Why does it seem that all the best cats are spayed/neutered?

Question

I find the history of the domestication of pets fascinating. I'm very interested to find myself part of it.

We have a sweet pair of opposite-sex cats. They're both extremely nice to look at*, have good personalities, etc. They eat only the best cat foods and treats we can find, see the vet regularly, live indoors but get exercised and played with; they have a great life for a pair of house cats.

The female was spayed recently, and the guy goes in to get his "niblets" (vet's term) off in a week.

Which makes me think about how many sick, ill-treated, un-socialised cats are out there reproducing, and how much of the cat population comes from a bad home, or no home.

Yes, breeders, etc etc, but: those are all purebreds, and there're a number who're worried about appearance over health and personality.

No wonder, I thought, that cats revert to being feral so easily. All the best cats are 'fixed'!

It makes for an odd thing in the history of domesticating them.

Thoughts?

* No, really. Photographic evidence:

http://flickr.com/photos/kmennie/230761533/
http://flickr.com/photos/kmennie/303057226/

As for personality?

http://flickr.com/photos/kmennie/303041580/

Answer 1

Purebreds who are shown are NOT fixed.. infact they MUST be intact to be shown

other than reputable breeders it can be said that all the BEST OWNERS have cats who are fixed...

unfortunately too many people think their cat should be allowed to breed simply because its cute or friendly with no regard to genetics or temperment or suitablity as breeding stock

Answer 2

A) Spaying and neutering isn't painful in any respect! they'd purely be somewhat uncomfortable the days after even as they are convalescing. And their personalities would substitute, yet only for the further useful. they'd develop into so a lot extra affectionate and loving, and extra playful. =) No concerns, there, love! words to describe spay/neutering: Loving. healthful. recurring. No biggie. responsible. worrying. =) B) i do not comprehend if there's a lot i will say about de-clawing, because i'm sensible others will provide you with a caution of what absolute HORROR that's. i have seen the mutilating surgical operation finished countless circumstances, perfect there in human being. I cried the first time. i'm SO hostile to declawing that it makes me ill. words to describe declawing: unnecessary. dumb. disgustingly cruel. selfish. ignorant. uneducated. irresponsible. mutilating. unlawful. immoral. stressful. life-threatening. Painful previous conception. i might want to bypass on for days like this. Declawing is prohibited in all international places with cats except for the U.S. and Canada. Why would they outlaw a reliable element? because that's no longer a reliable element. the purely reason that's nevertheless legal right that's because selfish, ignorant everyone looks keen to pay huge money to shrink off their cat's fingers, and both selfish and immoral vets are keen to do it. they truly bypass in deep previous the blood vessels and nerves to no longer-so-intently rip off each and every nail. Do you've any idea how painful it truly is? and the way it significantly damages the cat's life? The cat will develop into disabled, crippled for something else of its life. it really is no longer an exaggeration, it really is a actuality. Please do not enable each person declaw your children! Spaying/Neutering = Yay! Love! reliable! outstanding! Declawing = *cries*

Answer 3

Well, domestic kittens are not too different from the kittens of other cat species; the main difference is, they never completely reach adulthood. They use some kittenish behaviors all their lives. Feral cats use less; for instance, adults rarely meow unless talking to a kitten. This is partly learned adaptation; humans don't understand scent and are not very fluent in body language, but they do pretty well with vocalizations. So, pet cats vocalize more.
Then there is the genetic factor. I had a cat that was abandoned by a feral mother. Although raised by humans, as an adult he was very shy, except with me. And he would often escape outside and refuse to come in again. He showed traits that would make for a good feral cat, but not such a good pet. But he was neutered, so he didn't pass them on.

Answer 4

You are only calling them "The best cats" because you are taming them in doing what's good for you.

What about the cat?

Do you really think that if a male cat was given the choice of being fixed... it would say... yes! take me to the vet pronto.

It is a shame that we don't have the same attitude towards humans. With humans... it is quite the opposite actually. Up to 40 years ago... contraception was a dirty word.

Just think of the difference it would make to the planet if we did fix every man and woman. It would put a stop to the spiralling out of control grow of our global population. But we won't do that. It's better to control the cat so that we can remain superior to him.

All this said... I have a 7 year old male cat that has not been fixed. And he has given me heaps of trouble over the years with his fights. But he is still a loving cat when he is home and would not think of leaving home and becoming feral unless he had to.

And that is the thing... If I was gone... he would survive... because he is a real cat who has been free to do what he wants all his life. He has never been locked up. He comes in or go out as he please. I have a trap door for him.
I go away a couple of times a year and take him with me. We travel by car. We stay at various friend's places. He never runs away and never get lost. He adapts very quickly to its new surrendings and know that if I leave him somewhere... he has to wait for me to comeback.

Answer 5

People who want nice house cats usually do get them fixed and declawed for several reasons:

1) They are less likely to spray or ruin your furniture and carpeting.

2) They are far less likely to run out the door when you are coming in with an arm full of groceries.

3) They don't go through a heat cycle every couple of months.

4) The humane society is loaded with cats. They have to put them down because they can't find homes for all of them.

Answer 6

The best cats are the best cats because someone took them in and cared for them.

I have a formerly feral cat that my daughter found badly injured on the street in Philadelphia. She took him to be tended at an animal hospital and he came home healed, but quite wild, to us. It took a lot of time, kindness and patience, but he eventually came around. We never raised our voices to him, spoke gently to him and took a lot of scraches, growls and hisses. It took six months for him to allow us to touch him.

Now, he cuddles up to me on the couch. He touches his nose to my lips to gives kisses, and he actually licks my face, like a dog would to show affection. I can clean his ears, cut his nails, administer any medication that is needed, and he is quite accepting of strangers.

I also take in feral kittens, and when they come here, they are quite unsociable, often quite raggedy in appearance, and usually very thin. When they leave here, they have glistening coats, are friendly with other animals...we have a house rabbit that is house broken and doesn't ever get caged...and purr the moment someone touches them.

Every cat has it in themselves to be a "best" cat. The thing that makes the difference is the people who tend the cat.

Answer 7

Yes, but I'm sure you rescued your cats as I rescued mine. And see how wonderful they turned out. So even feral, poorly treated cats give us these beautiful wonderful companions. Although I suppose it makes you wonder how much more wonderful they could be if no kittens came from poorly cared for parents, and instead could come from ours.

Answer 8

i with you 100 %!! i wish all people though like us! we would all save these poor cats a bad life if the parents would have been fixed!! save a life, spay or neuter your pet!!!! :)

Answer 9

cats are better spaid and nuetered because it makes life easier on you. the female cat will make horrible noises while in heat because she is in pain and she will be healthier and have less risk of cancer after being spaid. the male will not spray around your house to mark his territory which makes your house stink.

Answer 10

Yeah .. I feel your pain! It's kind of like "all the best guys are taken!" (lol!)