Should I get my kitten spayed?

Question

I have a 11 month old exotic shorthair female kitten and im debating whether or not to get her spayed or not. Ive heared if I don't, her life span will shorten and I do not want this to happen! What do you recommend?

She will always be staying indoors, we only take her outside to brush her as she is a rare breed and is meant for indoors. Thanks for your answers, keep them coming!

Answer 1

Spay her

Answer 2

Absolutely, positively, without question, SPAY the cat. We have enough unwanted kittens in the world. Although you only take her out on supervised visits, instinct will prevail, and she can get away from you. I also know two different people who had indoor female cats in heat, one had some animal break into the screen porch where the cat was & it was never seen again. The other had a male cat break through a screen in an open window & attack their cat, impregnating it. Even if that doesn't happen, she will go into heat repeatedly & that is not good for her, or particularly pleasant for others to deal with the calling and other behavior. Unspayed cats are more prone to mammary & uterine tumors. Please, I work with animal rescue and have seen far too many cases where a person thought the cat wouldn't get pregnant, but did, then they don't want the kittens. There are more kittens than homes for them. Please spay your cat soon. PS our group operates a spay clinic, so I frequently work there, so here's my advice, get your cat spayed when she is NOT in heat if possible, as its just easier on her, but they can do it if she is in heat. The surgery is over pretty quickly, she'll probably recover overnight at the vets, then you just need to watch her & try to limit jumping for the next few days, & she'll be back to normal soon. DO IT!

Answer 3

All cats should be spayed or neutered unless owned by a cat breeder. Your cat is either a pet or a breeding queen. I honestly think it is cruel not to have your female spayed she will be desperately unhappy trying to escape to find a mate you will know because she will walk around the house meowing constantly plus raising her hind quarters as if to mate when you are rubbing her. Also it is not unheard of for female cats to spray if not spayed. I have recently had my seven month old kitten spayed and she recovered so well after her opperation I love all my cats so much and would only want the best for them as I am sure you do. Females become much more loveable afterwards also but as I have always neutered and spayed before they reach adulthood I can't say spaying is the sole reason for that one more piece of information cats come into heat near enough every two weeks throughout the spring and summer but to a much lesser degree as the days grow darker over the Autumn and Winter.

Answer 4

You should definitely get her spayed hun. You've already had 30 answers, so I'll keep mine short :-)

I'm glad you're keeping her indoors, that's a great move. However, there is always the chance that she could escape one day. No matter how careful you are, it does happen. You don't want her to return pregnant.

Also, going into heat is messy and uncomfortable for the cat and not pleasant for you to deal with.

Spaying also greatly reduces the risk of deadly illnesses such as cancer.

I've included a couple of links for you, but yes, you should definitely get your kitty spayed :-)

http://www.kittenrescue.org/spayneuter.htm
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_the_feline_spay.html

xx Emmie

Answer 5

Its always a good idea to spay a kitten. It doesnt shorten their life that much but honestly, there are millions of unwanted cats AND kittens because people dont want to spay. This is regardless of if it is an exotic or not.

Answer 6

From: http://www.vospca.org/archive/spayneut.html

Benefits of Spaying and Neutering

* They are less inclined to roam or fight.
* They are generally more affectionate.
* Male cats tend to stop spraying.
* Dog license fees are 1/2 the cost.
* Spayed/neutered pets do not get fat and lazy.
* Spaying and neutering can be done as early as four months of age.
* Your female pet can be spayed while in heat or pregnant.
* Your female dog or cat does not need to have "just one litter."

Spay/Neuter General Information

Spaying (ovario-hysterectomy) is the surgical removal of the reproductive organs (ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes) of the female animal. Neutering (orchectomy or castration) is the surgical removal of the reproductive glands (testes) of the male animal. The outer is left, only the testes are removed. Appearance depends upon the dog's age at the time of the surgery.

Females and males should be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age. Currently some clinics are performing surgeries on animals as young as 8 weeks of age. As this procedure becomes more common, perhaps it will be available in this area. Older animals can be done as long as they are in good health. All sterilization surgery is performed under general anesthesia by a licensed veterinarian.

Female dogs and cats can be spayed when in heat or pregnant. This can usually be done up until a few days before delivery. These surgeries can take longer, and can therefore cost more. Spaying before having a first litter or heat cycle is usually a simpler procedure.

