Why Spay & Neuter?

February 15, 2025

There are many reasons to spay or neuter your pet, and there are also many false ideas that lead people to believe it’s not necessary. But it is actually one of the best things you can do for your pet — and animals everywhere. Plus it can save you money on vet bills in the long term by preventing health and behavior  issues. What are the benefits?

Helps Your Cat Live a Longer Life

The average lifespan of spayed and neutered cats is longer than the lifespan of those not. A study conducted by Banfield Pet Hospitals on a database of 460,000 cats concluded spayed female cats lived 39% longer and neutered male cats lived 62% longer.

Eliminates or Reduces Spraying

Cats reach sexual maturity around six months of age, sometimes earlier. When they do, it is very common for both males and females to start spraying to mark their territory and attract a mate. If you wait until your cat has sprayed, there is no guarantee that getting them spayed and neutered at that time will stop the behavior either. 

Decreases Likelihood of Running Away

When your kitty starts getting those urges, it might be more likely that they’ll try to bolt out the door. This is especially true if they smell a male or female outside that they want to interact with. When you get your cat fixed, it takes away those naturally occurring urges to find a mate.

Smooths Out Temperament

When cats are sexually mature, it can cause aggression and undesirable behavior in some because it elevates certain hormones and chemicals in the brain. Your cat might be aggressive with other cats. Females in heat may yowl and undergo undesirable personality changes.

Humanely Controls Community Cat Population

If there are fewer cats out there breeding, it lowers the community cat population suffering on our streets. There are an estimated 3-40 million stray or community cats in the USA, and we can each do our part to prevent it. These cats go without human care and, most of the time, without consistent meals and health care. You can help prevent this senseless tragedy.

Reduces Healthcare Costs

A cat staying unaltered can seriously impact health in the future. In males, to reduce the risk of health issues such as testicular cancer, prostate disease, and hernias, it’s always best to neuter. Spayed females have a lower risk of breast cancer (90% fatal in cats. 50% fatal in dogs) and life-threatening uterine infections. Caring for a cat with reproductive system cancer or pyometra can easily run thousands of dollars—five to 10 times as much as a routine spay or neuter surgery.

Resources Consulted: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/why-you-should-spayneuter-your-pet; https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/spayneuter-your-pet; https://resources.bestfriends.org/article/reasons-spay-or-neuter-your-cat; https://petkeen.com/benefits-of-spaying-neutering-cat/; https://petkeen.com/how-long-will-a-cat-take-to-recover-from-spaying/; https://www.rover.com/blog/cat-neutering-spaying/; https://pfaonline.org/spay-neuter/; TNR Stats: https://www.saveacat.org/tnr-statistics.html