Spay or Neuter your Cat

Spaying and Neutering helps Manage the Feline Population

It is commonly accepted that the primary reason for spaying and neutering a pet is to prevent unintended breeding under unmanaged circumstances, which contributes to an overpopulation of unhealthy animals.  The resulting kittens often end up in shelters or as abandoned strays, facing harsh lives. However, there are other reasons also.

Feline Health Benefits from Spaying

Spaying (also known as ovariohysterectomy) removes the uterus and ovaries and prevents the estrous (heat) cycle.  It prevents the possibility of pyometra, a potentially life-threatening infection of the uterus that can occur in older, unspayed cats.  It also eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine cysts and cancers.

The risk of cancerous mammary tumors is also reduced by spaying, particularly when done before the first heat cycle.

Feline Behavior Benefits from Spaying

Hormonal fluctuations associated with heat cycles end with spaying, reducing the cat’s stress and potential behavioral issues, such as restlessness, vocalization, and urine marking.

The instinctual desire to roam in search of a mate is also curbed with spaying.  Roaming cats often get lost and don’t return home.  Spayed cats are less likely to be injured or killed by traffic or fights with other animals.

Ragdoll cats are intended to be indoor cats since their docile nature reduces their ability to defend themselves against more aggressive feral cats.  An intact ragdoll cat might bolt for an open door during their heat cycle if they detect an outdoor male nearby.

Feline Health Benefits from Neutering

Neutering removes the male’s testicles, eliminating the risk of testicular cancer, which is a common concern in unneutered male cats.

Urinary tract issues, such as urinary blockages, are reduced for neutered males.

A neutered male cat has lower risks of sexually transmitted infections.

Feline Behavior Benefits from Neutering

Intact males instinctively mark and defend their territory.  They spray urine to warn other male cats who might enter their territory and attract female cats seeking a mate.  The strong scent of male urine can permanently damage furniture, walls and carpet.  There are some products that claim to treat sprayed cat urine, however if the urine soaks through carpet down into the wood floor it is almost impossible to remove. 

It isn’t possible for a pet owner to prevent Neutering can mitigate the instinctive desire to roam in response to the scent of a female in heat.  Neutering also diminishes the likelihood of aggressive or territorial behavior, reducing the risk of fights and injuries.

An intact male ragdoll cat might dash through an open door if they detect the scent of an outdoor female cat nearby.