Is neutering a must?

Don't Litter - http://www.sniksnak.com/stop_s-n.html
Reasons pets end up in shelters: http://www.sniksnak.com/excuses.html (a possibility for any of your sweet boy's offspring, and their offspring, etc. unless you follow up with them throughout their entire lives - excuses for dumping cats are below the list of excuses for dumping dogs)

First of all Sid is a male, so you planning to keep all the kittens is a bit baffling because it would be a planned breeding. Otherwise he will just get out one day during kitten season without you, without his leash and harness and he will mate with every female he can. THAT is the reality. Wake up and smell the reality of this issue and don't add to the problem that so many of us face every day. If everyone felt like you did, rescue workers such as myself, tania, anne and so many others would be busy 24 hours a day 365 days of the year. It is bad enough that the ignorant and the misinformed don't spay and neuter, heaven forbid if everyone stopped. Breed if you are an ethical breeder, you want your children to experience the miracle of life? Rent a video- or volunteer to be a foster mom for an orphaned litter of kittens that mother has died because she had some dreadful disease, and now the little ones are health compromised and someone has to help them.

You took the words right out of my mouth. Siddy go back and read your post. Like I said before open your eyes and look around , and you will see why we seem so angry. You seem like an inteligent person, and I am sure you love your cat, but if you are an animal and cat lover you will rethink your position on your belief. Like it was said go into a shelter and discuss your views with the rescuers there. WHEN AND WHY SHOULD I SPAY or NEUTER MY KITTY ?
FELINE SPAY
Ovariohysterectomy
Removal of the ovaries and uterus FELINE NEUTER
Castration
Removal of the testicles and spermatic cord
* Ideal age is 4-6 months, but very beneficial even if your kitty is older * Ideal age is 4-6 months, but very beneficial even if your kitty is older
* Cats have a less than 1% chance of developing breast cancer if spayed before the first heat cycle * Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer
* If spayed after one heat cycle, kitty has an 8% chance of developing breast cancer * Greatly reduces the risk of prostate cancer and prostatitis
* If spayed after two heat cycles, the risk increases to 26% * Reduces the risk of perianal tumors
* After two years, no protective benefit exists against breast cancer * Reduces roaming and fighting
* Kitties with diabetes or epilepsy should be spayed to prevent hormonal changes that may interfere with medication * Eliminates or reduces spraying (territorial marking)
* Eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer * Eliminates the risk and spread of sexually transmitted diseases
* Eliminates unwanted pregnancies * Eliminates unwanted litters


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COMMON MYTHS

SPAYING AND NEUTERING YOUR PET DOES NOT:

* Cause laziness or hyperactivity

* Reduce your pet's instinct to protect your family and home

* Cause immature behaviors

* Postpone or delay normal behavioral maturity

* Alter your pet's personality in any manner

Your vet and his staff will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have about spaying or neutering your pet. Please do not hesitate to discuss your concerns, and please do not hesitate to inform and educate yourself and others about the benefits of spaying and neutering.



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"EXCUSES, EXCUSES......."

COMMON EXCUSES FOR NOT SPAYING or NEUTERING

* "My pet will get fat or lazy"

Spaying or neutering may diminish your pet's activity level because the natural tendency to wander is diminished. Pets who become overweight after spaying or neutering are usually those that are over-fed and not encouraged to exercise. It's up to you to ensure proper diet and exercise for your pet to reduce the chance of becoming overweight.

* "My pet's personality will change"

Altering actually decreases aggressive or dominant behaviors and will also help reduce roaming or wandering tendencies, which is, of course, much safer for your pet

* "I want my children to witness the 'miracle of birth' "

Any unnecessary intrusions during pregnancy and birthing can cause a great deal of stress on a mother kitty, thereby increasing the potential for her to neglect her newborn litter. Agressive behaviors can also stem during pregnancy and birth and possibly cause injury to children. Educate your children through literature, and allow them to visit or tour veterinary hospitals, zoos, and other animal related outlets to give them a sense of the facts of life and a sense of responsibility. Teaching begins with YOU, please be responsible

