2006-07-20 14:37:03 · 21 answers · asked by Sammie 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
"Punishing" is a strong word, and surely you're not doing that on purpose. But she will be happier and possibly healthier if you get her spayed.
As long as she's not spayed she will go into heat regularly, and when she's in heat she'll be miserable if she can't mate. And she will go into heat often! So you can save her a lot of misery by getting her spayed.
If she's still young - not yet sexually mature - you can reduce the risk of mammary cancer to zero by getting her spayed before puberty. Mammary cancer (called breast cancer in humans) is the number one lethal cancer in female cats with developed mammaries, so this is a risk well worth eliminating if you still can!
2006-07-20 15:07:34 · answer #1 · answered by Mick 5 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Yes. I am sorry to say, you are.
I have a female cat who stayed indoors 24/7 for 14 years. She now lives with my parents, not me. I never had her desexed because I didn't think it was necessary. I also thought it was cruel. STUPID ME!!
She would go "on heat" almost every month and cried and yowled. It drove my parents crazy!
Recently at 14 years old, she stayed on heat for 2 months straight. I took her to the vet and they had to operate immediately. Her uterus was full of pus, her fallopian tube was wrapped around her bladder and she had a urinary tract infection. My poor little darling was VERY SICK.
She also has a spot which we have to watch now because it could be mammary gland cancer - which is a REAL risk if you don't get her desexed.
The vet said "this could have all been avoided if she'd been desexed when she was a kitten".
My other cat who lives indoors all the time was desexed at 12 weeks old. She is the healthiest cat my vet has ever seen, he reckons. He says she's going to have a long and happy life.
I feel very bad for not getting my first cat desexed. At least I have done it now and she is on the mend and looking MUCH healthier already. Talk to your vet or research the positives to having your cat desexed online. Here's some info to start you off:
When should I have my kitten desexed?
Desexing of both males and females is recommended before the onset of puberty, generally around 5 - 6 months of age. Some vets will recommend earlier desexing from 12 - 16 weeks of age. It is best to ask your own vet and be guided by their preference. Spaying of female cats will prevent unwanted pregnancies, the annoying attention of roaming tomcats, and spaying at a young age (before their first season) will prevent mammary tumours (breast cancer) and pyometra (infection of the uterus which is often a surgical emergency). Your vet will be able to give you the best advice on what age your kitten should be desexed.
2006-07-20 14:58:27 · answer #2 · answered by Catty 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would still have her spayed. First of all, female cats, when in heat are ridiculous (for lack of a better description). Before I spayed my cat, Minnie, she would following my husband around the house (how she knew he was a male, I'll never know), posing for him... if you know what I mean. You may not intend on letting her out, but that doesn't mean she won't get out if she's in heat. They are very persistent.
My cat is essentially the same since I had her spayed. She was a bit groggy the first couple of days, but she's back to her goofy, high-energy self.
2006-07-20 15:32:16 · answer #3 · answered by adelinia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, but your not making life any easier on her, spaying of the cat will also decrease the chances of certain types of diseases and infections associated with cats from occurring also, but as for punishment or not, your not abusing it in any way, but a vet would advise you that if your not going to breed it the cat should be spayed.
2006-07-20 14:42:12 · answer #4 · answered by Mark G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not as much as punishing yourself. A female cat is a handful when she is in heat. It's not an expensive procedure and you'll do each other a favor in the long run!
2006-07-20 14:41:23 · answer #5 · answered by todvango 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you are. How would you like to feel the sexual urges and NEVER be able to satisfy that? That is cruel in my opinion.
Why would you not want to get her spayed? She will make strange noises to go out and mate so that would be annoying. She will make a much better pet once she is spayed and be totally loving to you instead of trying to divide her loyalties.
Get her spayed.
2006-07-20 14:56:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless you plan to carefully BREED your cat, she should be spayed. There is no reason to make her go through heat over and over and over and not be able to make it stop if she's not going to be having babies. I don't know how they ACTUALLY feel during this process, but they certainly sound miserable -- not to mention how crazy it makes everyone else. And I don't advocate breeding because there are way too many babies destroyed every day because homes can't be found, so why make more? Please get your kitty spayed ASAP!
2006-07-20 14:41:28 · answer #7 · answered by Shadycat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are punisheing the neighbors and yourself because of the yowling and the tom cats yowing back. Get her fixed and have a fat happy cat and peace and quiet!
2006-07-20 14:51:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Personally, I don't know how you stand it when she's in season! You're punishing yourself. If she's indoors why wouldn't you get her spayed? It's not like she may never-ever accidentially get out and then you'll wished she was spayed.
2006-07-20 14:44:55 · answer #9 · answered by trusport 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you don't plan on breeding her, then you should definitely get her spayed. She will have a lower risk of health problems, she won't come into heat, nor will she have the mood swings that come with outrageous hormone levels.
2006-07-20 14:41:41 · answer #10 · answered by Green-Eyed Gal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