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Pet Insurance

13 May 2024

Desexing Cats

 

5 Benefits of desexing cats

VetAssist advocates for desexing of family pets and for responsible breeding. We asked Dr Claire from VetAssist to share some information about desexing cats.

1. Health benefits

Every cat can benefit from desexing. First and foremost, there are health benefits. Desexing a female cat reduces the likelihood that they will suffer from illness and diseases that are more common in undesexed female cats such as mammary cancer and uterine infection (pyometra).

2. Curb those instincts

When cats reach adolescence their sex hormones tend to have behavioural effects as well. Cats are more likely to roam - which increases the chance of getting into a fight with another animal, to injury from cars, fences etc and even to getting lost. Females who roam can mate with a partner, which can lead to pregnancy.

Male cats who are not desexed will also develop an increased smell to their urine and tend to spray urine in the house, a trait not well tolerated by even the most ardent cat lovers.

3. Oversupply of cats

Desexing your cat will prevent unwanted kittens. As well as being an immediate plus for families who don’t want more than they bargained for, this is a simple way in which you can help minimise the many unwanted cats that are given away, abandoned, or put down each year.

4. Longevity

It has been shown that the lifespan for both male and female desexed cats, is longer than those who are not desexed.1

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5. Timing

Most shelters and rescue organisations have desexing performed at a very young age, around 8 weeks of age. This is to ensure they are rehomed after they’re desexed.

In a home environment, you can wait until a slightly later age. Typically Veterinarians recommend desexing male and female cats at around four to six months of age - but as with any health decision for your individual cat, always consult your Veterinarian to decide on the best timing for desexing.

Get to know Dr Claire Jenkins

Written by Dr Claire Jenkins. Claire is a QLD graduate with over 15 years experience as a neighbourhood Veterinarian in Australia and the UK. Animal lover and the founder of Vetchat, born from a passion to help pet carers everywhere access trusted advice earlier, for healthier, happier pets. Grateful to be carer to her beautiful Red-dog.

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Sources:
1. http://www.banfield.com/Banfield-State-of-Pet-Health-Report_2013.pdf

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