what are the pros and cons of getting a cat spayed and at what age shoud it be done?

Answer 1

A female cat should be spayed 12 -16 weeks of age. If you wait until after the age of 6 months the cat may become moody. It is better to have the proceedure done by 4 mths of age before the cat's first 'heat'.

The pros of the proceedure are: It is a relatively safe proceedure (much the same as a hysterectomy, only if done by the age of 4 mths, the cat will not go through the mood swings due to hormonal changes). When a female cat is in heat, it will lie on it's stomach and place it's rear area in the air, meow or holler excessively while switching from each back paw to the other (My mother has a 2 yr old female that does this to every visitor and animal it sees, it is very annoying and embarrassing). You will not have every tom cat in the nieghborhood meowing or hollering at your door (they have a very good sense of smell, especially to the female pharamones) and your female trying to dart out to them at every chance. No chances of being over populated by unwanted kittens. No unwanted kittens unable to find homes or possibly being put down at animal shelters. Also female cats that have not been fixed sometimes become aggressive and territorial.No chances of your cat escaping to get to a male and becoming hit by a car or lost. You will save money in the long run, because cats in heat like to scratch furniture, etc.The cat will be much healthier without the risks of tumors,etc and risks associated with giving birth (less vet visits). Also, they will at times, rip curtains and scratch doors/carpet trying to get out.

The cons are few: It may cost a little pocket money to have the proceedure done. You will need to keep the cats stitches/bandages clean and return to the vet in 10 days to have stitches removed. The cat will have limited ability for the first 10 days or so (no high jumping, aggressive play, etc.). The cat may experience some minor pain for the first few days but afterwards mainly an itching sensation (you will need to keep the cat from scratching until stitches have been removed. This can be accomplished by placing a wrap around the cat over the bandage). And last of all, you will not be able to breed your cat should you ever plan to do so.

SIncerely, Audra
Veterinary Assistant

Answer 2

There are no cons, the pros are that it makes a happier, healthier kitty, spares kitty from mammary tumors, uterine infections, risks during birth, saves you from having a cat in heat every three weeks, is the only way to stop pet overpopulation, keeps the cat acting more like a kitten for longer, keeps the cat more attached to the owner because she doesnt have the urge to go off fooling around, and she isn't away from you to care for kittens. You can do it anytime nowdays, try to have it done before 5 months or so so that kitty doesnt go into heat. Even if she does, howeve, cats can be spayed while they are in heat. There are also many reduced-cost clinics and/or check with a local humane society for grants or reduced-cost spaying and neutering programs.

Answer 3

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RE:
what are the pros and cons of getting a cat spayed and at what age shoud it be done?

Answer 4

I agree that the pro's of having your cat spayed are numerous. As for the best age to do it, your best answer will come from the vet you take the cat to. I know a couple of vets that will not spay cats under a year for health and growth reasons. When in doubt... ask those in that particular field.

Answer 5

An unspayed female cat who has a heat cycle or even one litter of kittens is statistically liable to have mammary cancer in her lifetime. This is an aggressive cancer in cats (not so much so in dogs.) So unless you can stomach having to deal with that in the future, get her spayed as soon as you can.

Cats can have their first heat cycle as early as five months.

Shelters are now spaying kittens at two months or two pounds. They have been doing this for the last ten years. Kittens bounce back from this surgery so fast and are playing with their litter mates within 24 hours.

Older cats need a little more time for recovery.

Do it as soon as you can.

Answer 6

Pros- No kittens, No chance of some cancers, Overall healthier cat, Decrease over population

Cons- No kittens!(j/k)

We had our cat spayed about 6 months ago. It should be done ASAP if your cat isn't a kitten. But can be done at any age.

Answer 7

There are three pros that I can think of. I don't know any cons.

Pro: no kittens. The world is full of unwanted cats and kittens that are killed by the millions in shelters because nobody wants them.

Pro: no heats. Females in heat are miserable if they can't mate, so if you don't spay her and don't let her breed, she'll be miserable on a regular basis for her entire life.

Pro: no mammary cancer. This only applies if you spay early, so it's also the answer to your second question. Mammary cancer (called breast cancer in humans) is the leading lethal cancer in female cats with developed mammaries. If you spay before puberty the mammaries don't develop and the risk of mammary cancer is reduced to zero.

Answer 8

Cats should be spayed/neutered at 6-8 months. It is not a good idea to have this surgery when they are very young (5-6 weeks). It is not a good idea to have surgery done in spring or summer because cats naturally want to mate during this season and hormones begin to flow in their bodies. If you know your cat will be 6 months in early spring, it is better to have the surgery sooner than later (January or February). Please always spay/neuter your animals so it will prevent unwanted animals.

Answer 9

They live longer and they won't go into heat. There really are no cons to it. And they can get spayed at least by one yr. of age maybe a little younger as I can remember.

Answer 10

Let me emphasize that getting your cat spayed will give it a longer life. An unspayed female cat will probably not live to be five years old (they wander off, are more susceptible to diseases, and fight -- to the death sometimes -- with other cats).

A spayed female cat will probably live to more than 15.