Nellie
cause thats what- i am a princess | 
 | | Purred: Mon Jul 25, '11 4:12pm PST |  | |  | | Overview:
Even today, with worldwide resources at our fingertips, there are still pet owners who believe various tales about reasons for not desexing their cat.
Much of what is said comes down to just a lack of understanding which is commonly caused by old wives tails which refuse to go away. Some of the common reasons people don't desex their cat include;
•Desexing will change her personality.
•It is better to have a litter of kittens before desexing her.
•I want for my children to see the miracle of birth.
•I can't afford to have my cat desexed.
Desexing will change her personality:
Desexing can change a cat's personality, but it's usually for the better. Because the cats don't have sex on their minds all the time, more often than not, they will become more affectionate towards their owners.
People have suggested that cats can put on weight after they've been desexed. Personally, I haven't experienced this problem with any cat I've had desexed. An entire cat will spend time prowling the streets looking for a mate. Once desexed, the urge to wander isn't as extreme, and therefore they will spend more time at home. If you notice your cat is putting on weight after desexing, just increase the cat's level of activity by playing games with the cat. Never put your cat on a diet without veterinary supervision.
A queen who is calling constantly can lose weight. Some queens lose their appetite when they are in heat, they have other things on their mind.
Entire males (and females) are likely to spray. Cat spray is extremely pungent. Most cat breeders keep their stud cats in a separate cat enclosure because of this problem with spraying. Generally females don't spray, but it's not unheard of. It's more likely to happen in entire females.
Entire cats are going to be looking for a mate. This means they endanger their lives wandering around the neighbourhood looking for a partner. They are at greater risk of car accidents, dog attacks, getting lost or even being abused by cruel people.
Entire queens come into heat every few weeks. When they are in heat they frequently call, night & day. We once had a neighbour who let their entire Burmese female wander the neighbourhood calling, it drove the locals crazy. Trying to sleep with a cat howling outside your window isn't much fun. It's also very thoughtless of people who allow their cats to disturb the peace of other residents. Incidentally, this Burmese was hit & killed by a car before her third birthday, her daughter was also killed by a car at 2 years old.
Health benefits to desexing your queen:
An entire female is at risk of developing the following conditions;
•Mammary Cancer. The third most common tumour found in cats. Extremely low chance of developing this if the cat has been spayed prior to her first heat.
•Pyometra. This is an infection of the uterus. At best, if caught early it can be treated. At worst, it can lead to death.
•Tumours of the uterus & ovaries.
•Stress caused by constant calling can weaken the cat's immune system.
Males are also at risk:
Testosterone is known to weaken a male's immune system. Desexing your tom cat will reduce the level of testosterone in his system, thus strengthening his immune system.
He will be less territorial, and therefore not get into as many fights with other cats in the area. Less risk of injury.
Entire males are at risk of developing testicular cancer
Both males & females permitted to breed at random are also at risk of contracting FIV or FeLV. Both are caused by viruses, and once caught are fatal.
I want my children to see the miracle of birth:
If you want to show your kids the miracle of birth I'd suggest renting a nature video instead. You will see lots of animals giving birth. Bringing yet another litter of kittens into the world just because you want to show your children is not a valid excuse. Are you prepared for the unexpected? What if the queen gives birth to dead kittens, or deformed ones? How will your kids feel if the kittens fail to thrive after the first few days. Are you prepared to show them the miracle of death also?
I can't afford to desex my cat:
Desexing is a relatively cheap operation, and if money is an issue are you prepared for the unexpected? what would happen if the cat needed expensive veterinary care after a car accident or being attacked by another cat? Pet ownership is a responsibility, and every person considering getting a pet should be fully aware of the costs, and demands before making a decision. Cats can live for up to 20 years, and can cost quite a sum of money. The cost of desexing your cat is a mere drop in the ocean compared to the potential costs if you keep the cat entire. For example:
If the queen has problems giving birth, she may need an emergency caesarean.
The queen can develop mastitis, again requiring veterinary care. If your queen develops mastitis, it may fall upon you to hand feed the kittens, every 2-4 hours (day & night). After they have been fed, you will need to stimulate them to go to the loo.
As stated above, there are several health risks associated with keeping an entire cat. All of which can be costly to have treated.
There is also the moral debate. Every year, millions of cats are euthanised because there just aren't enough homes for them. There are shelters all over the world full of cats who desperately need a good home & somebody to love them. Each pet owner should consider this before adding to the overpopulation of cats by breeding their own cat.
If you are serious about becoming a breeder, you should buy the best purebred cat money can buy, and register yourself with one of the many cat clubs. Before breeding your first litter, you should spend several months or even years researching the ins & outs of feline husbandry, genetics, disease & breeding. You will also need to know if your breed of choice is prone to any health/genetic defects. If so, can they be tested for? Arm yourself with as much knowledge as you possibly can. There is far more to breeding than putting a male & a female together & waiting 63 days.
Both male & female can be desexed from approximately 10 weeks of age. For more information on early desexing check out the following article. |  |  | |  |
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