Some facts about early-age pet spaying/neutering
Although it might seem that neutering/spaying
of early-age cats is quite a new phenomenon, it has already been practiced for
more than 25 years in North America. The
neutering/spaying procedure for young kittens is usually performed within 8 and
16 weeks after birth instead of the traditional 5-7 months period. The aim of this surgery is to neuter/spay cats and dogs in
animal shelters before giving away to their new owners. It is the most reliable
way to prevent the increase of homeless pets’ population. Surgical spaying is
acknowledged as the most widely spread and effective method to control pet
reproduction. Research
shows that despite the economic incentives, a large number of cats and dogs
taken from shelters still have their first offspring before they are
spayed/neutered. Additionally, owners do not tend to neuter/spay their pets regardless
of the discounts applied to the surgery and the ongoing public awareness programmes.
In their own turn, about 1/3 of cats and dogs are brought back to local
shelters as undesirable young.
The American Veterinary Medical Association
approved the concept of early-age neutering in 1993 after the resolution was
adopted by the House of Delegates:
- It
is recognised that the AVMA supports this concept of the population
control of dogs and cats in order to stop the overpopulation of animals;
- Since
1993, the American Animal Hospital Association and the American College
of Veterinary Surgeons have supported the early neutering/spaying of pets.
Our programme
The frequent experience of “Lesė” shelter
has been that pets are not prevented from giving several births after adoption
and only subsequently the pet’s owners make a decision on spaying or neutering.
Such ‘accidental’ kittens quickly find new homes, but at the same time this
process reduces opportunities for other pets in the shelter to find home. There
are much more homeless kittens than people who can be their caring friends...
We have decided to implement a policy of giving away only spayed female
kittens (or in some cases, we give away a kitten under a spaying contract).
The spay surgery is done from the age of 2 months at the veterinary clinics of “Filaretai”
or “AH Fiona”. The cut after the early spay/neuter is very small, the
metabolism of young animals is faster, so they recover more quickly. We have
not noticed any difference between the pets who have been spayed at an early
age and at a usual age. Research proves that early-age spaying of female cats decreases
the possibility of mammary gland inflammation, whereas male cats less
frequently suffer from struvites.
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