* "We can make money by selling kittens/puppies"

Even the most educated, experienced, and caring breeders are lucky if they can "break even" when dealing with the costs of stud fees, vaccinations, pet food costs, unexpected emergencies, and other health care costs. Please leave breeding to those responsible, professional breeders who care about the breeds and also try to improve the standard of the breeds they raise

* "I'm concerned about my pet undergoing anesthesia"

Although there are risks with ANY surgery or procedure that involves anesthesia, the anesthetics currently used by vets are very safe. Pre-surgical blood screen tests are also available to determine your pet's candidacy for anesthesia (and also determines liver and kidney function). Most vets use monitoring equipment that monitors the heart and respiratory rates of your pet during the course of anesthesia. Please discuss your concerns with your vet and he will be happy to help you in understanding the procedure, what's involved and the benefits



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AN UNFORTUNATE REALITY

More than 4 MILLION pets are euthanized in U.S animal shelters and humane societies each year simply because not enough homes are available. Many are kittens and puppies less than 6 months old. Help stop this needless loss of life.
Please do your part,

SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR PET !



A CAT'S PRAYER

I ask for the priveledge of not being born.....
not to be born until you can assure me
of a home and a master to protect me,
and the right to live as long as
I am physically able to enjoy life.....
not to be born until my body is precious
and men have ceased to exploit it
because it is cheap and plentiful.

author unknown



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OUR FAVORITE SPAY and NEUTER LINKS

SPAY / USA
1-800-248-SPAY
(A list of veterinarians who participate in discounts for spaying and neutering)

FRIENDS OF ANIMALS
1-800-321-PETS
(More information on Spay/Neuter efforts and also links to participating vets)

LOVE THAT CAT
(List of low-cost or free programs toward spaying and neutering, listed by state)

PAWPRINTS AND PURRS

TUGGER'S CAMPAIGN

CFA - CAT FACTS: SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAMS

CAT OVERPOPULATION - CFA'S POSITION

THE WINN FELINE FOUNDATION REPORTS ON EARLY SPAY/NEUTER

THE DOG HAUSE

Please show your support by visiting these wonderful sites dedicated

Neutering - Why It's a Good Idea
Holly Frisby, DVM, MS
Veterinary Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.


Other than population control, there are lots of very, very good reasons to castrate (remove the testicles from) male cats. They basically fall into one of two categories – they are either behavioral or medical. Regardless of which category we are talking about, most of the unwanted characteristics or conditions are caused by the male hormone testosterone, which is produced within the testicle. That is the major reason vasectomies have never been that popular in veterinary medicine. This procedure eliminates successful breeding, but it does not reduce any of the undesirable problems of the intact male, since it does not affect testosterone production or the distribution of testosterone throughout the rest of the cat's body.

Behavioral advantages of neutering

Decreased Aggression: The (male) androgen hormones, of which testosterone is the most important, are responsible for the development of many behavioral patterns. Testosterone greatly affects aggression in cats. One of the most important behavioral advantages of castration is that as adults, these neutered cats will tend to be less aggressive toward other cats.

Decreased Spraying: Spraying urine is a normal sexual behavior of uncastrated male tomcats. Anyone who has smelled tomcat urine will quickly agree that spraying is a very unwanted behavior. Some unspayed and spayed females, and some castrated males, will spray, but it is much more common in unneutered males.

Decreased Roaming: Another behavioral advantage of neutering is that neutered cats are much less likely to react when they sense a female in heat. Male cats can sense females in heat through pheromones. These are airborne chemical attractants that are liberated from the female when she is cycling. They travel through the air for great distances. Male cats neutered at an early age will generally not sense or respond to pheromones, and would certainly be less stressed and tend to stay home if they are outdoor cats.

Medical Advantages

There are numerous behavioral and medical benefits to neutering your cat.

Reduced Injuries: The biggest medical advantage to neutering cats is really related to their behavior. Unneutered male cats fight to defend their territory. Such fights can be extremely serious, as abscesses often develop from the bite wounds. The veterinarians at the Drs. Foster and Smith Veterinary Medical Facility have seen many tomcats who are missing parts of their ears and tails, or have faces with multiple scars resulting from the fights they had with other toms. Indoor, neutered cats lead much healthier and longer lives.

