by Jennifer Gibson

Created on: February 26, 2008   Last Updated: September 23, 2011

As a member of the Humane Society of the United States, a volunteer for my local cat shelter and an adamant supporter of the USHS Spay Day, it has proven that the benefits of neutering your male felines not only far outweigh the reasons why - not physically, but emotionally - for both the cat and the owner alike.

As the owner of five male cats, I can not imagine what my house would be like without all of them neutered. For one thing, neutering cuts down on unwanted spraying, territory issues between males and fighting amongst the males, but it also helps owners while acclimating the cats to becoming indoor residents for life. Many unaltered males will fight for their "freedom" to be outside and roaming the streets for a mate.

Most humane societies insist that a feline will not be adopted out until the cat is neutered to prevent unwanted cats and kittens coming into the shelter. Cats must be at least three pounds to be neutered to allow for the tissue around the testicles to be manipulated. It is recommended, however, that a cat be neutered before it is 12 months old, usually around the 4 to 6 month range at the latest. Cats neutered around the 12 month range and later tend to be less affectionate and more aggressive. Kittens done before 8 weeks did not have any adverse effects, although they were noted to be longer and taller than those done after 12 months.

Even though this is considered major surgery, limited amount of time is needed for recovery. Most hospitals and humane societies allow the cat to come home the same day. (Some vets recommend a female stay until the next day due to the surgery being invasive.)

Neutered males (and females) tend to lead longer and happier lives, as they have no reason to act the way their unneutered counterparts do. Car injuries, dog bites, cruel and inhumane humans, and other cats claiming their territory are the most common assaults on males, and car "accidents" are the number-one reason for death of an outside cat (67 percent of outside cats end their lives by being hit by a car).

Our community recently began a trap, spay, release program that has become extremely beneficial to the local cat population. The shelter population locally has seen a decrease in surrenders, an increase in adoptions and fewer cats roaming the streets. The hope of the program is to make sure each of the area cats has a good inside home "fur" ever.

Remember, it's hip to snip!

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