1. Helps your cat live a longer life:

   • The average lifespan of spayed and neutered cats is longer than the lifespan of those not. A study conducted by Banfield Pet Hospitals on a database of 460,000 cats concluded spayed female cats lived 39% longer and neutered male cats lived 62% longer.

2. Decreases spraying:

   • Cats reach sexual maturity around six months of age, sometimes earlier. When they do, it is very common for both males and females to start spraying to mark their territory and attract a mate. If you wait until your cat has sprayed, there is no guarantee that getting them spayed and neutered at that time will stop the behavior either.

3. Decreases the likelihood of running away:

   • When your kitty starts getting those urges, it might be more likely that they’ll try to bolt out the door. This is especially true if they smell a male or female outside that they want to interact with. When you get your cat fixed, it takes away those naturally occurring urges to find a mate.

4. Can even out temperament:

   • When cats are sexually mature, it can cause aggression and undesirable behavior in some because it elevates certain hormones and chemicals in the brain. Your cat might be aggressive with other cats. Females in heat may yowl and undergo undesirable personality changes.

5. Cuts back on the stray population:

   • If there are fewer cats out there breeding, it lowers the stray population. We can do our part to prevent it. There are an estimated 3-40 million stray or feral cats in the USA. These cats go without human care and, most of the time, without consistent meals and health care. You can help prevent this senseless tragedy

6. Reduces healthcare costs:

   • A cat staying unaltered can seriously impact health in the future. In males, to reduce the risk of health issues such as testicular cancer, prostate disease, and hernias, it’s always best to neuter. Spayed females have a lower risk of breast cancer (90% fatal in cats. 50% fatal in dogs) and life-threatening uterine infections. Caring for a cat with reproductive system cancer or pyometra can easily run thousands of dollars—five to 10 times as much as a routine spay or neuter surgery.

People who care for outside pet cats that are not used to handling can borrow humane box traps from People for Animals (https://pfaonline.org/spay-neuter/) or Purrfect Catpanion (https://www.findyourcatpanion.org/about-us). This type of trap will enclose the pet without harm, enabling it to be transported to the clinic. Make an appointment at People for Animals and follow all of their instructions.

The cat should not be fed the night before surgery, but they should be given water. Once surgery is complete, food and water should be given. Keep the cat and observe them for 24 hours so they can recover quietly before release. Follow the clinic’s instructions.

When vets neuter or spay a community cat, they will cut off the tip of one ear.  This will help you to identify cats that have already been neutered or spayed. 

It’s typically best to get your cat spayed or neutered between eight weeks and five months of age. This targets the timeline before your cat reaches sexual maturity. The longer you wait, the more likely other issues can develop, and it’s not worth the wait

People for Animals in Hillsdale offers neuter/spay for $102 for each cat, which includes rabies and distemper vaccines. https://pfaonline.org/spay-neuter/

Spay and neuter surgically removes the internal reproductive organs from your pet. The operation is done painlessly while your pet is under anesthesia, and is performed by an experienced licensed veterinarian. After the operation, with a little special care and attention from you, your pet will soon resume its normal activities. Follow vet instructions before and after the procedure.

Most cats that undergo the procedure will begin to feel better within 24–48 hours after the surgery. Complete recovery usually takes 10–14 days. This period is necessary for your cat to recover completely and without complications. During this time, the surgical incisions will heal, and your cat will no longer feel any discomfort. Keep your pet from heavy exercise and check the incision twice a day for 14 days, to make sure it is healing properly.

All surgery has its risks and complications. Fortunately, the vast majority of surgeries will go well and recovery will be uneventful. You can help reduce complications by following pre-anesthetic instructions and post-operative care instructions to help keep your cat healthy and happy. The most common complications are post-op due to cats being able to lick at their wounds or stitches..