Improved Genetics: We want breeding animals to be the best representatives of their species. The selection is best done by professional breeders. We certainly do not want unwanted traits like hereditary diseases or aggressive personalities passed on.

Early Neutering

In the United States, most cats are neutered between 5 and 8 months of age. Many humane shelters and veterinarians are starting to neuter male animals at a younger age, even 6-14 weeks of age. This early neutering does not affect the growth rate, and there are no appreciable differences in skeletal, physical, or behavioral development between those animals neutered early than those neutered at a more traditional age. It must be remembered that younger animals may need different anesthetics and are more prone to hypothermia (lower than normal body temperature) during surgery. As long as procedures are modified to account for these differences, early neutering is very safe. In fact, animals neutered at a younger age often have faster recoveries than those neutered when they are older.

Summary

The behavioral or medical problems caused by testosterone are common. Veterinarians deal with them on a daily basis. We do not want to see your pet suffer from a medical or behavioral problem that could have been prevented through neutering. Do your pet and yourself a good deed – by neutering your pet.








Copyright Â[emoji]169[/emoji] 1997-2005, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted from PetEducation.com.

Kristi-
If I understood your last post correctly:
You plan on bringing in a female from a shelter and breeding her with your male so your children can witness the miracle of birth?!
But you won't dump these kittens on anyone else so you will keep them?!
But you don't believe in spaying and neutering?!
So if your cat has 4 kittens....
and (say for instance) 2 are male and 2 are female....
and you don't fix them.....
you can do the math and see what problems arise! The kittens will be having kittens around 5-6 months and your children can witness the miracle of birth AT LEAST three more times!
And if you think cats aren't attracted to close relatives, think again! Move over dear, mommy wants some action from your big brother! Want to teach your kids about inbreeding?

Edited to add:

No Kristi- no reasonable person will ever agree with your way of thinking.

You think you will rescue homeless animals from a shelter in the future?
Trust me sister- you won't be adopting any animals from any shelters for a long time!

You could separate the boys and girls- then there won't be any more kittens, BUT:
Have you ever had a female cat in heat? Let alone five???!!! Did you know that cats are induced ovulators and don't ovulate untill they are bred? That means that they will be in and out of heat over and over again in one season. A couple of months of that and you be tearing your hair out. You think you had sleepless nights when your children were born? The difference is you are programmed to love your child- you WILL hate your cat!
Tomcats are territorial- they WILL spray when living in a colony. Have you been to a shelter recently? I suggest you go down and take a whiff- because that's what your house is going to smell like REAL soon!

Ok, I am putting my moderator hat on for a moment and addressing this thread, and those reading it and responding to it.

This is, a cat welfare board. We are strongly opposed to backyard breedings, and we say so in our guidelines. We advocate spay and neutering on both domestic and ferals and strays. That is our stance, and we strongly support it. I am glad to see that so many members here agree with this as being the right thing, the responsible action to take with companion animals.

I do want to remind all of you to please keep the tone of this thread civil and educational at the same time. I know this is hard to do because it is such a hot-button issue. And if the points of neutering have already been stated in the thread by someone else, don't repeat the same thing, because that just becomes something of beating a dead horse. No flames have erupted yet, and let's hope that they don't.

Thank you for your understanding.

First, let me get it across to you that I am not here to tell you to get your cat neutered. Nope. I am just not gonna do it. So, hopefully now, you'll read on and hear what I have to say to you.

I am a breeder of pedigreed Old-Style Siamese cats. I keep a whole male in my home - it was necessary because most responsible breeders have closed catteries and stud service wasn't available to me or else I wouldn't have ever even considered it. My beloved baby boy, as a kitten up to the age of about 9 months old, was the most affectionate, loving, sweetest little boy you would ever want to know. A total mushbucket. He had the run of my house and loved nothing more than to curl up in the large fruit bowl I keep on my kitchen counter.

