as you are beautiful! This is a wonderful post and we wish our neighbor would see it! She hasn’t neutered her two kitties and it drives my mommy batty. Thanks for getting the word out!
Less is More is what we say too – great post Sparkle!
You are very smart, Sparkle
You are absolutely right, and all of those are good points. Our Mom is pretty rabid about breeding. We hope people listen!
Thanks for refreshing our memories the wisdom of neutering.
An excellent tie in to MO Cats day–MO time for YO cats! 🙂
Wonderful post *appaws appaws* When peeps were younger, they “stole” a neighbor’s cats for a day and had them neutered because he wouldn’t. They worked with a rescue who did them for free. This is our #1 cause when it comes to cats.
Very wise you are Sparkle! Happy Mo Cats Day, today and every day!!!
Excellent post!!!
The Florida Furkids and Angel Sniffie
Very nice post, Sparkle.
We support MO-CATS DAY, too!!
~ The Bunch
Great post Sparkle – more cats should be neutered so that there is less hardship from those abandoned.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
Happy Mo Cats Day Sparkle! But more neutering so every kitten is a wanted kitten. xx
Nice post…. You tied that all together well. Super!
pawhugs, Max
Well that was one super post. That is such a good way to look at Mo cats day. It is all so true and we all ought to write more about it. Spaying and neutering would reduce the number of cats in all the shelters and so give chances to the ones that get abandoned. That is one of your best Sparkle.
That is a great post Sparkle!!! We totally agree with less cats for Mo Cat Day 🙂
Sparkle, thanks for reminding everybuddy the wisdom of neutering and spaying. Less cats does mean Mo Cats! Happy Mo’ Cats Day to you!!
Good reminder dear friend.
My dear, as always you are a font of wisdom and BOOTIFULNESS!
What a great reportage Sparkle!
Luna
Excellent! Less is Mo! Have a great Mo-Cat Days!
Great post, something everyone should stop and think about!
This is a really great post, Sparkle! Good for another Pettie award!
Excellent post Sparkle. You are such an awesome advocate for kitties. Have yourself a great Mo-Cats Day!