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Neutering

The cat population in the UK has reached crisis point. We're asking cat owners to help us tackle the cat crisis by ensuring their cats and kittens are spayed or snipped at an early age. Neutering can also help prevent illnesses and some unwanted behaviours.

Benefits of neutering

Neutering has benefits that apply not only to dogs and cats but also to other animals such as rabbits and ferrets.

Neutering prevents females coming into season, when they may attract unwanted male attention, become pregnant or have false pregnancies.
Neutering prevents the risk of testicular cancer in males and uterus infections and cancers in females.
In male dogs and cats, neutering can reduce urine marking and roaming.
Neutering can reduce aggressive behaviour in mature male ferrets, as well as the smell often associated with them! Neutering a female ferret can also prevent often severe health problems such as alopecia and anaemia.
Unspayed female animals can be messy when they come into season - during this time, females can bleed for up to three weeks.
Animals don't respect family relationships - siblings will mate. This increases the risk of offspring with birth defects and deformities.
Neutering animals can reduce the risk of them being stolen for breeding.
Vet fees for problems during or after pregnancy and birth can be expensive. Offspring might need veterinary attention too.
Owners have a responsibility to meet their animal's needs under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Pregnant and nursing animals need even more care, and their offspring will be equally as demanding. When the young are ready to be rehomed, you need to ensure that they are vaccinated, wormed and flea treated, which you will also need to be able to afford.

Neutering lowdown

Females are spayed - this means the womb and the ovaries are removed.
Males are castrated or sniped - this means the testicles are removed.
Operations are carried out under general anaesthetic and animals usually recover quickly.
Neutering shouldn't mean that your pets will put on weight- your vet will be able to advise on this

NEUTERING SUPPORT

Neutering can help prevent illnesses and some unwanted behaviours.

If you wish to get your pet neutered the best thing to do is speak to your vet. They will be able to advise you about the cost and the best time to neuter your pet, you do not need to let an animal have one litter first. More information on the benefits on neutering can be found in our 'neutering your pet' section.

Cats:

We continue to support the London Cat Care & Control Consortium (C4 Scheme) which provides free neutering for those on lower income within the M25 area, further detail can be found here.
RSPCA National may also provide financial support via our animal centres who provide discounted procedures, eligibility is again income and location based, further detail can be found here.
Cats Protection run a means tested neutering programme, further details can be found here.

Dogs:

Dogs Trust provide subsidised neutering for those receiving benefits, further details can be found here.

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