BESIDES for the problem of overpopulization, are there any other reasons why I should have my cat fixed?

Question

I can guarantee that my indoor female cat will never have the opportunity to see another male cat, and will NOT have a chance to reproduce. So while I understand that there is a crisis of overpopulation in pets, my question is, are there any other reasons (possibly health related?) why my cat should be fixed.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Absolutely. Unspayed cats can develop breast cancer. They can develop uterine infections called Pyometra. This is where the uterus becomes infected and fills with pus. An OPEN pyo is when the pus is able to drain out the vaginal opening. A CLOSED pyo is a life threatening emergency. The pus cannot exit the uterus and the uterus expands and fills with the pus. If it ruptures, the cat now has peritonitis and will likely die. For both open and closed pyos the only solution is emergency spay. The bad part of the emergency spay is that the vet is now operating on a SICK animal. The surgical risk increases tenfold.

And I will tell you this. I don't care how CAREFUL you are, a female cat in heat WILL get out of the house somehow. Just the 'calling' and yowling for a mate is enough to drive a sane person crazy. I couldn't spay my cat right away because of health issues, and the yowling all day and night drove me nuts. And all it takes is one small slip with the door, and that cat is gone to breed with a male.  

Answer 2

Other then overpopulation there are no health reasons but a lot of people still fix there pets because of spraying and them going into heat.

Answer 3

Have you ever seen a female cat in heat.  Not a pretty sight.  Also spayed and neutered animals are healthier and happier.  Have your cat spayed.  

Answer 4

To prevent cancer of the female reproductive systems. If she's spayed before her first heat, it also significantly reduces the risk for cancer of the mammary system..

Spaying also can prevent behavioral issues like yowling when in heat and spray marking.. It can make her less prone to mood swings.

Some cats will stay in heat nearly constantly if they are not bred or spayed, so you will have a cat that may yowl constantly and back up to you with it's tail in the air.. Kinda embarrassing too if you have people over. Her being in heat can also attract unneutered male cats to your home and you may end up with the reek of male cat spray around your home..  

Answer 5

if its a boy you have the problem of peeing evrywhere marking its territory there also is a disiese i beleive or it has a better chance of getting sick but i only heard this other than that i think its just over population

Answer 6

Spaying reduces the risk of breast cancer. A larger number of unspayed pets develop breast tumors. Animals that are spayed before

their first heat cycle experience few tumors.

Spaying eliminates uterine diseases. Removal of the uterus removes the site of many diseases such as pyometra, a serious, sometimes life threatening infection. It also eliminates uterine cancer.

Spaying will also eliminate mastitis (breast inflammation), ovarian cysts, miscarriage, and delivery complications.

      

Neutering reduces the risk of older animals developing enlarged prostate glands. It also lowers the risk of prostate cancer and eliminates testicular cancer.

      

Spaying and neutering will also remove your pets discomfort, distress, and distraction caused by the strong instinct to mate.

Spayed or neutered pets will live longer, happier, healthier lives and, in the case of cats, can double their lifespan.

Answer 7

1 Loud and annoying! Cats cat really make a racket when they are in heat.

#2 Stress.. I had my cat Crickett for 5 years unfixed. The stress took a toll on her.. and I believe ultimately led to her death. If I had of known what I know now, I would have gotten her fixed.

#3 Marking.. don't fool yourself.. female cats can mark just as bad as males and they not only pee they p**p around too. 2 of my cats marked when in heat.. ever have to change your sheets twice in one day, shampoo your couch and throw out your loveseat because of a female cat in heat?? well I have and it's not fun.

Female cats are better off fixed.. they will just keep going into heat, meowing making a mess and basically stressing out every 2-3 weeks for their whole life and it's not fair to them or you..

PS Channy.. that's what I believe happened to my cat... she died of hypoglycemia that was most likely brought on by pyometra.. I didn't know at the time that could happen, and because of her small size I was always too worried to get her fixed, I was afraid she would die on the table.

Answer 8

It is healthier for the cat. cats also do go through periods so blood on the floor and carrying on and wailing.  

Answer 9

Spaying your female cat will prevent unwanted litters. That is the fundamental issue, because if your cat gives birth, you are the one faced with the task of finding new homes for the kittens.

Here are some added benefits to spaying your female cat:

Prevent tumors and infections of the ovaries and uterus.

  

Greatly decrease the risk for mammary cancer.

Spaying a cat before she goes into her first heat is best, but even spaying at a later age will dramatically decrease the risk of mammary cancer.

Avoid the hassle of a female cat in heat.

Cats in heat can be very vocal and will attract a great many male cats. If you think you can wait out the heat cycle, you're in for a surprise. If the cat does not mate, she will keep going into heat every few weeks.

Answer 10

Overpopulation is reason enough

Answer 11

some cats uteris can rupture. the meowing is enuf for me-they turn into a perv

Answer 12

an un altered cat can get whats called pyometra and die from it very quickly and/or stick you with a huge bill, worked in a vet clinic for years and have senn MANY come thru averaging a bill of $700

Answer 13

well i heard on Y! answers that it makes them live longer and it keeps them from getting certian cancers

Answer 14

A cat in heat can be a real pain in the backside. Yowling at the window while the toms line up... you don't want that.

More reasons in the link below.

Answer 15

Having your cat fixed will make it calm.  It is like if you were to (sorry bout the analogy) smoke a joint, and you were then all calmed down.  Well, the cat is happy, she no longer has to compete, and no longer has to worry about much of anything, except living a nice, calm peaceful life from here on out.  Your kitty will go Ahhhhhhh.....Thank you!

Answer 16

The only other good feeling I see is that it stops the annoying calling.