Animal Welfare: Neutering

If you do NOT neuter your cat...

You could have Problems ...

• The RSPCA has to find homes for 40,000 cats every year. If yours has kittens do you know enough people to take them on and give them good homes for the rest of their lives?
• Unneutered tom-cats are noisy at night - often for hours on end. They are likely to stray from home sometimes for days at a time, or get into fights.
• Males spray their territory with smelly urine - neutering makes them do this less and the smell is not so bad.

It could Cost you ...

• Male cats injured in fights often need expensive vetinary treatment.
• An unneutered female will get pregnant and you will end up with kittens to care for - cats can have up to 18 kittens a year in 3 litters.

Your cat could Suffer ...

• Unneutered males fight with others and often get infected wounds, abscesses and serious illness.
• Unneutered cats roam further than neutered ones, they are more likely to get lost or have an accident.
• Your cat could get FIV, a very common incurable disease, similar to AIDS, from fighting or mating with another cat that has it.
• Unneutered cats are bound to get pregnant or make others pregnant.

If you do NOT neuter your dog...

You could have Problems:

• Do You know enough people to take on the puppies your dog might have?
• You may have to deal with angry owners of females, if your unneutered male pesters them.
• Females come on heat up to twice a year for 3 weeks - unless yours is neutered you will have to clear up after her, and protect her from the attentions of local dogs. Sexual frustration can result in females becoming over excitable.

It could Cost you:

• Dogs injured in fights could need veterinary treatment.
• Females - no matter how careful you are - might get pregnant - you could end up with a litter of 6 puppies to care for.

Your dog could Suffer:

• Testicular cancer can be a risk for unneutered dogs.
• Unneutered dogs can have violent urges when a bitch on heat is near - they may fight with other dogs and get injured.
• Unneutered females are at risk from pyometra (an inflammation of the womb) and mammary tumours when they get older.
• Females suffer unwanted attention from dogs, often much bigger than themselves.
• Females kept inside when they are on heat miss out on excercise.

If you do NOT neuter your Rabbit ...

You could have Problems:

• Unneutered bucks are very territorial.
• Males spray urine and aggression is a common problem.
• Unneutered does become territorial from sexual maturity onwards (4-6 months).
• Females also may growl, scratch or bite their owners and attack other rabbits if not neutered.
• Females have repeated false pregnancies.
• Female could have a shorter life span.

It could Cost you:

• Male rabbits injured in fights often need expensive veterinary treatment.
• Unneutered rabbits mean lots of unwanted babies and there are not sufficient homes now.

Your rabbit could Suffer:

• Unneutered males fight with others, and often get infected wounds,
• Unneutered rabbits are bound to get pregnant or make others pregnant.
• Up to 80% of unsprayed female rabbits develop uterine cancer by 5 years of age or pyometra.