Spaying or neutering is one of the greatest gifts you can provide your cat and your family. You are not only helping to control the cat overpopulation crisis we face in NWFL, but these surgeries may also prevent medical and behavioral problems from developing, allowing your cat to lead a longer, healthier and happier life.

Spaying of female cats prevents uterine infections and decreases the incidence of breast tumors, which are malignant or cancerous 90+ percent of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.

Neutering your male cat prevents testicular cancer and some prostate problems. It also reduces roaming behaviors, spraying, and can actually make your male cat friendlier!

Spaying is the surgical removal of a female cat’s ovaries and uterus, while neutering is the removal of a male cat’s testicles. Both surgeries are conducted very routinely with few complications.

No, don’t wait. This is one of the most commonly heard misconceptions. There is no danger to spaying your cat prior to her first heat. By doing so, you guarantee you won’t have an accidental litter (even if your cat is the only cat at home, female cats will try to get out of the house during heat to find a mate). You should absolutely spay your cat PRIOR to her first heat.

The younger a cat is spayed, the lower their risk of developing a reproductive cancer. For example, a female cat who is spayed before the age of 6 months has a 91% reduction in their risk of mammary carcinoma, while those who are spayed between 6 months and a year have an 86% reduction in risk.

Yes. There are many reasons to spay/neuter your “inside only” cats including:

1) Prevent Pregnancies

Even if you plan to keep your cat indoors, they might still find their way outside at some point and have a run-in with the opposite gender (cats will often try to get outside when they’re unfixed to do just that!)

2: Lower Chance of Escape

Cats are naturally curious, so there’s always a risk of your kitty dashing out the door. But cats that haven’t been spayed or neutered are much more desperate to get outdoors so they can find a mate—especially female cats when they’re in heat. Spaying or neutering your cat reduces their desire to escape, making it easier to keep your indoor cat safe and happy.

3: Prevent Reproductive Cancers

Spaying and neutering are also important for your cat’s health. Spaying helps prevent breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers in female cats. And neutering male cats helps prevent testicular cancer as well as prostate issues like UTIs.

4: Eliminate Unwanted Behaviors

Due to hormonal changes, intact cats can exhibit a variety of behaviors that can be a nuisance for you and stressful for your cat. For instance, female cats tend to yowl constantly for several weeks at a time when they’re in heat. Male cats often spray urine to mark their territory.

Yes, spay surgery can and should be done on both pregnant and in-heat cats. It is the most ethical option. It helps the already crushing overpopulation issue we are facing, greatly helps rescue organizations by allowing resources to be dedicated to the cats and kittens who are already here, as well as takes a very heavy burden off the female cat.

No. Your cat must be brought in a commercially available hard plastic carrier or wire trap, no soft-sided cloth or plastic. After surgery, your cat will be groggy and weak. If he moves his head into a corner of the soft-sided carrier, it may collapse around his face and he could suffocate.