| The hordes of homeless and feral cats everywhere | | | | with their odorous spray. |
| are growing by leaps and bounds, and finally people | | | | Reproductive Cancers In Unaltered Cats |
| are beginning to wake up to the necessity of neutering | | | | Certain types of cancer are much more common in |
| their cats. | | | | unaltered cats. These cancers of the reproductive |
| Population Explosion | | | | organs are very rare in cats that are altered prior to 1 |
| Because cats can reproduce several times a year, | | | | year of age. Unaltered cats can also develop a |
| and kittens mature quickly, just 2 feral cats (the wild | | | | number of reproductive diseases that are contagious. |
| offspring of domestic cats) can quickly become 2,000. | | | | Help Make Every Cat A Wanted Cat |
| In fact, the feline reproduction statistics are staggering. | | | | Kittens can be altered at quite a young age. Some |
| 2 uncontrolled breeding cats produce: 2 litters a year, | | | | humane societies routinely alter kittens at 8 weeks. |
| at a survival rate of 2.8 kittens per litter. Continued | | | | While some veterinarians feel that it is better to wait |
| breeding will produce 12 cats the first year, 66 cats the | | | | until kittens are 5 or 6 months, that is often simply not |
| second year, 2,201 cats in the third year, 3,822 cats in | | | | a option. Certainly for feral kittens who are trapped for |
| the fourth year, 12,680 cats in the fifth year, and on | | | | altering, then released back into their colonies, or for |
| and on . . . | | | | those who share a home with other unaltered cats, |
| Unaltered Cats Spread Disease | | | | neutering at the earliest opportunity is critical. |
| Many of these feral cats are actually unaltered pet | | | | Most cats heal well and without incident after being |
| cats (or their offspring) that were released by owners | | | | neutered. However, a cat can contract an infection in |
| who could no longer care for them. A colony of feral | | | | the incision. Check your cat daily to be sure the incision |
| cats can spread diseases among pet cats and dogs in | | | | area has not turned red and puffy. If you notice your |
| the area. | | | | cat licking or chewing at the stitches, your vet may |
| Even when these cats are fairly healthy, they are | | | | suggest a surgery collar to keep the stitches out of |
| usually infested with fleas. Hungry cats will raid trash | | | | reach until the incision is healed. While male cats can |
| cans, and playful kittens will destroy shrubbery and soil | | | | be active and bouncy without injuring themselves after |
| lawn furniture. | | | | neutering, female cats should be confined indoors for a |
| Noise Pollution From Cats In Heat | | | | few days after the surgery. |
| When female cats are in heat, the colony can keep | | | | Feline "Zero Population Growth" |
| neighbors awake all night with their fighting and howling | | | | Unless you're a cat breeder, your cat almost certainly |
| Spaying and neutering cats provides several important | | | | would be better off neutered. The typical cost of |
| benefits in addition to reducing the number of | | | | neutering a cat is about $125 for a female and $65 for |
| unwanted cats. If you have an un-neutered female cat | | | | a male. If the cost is too much for you to afford, many |
| at home, the sound of her mewling pitifully at the door | | | | communities have special funds available for neutering |
| will soon be joined by the yowling and shrieking of | | | | cats. Your humane society or veterinarian can give |
| every tomcat in the neighborhood.Both indoor and | | | | you more information. |
| outdoor tomcats will try to mark everything in sight | | | | |