Desexing
Why is it important to desex our pets?
Desexing your family pet is an important part of the solution to reducing euthanasia in shelters and pounds.
Did you know that 60% of cats entering shelters and pounds are kittens, and one-quarter of the dogs are puppies?
Cats can get pregnant by the time they are four months of age so desexing your cat by four months is important.
Speak to your local vet regarding desexing options for your family pet.
Desexing is one of the greatest gifts you can provide your pet, your family and your community. Desexing not only reduces the number of puppies and kittens who are unwanted but may also prevent medical and behavioral problems from developing in your cat or dog, allowing your pet to lead a longer, healthier and happier life.
Spaying or neutering is unlikely to change your pet’s basic personality or levels of playfulness and general activity. However, it can reduce the incidence of some behavioral issues, especially sexual behaviors, such as mounting, howling and the urge to roam. And despite what some believe, pets show no signs of “missing” mating or breeding. (Adapted from bestfriends.org)
Broadly speaking, early-age desexing refers to desexing both male and female dogs and cats under the traditional age of 6 months. We recommend cats be desexed before 4 months of age when they can get pregnant. Incorporating desexing with the initial vaccination program is ideal, for example between the 12 and 16-week vaccinations.
Many pregnancies in dogs and cats occur because the owner didn’t get around to desexing their pet, or believed they were too young to get pregnant. Read more about early-age desexing
What can I do?
- -Speak to your local vet regarding desexing options for your family pet.
- -If cost is prohibitive, contact the National Desexing Network or your local council to see if they can help.
- -Donate to the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation and help us prevent unwanted litters of puppies and kittens
- -Petition your local council to provide low-cost and free desexing in suburbs contributing disproportionately to shelter and pound intake. It really works to decrease euthanasia in your local pound or shelter.
- -If your local veterinarian doesn’t desex cats by 4 months of age, contact the National Desexing Network to find one who is up to date with current research.