You will notice that I wrote "loved" past tense. He no longer has total run of my home. He must be watched carefully when he is allowed to roam freely now. You see, he must stay in an enclosure most of the time. This is partly because he sprayed my refrigerator, killing it. He sprayed my dishwasher, killing it. He sprayed my clothes washer, killing it. He sprayed my clothes dryer, not killing it but causing my husband to have to crawl up under the house and replace the urine-sodden and stinking venting-hose that goes to the outside of the house and me to have to clean the inside of the drum with hot water, bleach and all manners of other cleaners because I couldn't get the smell out - for months afterward, every time I dried clothes in it, they reeked of male cat spray. He ruined two rooms of carpet, he ruined an almost-brand-new queen sized pillow-top mattress and the mattresses, liners and heaters of TWO waterbeds. So, nearly $4000 worth of replacements, cleaners, odor neutralizers, time and effort later, he stays in an enclosure most of the time. Even kept enclosed, the smell is incredible. It makes you gag if you have a weak gag reflex. I replace the newspapers in his enclosure at least twice per day in order to keep the smell at bay. It doesn't work. As soon as I replace it, he sprays it again and the entire house stinks. It hits me like a ton of bricks as soon as I walk in the door. And I am a heavy smoker. Imagine what NON-SMOKERS smell when they come in.

Oh, and let me also tell you the other reason I am forced to contain him - I had a litter of kittens in October ... my boy was allowed to come and visit with them - supervised, of course. But, I turned my head for only a moment and when I looked back, I found him ... um for lack of a way to put it nicely ... molesting one of the babies. When I rescued the poor little beast from his grasp, my precious boy, the total mushbucket that was nothing but sweetness and light as a kitten, bit me ... hard and deep, right in the thick muscle of my right thumb. When I finally got my wits about me long enough to try and grab him, he was in the process of raping my female. She was screaming and thrashing about ... he picked her up and threw her into the air - much like you see a feral cat tossing a rabbit or other small animal into the air - to break her neck. She escaped unharmed thankfully, but the risk of her sustaining serious damage if not then death was entirely present.

The resulting nerve damage and infection in my hand from his bite has caused over 75% loss of feeling in my thumb. Oh, and let's not forget the weeks of injections of antibiotics I had to endure directly into the already-very-painful bite site because it was either that or lose my thumb to infection.

The boy that I thought was calm and sweet-natured, the boy I thought would never spray or be aggressive towards any other cat, the boy I love with all of my heart and soul - lives in an enclosure now because I can't trust him to live with us in the general population of the household.

In my circles, people who allow non-pedigreed cats to breed are called ugly names. I won't do that to you here because I don't think it is necessary, nor do I think it is appropriate. I won't quote you chapter and verse all the of good reasons to neuter your male. I won't cite numbers and statistics of unwanted cats euthanized in shelters every day. And I won't try to rupture your heart with the thousands upon untold thousands of kittens born into an existance which results in certain death.

What I WILL do is ask you to be informed, educated and knowledgable about what you are considering - and then decide if it is the right thing for you. Do you have small children or other animals in your home? If not, do you ever have visitors that are essentially strangers to your cat? Better keep them away from him, just in case. You never know with a whole male. They can be sweet as the day is long one moment, only to bite the ever-loving bejeezes out of you the very next. Lord knows you don't want a lawsuit. Oh and don't forget to be VERY diligent about his vaccinations. IF he does bite someone, doctors and other health care professionals are required by law to report animal bites to the local Animal Control. They will impound your cat for a few weeks to observe him EVEN if you have all of your documents showing he is up-to-date on his shots.

So, in closing, if it makes you more comfortable now to keep him whole, then by all means - go right ahead. But know what you are in for by doing so and be prepared for his aggression, his spraying, his constant howling to go outside and mate ... these things WILL happen. How comfortable will you be with those things? When they happen, what will you do, how will you respond? Will you toss him outside because he is ruining your home? Will you take him to a shelter? Will you have him neutered then? It might be too late. Once these behaviors are established, they don't often go away. They are now ingrained and instinctual.

