After bringing a new kitten into your home you have the responsibility of whether or not to neuter him/her. Overpopulation is an issue in the cat world and it is important to combat this issue by neutering your kitten if you are not planning on future breeding. There are conflicting opinions when it comes to the topic of neutering/spaying. However, we’ve put together a list of pros and cons in relation to neutering/spaying both male and female kittens.
Should You Get Your Kitten Spayed/Neutered? (Pros and Cons)
Pros For Spaying A Female Kitten:
- Having your female kitten spayed or neutered at 8-12 weeks or once they weigh 2 pounds, means that your kitten will not have a heat cycle which can be painful for them.
- Not only are heat cycles painful for kittens, but it is also hard to watch your kitten in pain and their howling may keep you up at night. By spaying your kitten, you are avoiding losing sleep and watching your kitten in pain.
- Your kitten will also be 25% less likely to develop mammary gland tumors after spaying
- They will also not be able to get uterine cancers which are prevalent in cats.
- Your kitten’s hormone levels will be more stable and they will be far less prone to urinary tract infections.
- Further, pet overpopulation is a serious problem and spaying your kitten will help to reduce the burden of extra kittens on yourself and animal shelters.
Cons For Spaying A Female Kitten:
- Spaying your female kitten could lead to extra weight gain. Your kitten’s hormones will not fluctuate naturally, so she will be prone to holding on to extra water weight.
- This can lead to other health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart problems later in their adult life.
- Spaying your kitten means they will be sterilized so you will not be able to breed them later on if you wish to have more kittens.
Pros For Neutering A Male Kitten:
- After being neutered, male kittens tend to live healthier lives than unneutered male kittens
- They are also without the added risk of testicular cancer which can be deadly.
- Male kittens will not have the drive to mate once they’ve been neutered, which means they will have a calmer demeanor and be less likely to run away from your home in search of a mate.
- As well, if you have an unspayed female kitten, your male kitten will not be able to impregnate her which will leave you with a litter of kittens to vaccinate and re home.
Cons For Neutering A Male Kitten:
- Neutering your male kitten means sterilizing him. Once your kitten has been neutered, he will no longer be able to mate and produce litters of kittens.
- As well, your kitten will look different after the procedure is completed, as neutering him means to remove the testicles entirely.
- Further, your male kitten could gain weight a bit more easily, as his hormones will not be in balance naturally.
- This extra weight gain can lead to high blood pressure, feline diabetes, and heart problems later in your kitten’s adult life
Fun Spaying Fact:
February 27, 2018 marks the 24th annual World Spay Day!
