Why You Should Spay or Neuter Your Cat
When it comes time to decide whether or not to spay or neuter your cat, it is an important decision to make that can help your cat’s health in the long run. As a simple and safe procedure, millions of cats are spayed and neutered each year, removing the reproductive organs in female and male cats, respectively. There are many advantages to spaying or neutering your cat.
This guide will share some of the benefits of spaying or neutering your cats.
Better health
One of the biggest reasons to spay or neuter your cats is improved health in the long-term. Altering your cats reduces the chances of developing certain types of cancers and tumours, particularly testicular cancer among male cats, and ovarian and breast cancer among female cats. Spaying and neutering remove reproductive organs that may be affected by fatal and malignant diseases.
By fixing your cats, it also diminishes the likelihood of contracting feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus (FeLV/FIV) by preventing behaviors such as fighting, scratching and biting which allow the transmission of such viruses.
By reducing health risks through spaying or neutering your cats, you also save money by reducing injury and health-related bills that come with costly health issues.
Greater longevity
By preventing deadly reproductive diseases, spaying and neutering your cats can also lead to a longer average lifespan for your feline friends. Spayed female cats live 39% longer, and neutered male cats live 62% longer. Spaying and neutering your cats leads to fewer health-related deaths, and decreases behaviours such as roaming and aggression, minimizing the chances of accidents and trauma.
Fewer behavior issues
In addition to minimizing health risks, spaying and neutering your cat can prevent unwanted behaviours, such as aggression, spraying and roaming.
While fixing your cat does not completely eliminate a cat’s urge to spray, male and female cats are less likely to spray and mark their territories indoors once neutered.
By removing reproductive organs in female and male cats, reproductive hormones testosterone and estrogen that drive dominance and territoriality are also removed, leading to less aggressive behaviours in cats. Removing reproductive hormones also diminish the desire to roam, as it often leads to less restlessness and an overall calmer demeanour among cats.
Population control
The primary reason many owners spay and neuter their cats is to remove the ability to reproduce among cats. Removing the reproductive organs ensure males cannot impregnate female cats, and ensure females cannot go into heat and avoid unexpected pregnancies.
Eliminating a cat’s ability to reproduce helps reduce overpopulation and controls the number of unwanted and homeless cats. Often, unwanted pregnancies lead to cats that end up in shelters or as strays, as owners cannot afford to keep or have enough space to take on a litter of kittens. One unaltered female cat can have up to approximately 3 litters, or 12 kittens a year, which can continue to multiply and exponentially grow the population. An unfixed male can mate with multiple females, leading to even greater population growth. This places greater pressure on shelters, as unwanted pets are surrendered and overcrowd shelters. With fewer animals, shelters can focus resources on adoptable pets, decreasing the need for euthanizing healthy but unwanted animals.
Timing of spaying and neutering
While spaying and neutering pets is very important and beneficial to a cat’s health, the timing of when to spay and neuter is equally as important. Female cats should be spayed before their first heat to prevent unwanted pregnancies, while males should be fixed around five to six months of age, before sexual maturity, to prevent unwanted litters, spraying, yowling, and roaming.
By spaying and neutering your cats, you can help protect your cat from fatal illnesses, extend their lifespan, help control the population of cats by preventing unwanted pregnancies and minimize undesirable behaviours. Once they reach the appropriate age, contact your veterinarian or clinic to schedule your cat’s operation.
Note: This blog provides a brief guide of advantages to spaying or neutering your cat. For a more comprehensive guide, you can check out PetMD. Always consult your veterinarian for personalized advice to ensure your cat remains healthy and comfortable.
References
Breckinridge Park Animal Hospital. “Top 9 Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Cat.” Breckinridge Park Animal Hospital, 29 January, 2024, https://www.bpah.net/blog/top-9-reasons-to-spay-or-neuter-your-cat
Chicopee Hills Animal Hospital. “How Spaying and Neutering Can Prevent Certain Types of Cancer.” Chicopee Hills Animal Hospital, 22 May, 2025, https://chicopeehillsvet.ca/blog/1319780-how-spaying-and-neutering-can-prevent-certain-types-of-cancer
Human World of Animals. “Why and when you should spay or neuter your pet.” Human World of Animals, 24 September, 2009, https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/why-and-when-you-should-spay-or
Huston, Lorie. “Advantages of Spaying or Neutering Your Cat.” PetMD, 13 August, 2012, https://www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/lhuston/2012/aug/advantages_of_spaying_neutering_cat-26695
