| There are just too many cats that are either | | | | kitten can be done at a very young age. Some |
| homeless or feral, and people are starting to notice | | | | humane societies and rescue groups recommend |
| that it is important to neuter their pet cats. Cats | | | | altering kittens at the age of eight weeks. Many |
| mature quickly and can reproduce several times | | | | veterinarians, however, suggest you wait until five or |
| every year, so two feral cats can soon produce | | | | six months of age in most cases. The exceptions |
| twenty or more. | | | | may be feral kittens who are trapped and then |
| Most feral cats are often pet cats who were not | | | | taken to be altered before being re-released to their |
| neutered or spayed, and released by their owners | | | | colonies. By the time they are five or six months old, |
| when they couldn't take care of them any longer. | | | | they may already be pregnant. |
| Feral cats live in colonies, and they can spread | | | | However, that doesn't mean that you can't alter your |
| diseases to any pet dogs and cats in their vicinity. | | | | adult cat, it is just better to do it as young as |
| Even if they are otherwise healthy, they may be | | | | possible. |
| flea-infested. When the females come into heat, the | | | | If you have both male and female kittens in your |
| colony can disrupt the sleep of an entire | | | | home, you may want to neuter the males at a |
| neighborhood with their crying and fighting. Cats who | | | | younger age, and wait until the girls are around six |
| are hungry enough will raid garbage cans. Feral kittens | | | | months old. This is recommended in many cases |
| can destroy landscaping and soil your yard or outdoor | | | | because the procedure is more difficult for females |
| furniture. | | | | than males. |
| Neutering or spaying your new kitten in the long run | | | | Most cats rarely have any problems after neutering, |
| can obviously reduce the number of unwanted | | | | but sometimes incisions can become infected. Be sure |
| kittens that are produced, but it also can provide | | | | to check your cat daily to make sure the incision is |
| other benefits. A female cat in heat is very loud. Her | | | | healing well. Symptoms of infection are puffiness and |
| crying is quickly drowned out by the fighting and | | | | redness around the incision site. If your cat is licking |
| yowling of any local tom cats in the vicinity. Toms | | | | or chewing at the stitches, you may need to have |
| that are not neutered tend to roam far away from | | | | the cat wear an Elizabethan collar. This will prevent |
| home if they are allowed outdoors and may get | | | | them from being able to reach the stitches. Male cats |
| injured or killed. Unaltered tomcats that are kept | | | | can go about their business quickly after the surgery, |
| indoors or outdoors will tend to mark all objects in | | | | while females should be kept indoors for up to five |
| their territory with urine, which is extremely | | | | days afterwards as they may injure themselves. |
| strong-smelling. | | | | As with any type of surgery, there are some risks. |
| Cats who are unaltered may come down with some | | | | In very, very rare occasions, cats might be allergic or |
| types of cancers more frequently than altered cats. | | | | have a fatal reaction to the anesthesia. However, |
| These cancers affect the reproductive organs. They | | | | statistically, the risk is minimal. |
| are extremely rare in cats that have been altered by | | | | Neutering or spaying your new kitten is really a rather |
| the age of one year. Unaltered cats may also catch | | | | simple procedure. With a little extra care during |
| any of several contagious diseases of the | | | | recovery, your pet will have a happy, healthy life |
| reproductive tract. | | | | without worrying about unwanted litters and |
| Unlike some animals, neutering or spaying your new | | | | reproductive health. |