Save A Kitty Feral Cat Program, Inc. A Non Profit 501(c)3 Organization
Spaying and Neutering
There are overwhelming numbers of surplus pets, and tragically, each year between four and five million pets (including purebreds) must be euthanized at animal shelters. When you spay or neuter your cat, you are preventing the future births of hundreds of thousands of homeless pets. Even if you find homes for your cat's kittens from just one litter, those kittens' kittens may produce generations of homeless or feral cats.
You are also doing the best thing for your cat's health. When a female cat is spayed (her uterus and ovaries removed), she is prevented from suffering the agonizing frustration of being in "heat", a state that typically lasts about a week or longer and cycles repetitively through the year. (It is no picnic living with a loud and unhappy cat in heat, so you are doing yourself a favor as well.) Spaying a female cat will prevent uterine or ovarian cancer and mammary tumors, especially if the spay is done before her first heat. A female cat can have this surgery as early as eight weeks of age with no additional complications.
When a male cat is neutered (his testicles removed), he becomes less driven to roam or act aggressively toward other animals. This simple, routine surgical procedure, which can be performed when he is eight weeks of age or older, will reduce the production of certain hormones. Your cat will not be as likely to spray in the house and his urine will not have a strong marking scent.
Spayed and neutered cats do not automatically get fat and lazy, contrary to myth. Overweight cats are overweight because they are overfed. Exercise your cat and don't overfeed them.
Pet Over-Population Facts
Number of cats and dogs entering shelters each year:
6-8 million
Number of cats and dogs euthanized by shelters each year:
3-4 million
Number of cats and dogs adopted from shelters each year:
3-4 million
Number of animal shelters in the United States:
Between 4,000 and 6,000
Source: Humane Society of the United States
Cats
· There are approximately 88.3 million owned cats in the United States.
· Nearly 34% of U.S. households (or 38.4 million) own at least one cat.
· 56% of owners own more than one cat.
· On average, owners have 2 cats (2.3).
· More female cats are owned than male cats (73% vs. 63 %)
· 18% of owned cats were adopted from an animal shelter.
Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) 2007-2008 National Pet Owners’ Survey.
Cats
· Average number of litters a fertile cat can produce in one year: 3*
· Average number of kittens in a feline litter: 4-6*
· Only 2 to 5 percent of cats entering shelters are reclaimed by their owners.*
· Estimated number of cats in the state of West Virginia: 513,651**
*Source: Humane Society of the United States
**According to AVMA formula
Top ten reasons owners give for relinquishing cats:
· Too many in house
· Allergies
· Moving
· Cost of pet maintenance
· Landlord issues
· No homes for littermates
· House soiling
· Personal problems
· Inadequate facilities
· Doesn’t get along with other pets
WV Animal Shelters Euthanasia Rates
Year 2007 (based on selected shelters)
Percentage of dogs euthanized: 51%
Percentage of cats euthanized: 78%
Year 2008 (based on selected shelters)
Percentage of dogs euthanized: 50%
Percentage of cats euthanized: 78%
Why Spay and Neuter: It is perfectly safe to spay or neuter a kitten 8 weeks and older. Actually, there is less bleeding and recovery time is much quicker. An experienced Veterinarian is trained for juvenile sterilization. Waiting until a female goes into heat once is a myth. If male kittens are neutered at an earlier age, they almost never spray. Waiting until the animal is six months old is a myth!
FACTS:
· A spayed female animal is less likely to develop mammary, ovarian or uterine cancers.
· A spayed female animal never goes into estrus (heat) and never produces offspring.
· A neutered male animal is less likely to develop testicular cancer and prostate disease.
· A neutered male animal can not impregnate a female animal.
· A neutered male animal is less likely to roam and get involved in fights with other unaltered males. Fights can be life threatening to the male cat and transfer disease.
· Neutered male cats are less likely to spray, especially if neutered before the age of 5 months.
· Spayed and neutered animals do not contribute to the already overwhelming pet overpopulation.
MYTHS:
· Spaying or neutering an animal does not make the animal fat. Lack of exercise and over-eating cause an animal to gain weight.
· Female animals DO NOT get depressed because they cannot produce litters.
· Female animals do not need to give birth in order to mature.
Thank You in advance for your support!