The heat cycle for dogs is once or twice a year starting as early as 6 months of age. Duration is 3 weeks. Heat cycles in cats start as early as 6 months and occur every 3-4 weeks during spring through early fall. The gestation period for both dogs and cats is 63 days. Female cats can become pregnant again as soon as 10 days after giving birth (while still nursing the first litter).
Health Benefits of Spaying and Neutering

Spayed animals no longer feel the need to roam to look for a mate. The result is that they stay home and have less chance of being involved in traumatic accidents such as being hit by a car. They also have a much lower incidence of contracting contagious diseases, and get into fewer fights.

In males, neutering decreases the chances of developing prostatic disease and hernias, and eliminates the chances of developing testicular cancer. It also reduces problems with territorial and sexual aggression, inappropriate urination (spraying) and other undesirable male behaviors.

In Females, spaying decreases the incidence of breast cancer (the rate goes down to almost zero if the spaying is done before the first heat cycle!). It eliminates the chance of developing a serious and potentially fatal infection of the uterus experienced by many mature unspayed animals (pyometra). Spay surgery also eliminates the heat cycle and associated mood swings and undesirable behaviors, messy spotting (in dogs) and the attraction of all available males to your yard.

The simple fact is that spaying and neutering greatly increases the lifespan of your pet and increases quality of life as well!

Answer 7

NOT spaying her may very well cause her to get cancer of the uterus or mammary cancer when she gets older. This is an established veterinary medical fact.

Causing her to go into heat is EXTREMELY stressful on the cat-my Pee Wee (whom my mother would NOT allow me, a little kid, to get her spayed) went into heat TWICE a month--oh that poor cat!!!!

PYOMETRA is also quite possible in unspayed cats and dogs--the uterus fills with pus-- it is a horrible infection.

My friend's cat was spayed and lived to be 22.

Cats who are abandoned and have kittens outdoors lead miserable lives. Spaying and Neutering IS the healthy way for our pets to live. out their lives.

Just like human beings -- Each cat is different. Their genetic makeup sometimes predisposes them to a long life or a short life. Proper medical care (Veterinary visits once a year, plus additional medical care should the cat get sick or hurt) and proper diet are also MAJOR factors in adding years to the cat's life.

Please get your kitty spayed at a good animal hospital -- make the vet who spays your cat a lifelong friend and visit that vet regularly with your kitty. Your kitty is like a child- a member of the family. May she live long and prosper - and may the two of you have a wonderful life together.

It might be a great idea if you became a gentle advocate for spaying and neutering, and also if you found out more about TNR for feral cats (feral cats are the offspring of those poor kitties that people dump when they no longer want them)

http://www.alleycat.org

http://www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html

Answer 8

You should spay her for multiple reasons. For one it will reduce the change of ovarian cancer and uterus cancer, along with uterine polyps and tumors. Another good reason is THERE IS NOTHING MORE ANNOYING THAN A CAT IN HEAT!! Also if she gets outside while in heat she WILL 9-10 times be found by a tom and get pregnant. Then you'll have all the pregnancy risks and issues to deal with. Don't under estimate those toms either. I lived on a 40 acer farm in the middle of the country with no other farms near by and some how my cat got pregnant!! Please spaying her with get rid of a world of headaches and trouble!!

Answer 9

Aw, what a solid cat mom you sound like! I even have had 1000's of feral cats and kittens spayed & neutered over the years. you do no longer feed or enable them to have water the night in the previous. Take them in early and %. them up at remaining. some vets choose for to maintain them over night, although this is over kill except there exchange into some type of situation in the process the surgical treatment. She'll be sleepy and ask your self of out of it for some hours after wards, perchance even until eventually day after as we communicate. Ask the Vet for some discomfort meds for her. usually given in liquid type permeasured doses you provide as quickly as an afternoon for 3-5 days. She must be advantageous in some days until eventually then she'll sleep extra and play particularly much less. watch for any bleeding on the insion website or discharge of any sort, reddness or swelling. in case you spot any of those call your Vet. No you will no longer could desire to take the day off. solid success with your kitten i'm specific she'll be a source of love , convenience and amazement for some destiny years!

Answer 10

I seriously doubt that her life span will be shorten. But I would get her spayed as there is always a chance that she could get pregnant, which may shorten her life span then. I think spaying would be beneficial and would determine that no unwanted pregnancies would ever happen.

Answer 11

Yes get her spayed, otherwise you'll also have to listen to her mewl while in heat.
And yes, a female cat's life span is shortened when she's not spayed.
Your other contributors list the other good reasons for spaying. do it!