I love animals and I’m especially fond of cats. We’ve parented 4 cats over the course of 30 years and fostered dozens who got new homes. I’m a cat lover and currently Mom to a 3 1/2 year old boy named Romeo. My husband and I adore him and treat him like royalty. Trust me, Romeo is spoiled (as he should be) and very well loved.
We rescued and adopted Romeo when he was 3 months old. I’ve blogged about our boy many times. Right after we adopted him we took him in for a full physical and to get neutered. Even though he’s an indoor cat it’s important that ALL cats are spayed and neutered. As a pet parent…it’s YOUR responsibility to see that it gets done.
There are low-cost, no cost, and full cost spay and neutering available across the USA. If you need help with this…contact your local agencies to see what they can do to help you. Cats that have been spayed or neutered live longer and have healthier lives than those who don’t get the procedure done.
With all of that said…it infuriates me when people get a cat or two and don’t take them in to get it done. Stating they’re indoor cats, I watch them closely, I can’t afford it, I can’t get off work, I don’t have the time and a gazillion other excuses that they come up. It’s your responsibility as a pet parent to GET IT DONE!!!
Last month a box of 9 kittens was turned over to our local rescue society. A couple in our neighborhood has a female indoor and outdoor cat…they’ve had her at least 2 years if not more. Anyway, they never got her spayed. We would see her out and about in the neighborhood when in heat looking to hook-up with a boyfriend. Well, it finally happened!
That mom cat gave birth to 11 kittens with 9 that survived after the first 3 weeks. These kittens were in terrible shape because that Mom cat was still going in/out whenever she pleased and wasn’t in the physical health condition that she needed to be in…to nurse and take care of 9 babies. The authorities finally got them to release all 9 kittens to a rescue group.
After a vet check-up it was found that all 9 have 2 different type’s of parasites, a bacteria infection and a virus. All of that was given to the babies by Mom who isn’t cared for properly. These kittens are now under medical vet care getting the treatment that they deserve. They will then go into foster care (the ones that pull-through and make) to get new loving homes.
The point of my entire post is this…it doesn’t matter if your cat (or pet) is indoor only, outdoor only, or both, it’s YOUR JOB to make sure they get spayed or neutered. There’s way too many cats and dogs running around and sitting in shelters that need good homes. Even if you have an indoor cat they can escape and get out. It ONLY takes 1 time to get pregnant! Furthermore, they will love longer and healthier lives once they’re fixed.
Our shelters are currently overwhelmed with kittens and puppies. It breaks my heart that this happens when the answer is so simple. You just wonder with all of the low cost options why people don’t have their pets spayed or neutered.