I've said my little piece. You have the right to decide what is best for you and for your cat. I won't argue that with you. If you have further questions about the issues of keeping a whole male in your home as a pet, then by all means, let me know. I am happy to answer them for you.

Yours,

Gaye Flagg

Gaye- No one could put it better, or more effectively than from first-hand experience such as you possess~

Originally Posted by SiddyMeowmy

why did i open my mouth?

i knew every one would assume i'm another rosy-eyed irresponsible miscreant ready to have my kittens and then dump them off at the spca. i thoroughly grasp the problems caused by such people, and i am not one of them. not only do i believe in being responsible for my actions and the actions of those i am responsible for, but i could never take a precious little life brought into this world in my home and send it off to be abandoned or put to death! if sid is blessed with bringing a litter of kittens into this world, then i am bound to care for them.

...

not everyone who doesn't spay or neuter is an aggravator.)

Click to expand...

Kristi...I'm confused here.

You go on and on about how responsible of an owner you are, but yet you argue against one of the basic fundamentals of owning these animals. Spaying/Neutering is a mutually beneficial procedure.

Unless you intend to be a responsible breeder, you there is no standard reason to NOT have your animal(s) S/N. Let me briefly define "Responsible Breeder"; a Responsible Breeder is a person who breeds for the purpose of bettering the breed, nothing else.

If you want you or your kids to experience the miracle of life, then rescue a pregnant cat from the shelter. Once she gives birth, have her spayed. Once the kittens reach a safe age, have them all S/N. This is the responsible way to experience the miracle of life.

Breeding solely for the sake of kittens is one of the most irresponsible things an owner can do, and one of the most inhumane also.

Scenario:

Click to expand...

A cat in your area goes into heat and is calling and marking, Sid will pick up on this and will do whatever he can to get outside and once he is outside he will do his best to find and mate with this female. Once he eventually returns, you won't know if he bred of not, as he most likely won't act any different than when he escaped. You don't know what cat he bred, and you therefore cannot be the responsible caretaker for these new lives. Though unintentional, this breeding does make you a part of the problem, not a part of the solution.

Click to expand...

The bottom line is that there are too many cats, and not enough homes. Whimsically increasing the population is FAR from a responsible choice. Breeding Sid is irresponsible. But IMO, keeping Sid in a condition where he could breed is just as irresponsible.

Please do the responsible thing.

Spotz
PS If my post seems harsh, all I can suggest for you is to volunteer at a local organization and make a special effort to be a part in the euthanasia of animals whose only crime was being born into a world where they aren't allowed a chance to live. Once you've experienced the miracle of taking lives, perhaps then you will better understand my comments.

On a philosophical note:

Cats evolved in North Africa. Food was scarce, and over population by cats was not a problem and did not occur. Whenever humans domesticate an animal we in essence make a pact with that animal and its species. We'll take care of you and in exchange you do your thing for us. We milk the cows, but if we don't they die.

When we domesticated cats we gave them an endless food supply, and shelter, and this allowed cats to reproduce in far larger numbers than nature intended. We violated nature's plan for cats from a population/reproductive standpoint. Spay/neutering is an attempt to restore that balance. Nature's form of spay/neuter is population control through starvation, disease, and predation. Population control *IS* the natural balance that nature works towards (i'm really not trying to anthropomorphize nature) and that is what we must do through spay/neuter in order to try and achieve this balance in a more humane way than even nature can accomplish on its own.

So for anyone who says "i'm leaving the cat in its natural state" ("natural" equating with "good") I say you're ignoring the far larger good of helping to control a population that is wildly out of control.

If every un-fixed cat that roamed the streets of new york city was actually an un-fixed ELEPHANT, there would be NO ONE left on side of the argument that is "pro-breeding". My point is people don't SEE the problem because they don't see all the wild cats running loose (and dying). But not seeing the problem is not a sufficient argument to ignore it. The problem exists and I believe it is our moral responsibility to take care of these animals by controlling their breeding in an environment that allows unfettered reproduction in a way that nature never intended.

Thank you and have a good day!

Gaye, Spotz, Stephen...

