Dear Miss Behavin’: I recently adopted a stray cat. I heard that spaying a cat could change their personality. I also think it would be cute for her to have kittens so I can play with them. What should I do?
Spaying and neutering your pets is one of the most important things you can do for them and an important part of responsible pet ownership. It not only helps your pet but your community as well. Every spring shelters are over-run with kittens from cats that are not spayed or neutered. If a shelter is not equipped with volunteers or a kitten nursery, stray kittens will be euthanized since they require round the clock care. Every year nationwide 6.5 million animals are euthanized in shelters. By spaying your cat, you will be saving lives! There are health benefits as well. Fixing your animal can reduce or eliminate the risk of several cancers. Giving birth is not easy – it will eliminate any complications and pain your cat would have to go through during pregnancy and birth. There is also no guarantee you would be able to find forever homes for the kittens. While the average litter size for a cat is four kittens, cats can have up to twelve! You will also only see positive behavioral changes after a cat is spayed/neutered. It reduces the tendency to roam and fight with other cats. Depending on the age of they were neutered, male cats will not spray. Overall, fixing your cat is one of the best things you can do for them. It will save many cat lives down the road and keep them out of shelters. Volunteering at a local shelter is a great way to get your kitten fix. Spay your cat and she will thank you!