The pros and cons of spaying your cat

If you’ve already visited our articles covering what you need to know about spaying and the procedure for spaying a cat, you might want more information before going ahead.

In this article, we’ll discover the pros and cons of spaying your cat, to empower you to make the right decision for your feline friend’s wellbeing.

Pros of spaying your cat

Thankfully, there are many encouraging reasons to spay your female cat!

Prevents pregnancy

Rescue centres and animal charities across the country are bursting at the seams with unwanted kittens and cats. Unfortunately, there are more pets than there are homes for them, and the indiscriminate breeding of pets for profit – or by mistake – is adding to the rehoming crisis.

The strain your cat will endure throughout pregnancy, giving birth, and nursing a litter of kittens can cause significant stress on her body, too. Additionally, most insurance companies don’t cover breeding-related health issues. For these reasons, if you decide against spaying your cat, you’ll need to have the resources available to cover any emergency costs associated with your cat and her kittens.

Here are other considerations to keep in mind, in case your cat has kittens:

• You are entirely responsible for caring for your cat and her litter of kittens – all of whom are likely to demand constant monitoring to stay safe and healthy.
• It’s up to you to pay for the veterinary care of every kitten in your cat’s litter, which includes microchipping, vaccinations, flea treatment, and worming.
• Trying to find suitable, forever homes for several kittens at a time can be stressful – both physically and emotionally.

Did you know? One female cat and her offspring can produce 370,000 kittens in just seven years!

Prevents unpleasant experiences associated with being ‘in heat’

Your feline friend can get pregnant from just four months of age, and from that age she’ll come into season – also referred to as ‘in heat’ – every 2-3 weeks.

Choosing to spay your cat will prevent her from having to experience unpleasant changes associated with being in heat, including:

• Calling or yowling loudly.
• Low mood.
• Stress.
• Discomfort.
• Spraying.
• Wandering too far (which can have devastating consequences, e.g. ending up in a road traffic accident [RTA]).

Eliminates the risk of womb infections

Perhaps the most significant womb infection vets see in un-neutered female cats is ‘pyometra’ – which is made up of two words: ‘pyo’, meaning ‘pus’/‘infection’, and ‘metra’, meaning ‘uterus’/‘womb’.

Pyometra is an infection that results in the build-up of pus within a cat’s uterus, which can eventually lead to blood poisoning and kidney failure. The infection usually requires major surgery to treat.

However, pyometra can be difficult to spot, since some cats won’t display the tell-tale symptom of pyometra (blood-filled or yellow discharge). Due to the severity of the infection, sadly, pyometra can be fatal. 

By removing your cat’s uterus through spaying, she won’t be at risk of suffering from womb infections, like pyometra.

Eliminates the risks of some cancers

If your cat is spayed, she’ll no longer be at risk of developing ovarian cancer or uterine cancer.

Greatly reduced risk of mammary cancer

Mammary gland tumour, or breast cancer, is the most common type of cancer in female felines.

Spaying your cat before she’s two years old drastically reduces the risk of breast cancer – but, spaying her before she’s six months can lower the risk by over 90%!

Cons of spaying your cat

Let’s explore the negative aspects of getting your cat spayed…

Risks associated with surgery

Just as with any form of surgery, spaying can pose a risk to your cat during and after the procedure. For example, while her surgical wound is healing, your cat could be at greater risk of infection after she’s been spayed.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to lower risks associated with spaying, such as:

• Following your vet’s instructions, without exception.
• Attending all of your cat’s pre-operative and post-surgical appointments.
• Making sure your cat wears her vet-approved cone, inflatable collar, or protective body suit – to protect the surgical site from injury and infection.

Don’t forget: Small animal vets perform neutering surgeries every day!

In general, spaying is considered a very safe operation, and cats tend to recover quickly. Your feline friend will also be monitored before, during, and after spaying by fully qualified vets and vet nurses, so you can rest assured she’s being cared for properly.

Weight gain

A vet is likely to explain the increased potential that your cat will gain weight once she has been spayed. However, contrary to popular belief, it isn’t the spaying process itself that causes weight gain, but the requirement for less calories after your cat has been spayed.

By booking regular appointments with your vet, you’ll have access to as much support as you need to manage your cat’s weight through a healthy diet and care routines.

Cost

As with anything related to pet care, getting your cat spayed will cost money. The cost of spaying your cat will depend on the area in which you live, and the fees charged by your local veterinary practices.

If affordability is an issue, you could contact several different vet practices to find out exactly how much they charge to perform the surgery. That way, you’re able to have your cat spayed safely without breaking the bank!

To access resources, and find out whether you’re eligible for financial support, check out the Cats Protection website.

As you can see, for the majority of domestic female felines, being spayed can have an incredibly positive impact on their health and welfare.

We recommend having a chat with your vet about the benefits and risks of spaying your cat, as well as whether it’s the best decision for your feline friend.

For expert advice from the comfort of your own home, you can reach out to vets and vet nurses online through the Joii Pet Care app!