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Overview:
Even today, with
worldwide resources at our fingertips, there are still pet
owners who believe various tales about reasons for not desexing
their cat.
Much of
what is said comes down to just a lack of understanding
which is commonly caused by old wives tails which refuse
to go away. Some of the common reasons people don't
desex their cat include;
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Desexing
will change her personality.
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It is
better to have a litter of kittens before desexing her.
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I want
for my children to see the miracle of birth.
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I can't
afford to have my cat desexed.
Desexing will
change her personality:
Desexing can
change a cat's personality, but it's usually for the better.
Because the cats don't have sex on their minds all the time,
more often than not, they will become more affectionate towards
their owners.
People have
suggested that cats can put on weight after they've been desexed.
Personally, I haven't experienced this problem with any cat I've
had desexed. An entire cat will spend time prowling the streets
looking for a mate. Once desexed, the urge to wander isn't as
extreme, and therefore they will spend more time at home. If you
notice your cat is putting on weight after desexing, just
increase the cat's level of activity by playing games with the
cat. Never put your cat on a diet without veterinary
supervision.
A queen who is
calling constantly can lose weight. Some queens lose their
appetite when they are in heat, they have other things on their
mind.
Entire males (and
females) are likely to spray. Cat spray is extremely pungent.
Most cat breeders keep their stud cats in a separate cat
enclosure because of this problem with spraying. Generally
females don't spray, but it's not unheard of. It's more likely
to happen in entire females.
Entire cats are
going to be looking for a mate. This means they endanger their
lives wandering around the neighbourhood looking for a partner.
They are at greater risk of car accidents, dog attacks, getting
lost or even being abused by cruel people.
Entire queens
come into heat every few weeks. When they are in heat they
frequently call, night & day. We once had a neighbour who
let their entire Burmese female wander the neighbourhood
calling, it drove the locals crazy. Trying to sleep with a cat
howling outside your window isn't much fun. It's also very
thoughtless of people who allow their cats to disturb the peace
of other residents. Incidentally, this Burmese was hit &
killed by a car before her third birthday, her daughter was also
killed by a car at 2 years old.
Health benefits to
desexing your queen:
An entire
female is at risk of developing the following conditions;
Mammary Cancer.
The third most common tumour found
in cats. Extremely low chance of developing this if the cat has
been spayed prior to her first heat.
Pyometra.
This is an infection of the uterus. At best, if caught early it
can be treated. At worst, it can lead to death.
Tumours
of
the uterus & ovaries.
Stress
caused
by constant calling can weaken the cat's immune system.
Males are also at
risk:
Testosterone is
known to weaken a male's immune system. Desexing your tom
cat will reduce the level of testosterone in his system, thus
strengthening his immune system.
He will be less
territorial, and therefore not get into as many fights with
other cats in the area. Less risk of injury.
Entire males are
at risk of developing testicular cancer.
Both males &
females permitted to breed at random are also at risk of
contracting FIV or FeLV. Both are caused by viruses, and
once caught are fatal.
I want my children
to see the miracle of birth:
If you
want to show your kids the miracle
of birth I'd suggest renting a nature video instead. You will
see lots of animals giving birth. Bringing yet another
litter of kittens into the world just because you want to
show your children
is not a valid excuse. Are you prepared for the unexpected? What
if the queen gives birth to dead kittens, or deformed ones? How
will your kids feel if the kittens fail to thrive after the
first few days. Are you prepared to show them the miracle of
death also?
I can't afford to
desex my cat:
Desexing is a
relatively cheap operation, and if money is an issue are you
prepared for the unexpected? what would happen if the cat needed
expensive veterinary care after a car accident or being attacked
by another cat? Pet ownership is a responsibility, and every
person considering getting a pet should be fully aware of the
costs, and demands before making a decision. Cats can live for
up to 20 years, and can cost quite a sum of money. The cost of
desexing your cat is a mere drop in the ocean compared to the
potential costs if you keep the cat entire. For example:
If the queen has
problems giving birth, she may need an emergency caesarean.
The queen can
develop mastitis, again requiring veterinary care. If your queen
develops mastitis, it may fall upon you to hand feed the
kittens, every 2-4 hours (day & night). After they have been
fed, you will need to stimulate them to go to the loo.
As stated above,
there are several health risks associated with keeping an entire
cat. All of which can be costly to have treated.
There is also the
moral debate. Every year, millions of cats are euthanised
because there just aren't enough homes for them. There are
shelters all over the world full of cats who desperately need a
good home & somebody to love them. Each pet owner should
consider this before adding to the overpopulation of cats by
breeding their own cat.
If you are
serious about becoming a breeder, you should buy the best
purebred cat money can buy, and register yourself with one of
the many cat clubs. Before breeding your first litter, you
should spend several months or even years researching the ins
& outs of feline husbandry, genetics, disease &
breeding. You will also need to know if your breed of choice is
prone to any health/genetic defects. If so, can they be tested
for? Arm yourself with as much knowledge as you possibly can.
There is far more to breeding than putting a male & a female
together & waiting 63 days.
Both male &
female can be desexed from approximately 10 weeks of age. For
more information on early desexing check out the following
article.
The
Wynn Feline Foundation
Related
Articles:
Acute Metritis in Cats,
Birth
in Cats,
Desexing Your Cat,
Estrus in Cats,
Pregnancy in Cats,
Raising
Orphaned Kittens,
Raising Premature Kittens,
Signs
of Pregnancy in Cats,
Postnatal Care
for Cats
Please note:
The medical
articles on this site have not been written by a veterinarian &
should not be considered a replacement for a veterinarian visit.
The articles are provided for informative purposes only & should
not be used for
the diagnosis or treatment of any
medical condition.
Always seek
immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or
behavioral) in your pets.
While great care
has been made in the creation of these articles, we cannot
guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages. If in any
doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical advice.
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