The Isle of Wight RSPCA is backing National Spay Day today (Tuesday) – a UK-wide event that urges cat owners to get their pets neutered.
Nationally, 9 animal welfare organisations have come together to highlight the benefits of getting cat spayed which can prevent both unwanted litters and also later health problems.
It is thought that up to 70% of cat pregnancies are unplanned. Here on the Island, the RSPCA’s animal welfare centre at Godshill, as well as taking in animals that are the result of unwanted pregnancies, also spends significant resources ensuring animals in its care are spayed.
An average cat has 1 to 8 kittens per litter and 2 to 3 litters per year, meaning during its reproductive life a female cat can have more than 100 kittens. Without being spayed, collectively a cat and her offspring could go on to produce thousands of kittens during their lives – and there are simply not enough homes for all these kittens.
Last year, the Island’s RSPCA arranged and paid for the neutering/spaying of 92 animals in total – 35 cats, 7 dogs, 37 rabbits and 13 other small animals. Already this year the corresponding figures are 8 cats, 3 dogs, 6 rabbits and 8 other small animals – 25 in all.
The vets’ bills for this work are met by the local branch which does not receive any regular financial support from the national RSPCA and so relies on local donations to maintain its services.
Suzanne Pugh, Isle of Wight RSPCA branch manager said:
“Our advice is simple – have your cat spayed at four months to protect her from getting pregnant. This humane step can help prevent a lot of anxiety and distress further down the line.
Article continues below this advertisement “Male cats should be neutered too to protect them catching diseases and getting nasty injuries as a male who hasn’t been neutered is much more likely to fight over a female mate. Neutering can also help to stop male cats from spraying indoors – which can be really smelly and he’s also more likely to stay close to home as a neutered male cat is less likely to stray.
“Sadly, we see a lot of kittens come into our animal welfare centre who, quite frankly, are the result of an unwanted pregnancy which could have been avoided. It is in everyone’s interest – both animal and human – that unwanted pregnancies are prevented and the best way of doing that is to have your pet spayed.
“It is a simple operation that can be carried out by vets locally and you may even be able to get help with the cost of having your cat neutered.”
The World Spay Day is supported by The Blue Cross, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Cats Protection, Celia Hammond Animal Trust, International Cat Care, Mayhew Animal Home. PDSA, RSPCA and Wood Green Animal Charity
For more advice on neutering cats (or any other animal companion) visit https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/general/neutering.
Just need to offer this service to the Benefits Brigade now really.
They, the benefit brigade would NEVER take you up on the ‘offer’.
The womb is their income source.
It provides a roof over their head for life, a very good income, free rent and council tax or heavily subsidised, never have to ‘save’ for repairs all done for them. Never have to insure the property, never have to work if don’t want to, or if they do ‘bover’ it need only be for 16 hours to get money made up with tax credits or U/C now.
Free food for each clone, along with uniforms, free health care prescriptions free dental care, extra funding for heat and food. Free gym membership and ALL or three quarters of the week off to enjoy all year.
So they won’t give all that up, easy life.
It your not bitter!it’s a post from the RSPCA (not a fan they rarely turn out unless a camera or whiff of publicity is available) but never the less pay their board a considerable whack!. So for goodness sake it is not one for you your soap box and your obvious bigoted opinions..,
And the creator sayeth unto them, i give unto you a source of unlimited income requiring the use of no intelligence and will give thee the gift of housing, heating, food, clothing and funding for your wine and weed, they rose up to thank him and called out to him for more.
Shame some parents could do with neutering. Breeding feral scum.
I also think many dogs should have this done too, also a few people,,,….
An apt post, least with unwanted pets a tin of kity kat, or chum, will suffice, unlike those getting us to subsidise their womb content for their entire life.
It is thought that up to 70% of cat pregnancies are unplanned
jeez – what is the matter with these cats, don’t they talk to each other about starting a family – have they considered the cost or as i suspect, the feral moggies, will breed without restraint, the father will be on the roof tiles all night with the others, the mother won’t have any food brought in by the father and they will sponge off their human hosts from cradle to grave.
what next – kitty cat family planning clinic
they are cats FGS – stop applying human ways onto them -“unplanned pregnancies” – someone please tell these people, they are animals not humans
Should neuter dogs and the irresponsible owners.
9 animal welfare organisations have come together to highlight the benefits of getting cat spayed
i suspect the cat disagrees – does it get a say in this mutilation – it is against the cats rights to do this