Breeding season for cats is during spring, when the weather gets warmer. The cats’ breeding cycle repeats approximately every three weeks until they mate or the breeding season comes to an end. Female cats will actively seek a male partner and males will fight to get the female’s attention.
When female cats are in season they tend to yowl to be let outside and they can become agitated. Male cats fight over females and can develop nasty wounds, often resulting in abscesses or they can potentially contract feline AIDS if they haven’t been vaccinated against it. Cats are likely to stay out all night in search of a mate for the night, and with that, the risks of injury or accidents, (eg. car accident) increases.
Why Should I Have My Cat Neutered?
It is important to neuter (spay) female cats before they come into season, to prevent pregnancies and unwanted litters. Neutering, sometimes called desexing, also eliminates phantom pregnancies and reduces the risk of health problems such as cancer of the uterus, ovaries or breasts. It also prevents unwanted males from hanging around.
In male cats neutering (castration) reduces the risk of cancer of the testicles and prostate disease. It also reduces spraying behaviour, fighting and roaming (although not always completely), especially if desexed before age 6 months. Undesexed males will often try to enlarge their territory, so spraying and roaming behaviour are prevalent and this is when they can get into accidents and nasty fights.
When Should I Have My Cat Neutered?
Neutering operations are usually performed from 4-6months of age, although animal shelters will often neuter cats earlier then this. You should check with your veterinarian as different clinics can vary, but the aim is to do it before the cat reaches puberty. Neutering female cats after they have had a season or a litter is more difficult, because the uterus is enlarged and there is more blood flow to the area. It is also easier for the cat to recover from surgery if she is young and the operation wasn’t complicated.
Although neutering male cats is a much less invasive operation, it is still best performed around 4-6 months of age, thus reducing their need to roam around looking for females, spraying and fighting behaviours.
There is no reason not to have your pet neutered (unless you are a breeder). There are myths associated with desexing cats. For example, some people believe that if they allow their cat to have one litter, they’ll grow up to be nicer cats, or that by having their male cat neutered, they are taking away his manhood. There is no evidence to suggest a cat would be nicer after having a litter, and a neutered male cat makes a much better pet and is likely to live longer as it will avoid the constant trouble entire males find themselves in.
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