I always thought that aside from the benefits of spaying and neutering mentioned here, that a neutered cat was also healthier. Aren't they more susseptable to cancer if left in tact? I wouldn't want to take the risk of illness later on, just to keep a cat in tact.

**The only furbaby in my siggy who is still in tact, in the human furbaby, Mr. Paul Stanley. The othe other guys have all been neutered.**

Benefits of NOT neutering-

riding of inappropriate objects (like your arm)
escaping out of the house while following the call of the wild
contracting various diseases while mating with the wild felines
enlarged prostrate
tumors or infections can occur
perineal hernias
spraying and marking the home
possibility of losing the cat during the breeding seasons

Re: prostate cancer. Our neighbors took in a Greyhound from Spain that was maltreated. He's now 11 years old, and suffering from prostate cancer. A few months ago, he was finally castrated, but that wasn't soon enough to prevent the cancer from spreading. Do your pets a favor - neuter them!

i would really appreciate it if you all would stop berating me simply for speaking my mind. you don't have to agree with my opinions, my stand, or my point of view. but i'm really sick of hearing everyone telling me the same thing over and over and over again about me needing to 'open my eyes' and 'you've never been to a shelter on gassing day, have you?' ad nauseum ad nauseum. i know the issues, and i know what i am expecting to deal with if i don't fix sid. this is not the first cat i've ever had. and do not assume that just because i said the word 'kittens' that i intend to breed my cat. i never ever said i was going to bring another cat in to breed kittens. besides, our local spca requires that any animals adopted from them be fixed before they leave the shelter, so i guess i don't have a choice there, huh? now, having all stated a million redundant things i already know, will ya'll please retract your claws and let's move on? (and no more emails on the subject, please!)

Not quite sure what you expect then? This is a cat welfare board- your post clearly said that you will not neuter your cat, that is not in keeping with what the majority of the board members believe in. You said you want to have kittens and if you did have them you would keep all of them, but since you don't believe in neutering that means if you have male kittens you wouldn't neuter them either, so you can see how ludicrous this sounds. You don't say how old your male is, and while he is young he will be perfectly behaved. He won't start spraying until he reaches full sexual maturity and his aggression will start much later as well. You put him at great risk keeping him intact. If you can't listen to what knowledgeable people have to say on the subject more is the pity to you. He will be the one to suffer ultimately for this decision in the long run.

I agree with hissy and you said this is not your first cat so was he not fixed also? You sound so hostile and closed minded because if you have read all the replies you would have a better answer than this.

Originally Posted by SiddyMeowmy

do not assume that just because i said the word 'kittens' that i intend to breed my cat. i never ever said i was going to bring another cat in to breed kittens.

Click to expand...

If you didn't mean that you planned to breed Sid, then what exactly did you mean when you said this?

Originally Posted by SiddyMeowmy

for starters, i would like to see Sid have kitties of his own some day

, and i'd love to give our children that experience.

Click to expand...

I, and apparently many others on this board, took that to mean that you plan for Sid to father kittens.

If that's incorrect, perhaps you could clarify what you meant when you wrote it, then?

If you post a question you should be ready for people to answer you. And while the answers have been in some respects varied, and in other respects similar, they've never been mean, at most deeply felt. You feel berated because you spoke your mind. Well we're speaking our minds too. If you don't like it, then you can stop participating. But you cannot force us to give you approval on something we don't agree with. Again, you *asked us* for our opinions.

Originally Posted by stephenq

If you post a question you should be ready for people to answer you. And while the answers have been in some respects varied, and in other respects similar, they've never been mean, at most deeply felt. You feel berated because you spoke your mind. Well we're speaking our minds too. If you don't like it, then you can stop participating. But you cannot force us to give you approval on something we don't agree with. Again, you *asked us* for our opinions.

Click to expand...

Well, actually she didn't ask us for our opinions. She voiced her opinions to subtle, who originated the thread and was asking. And she has as much a right to speak her mind as anyone. I must say I agree with the majority, though. In a country where millions of healthy pets are put to death annually for lack of a home, I have a hard time understanding why anyone with the funds to neuter or spay would deliberately choose not to do so.