Health Benefits of Spay and Neuter Surgery
Have you recently welcomed a new bundle of fur into your family? While they are still young, it’s important to consider the option of spaying or neutering. Spay and neuter surgeries have significant benefits for their long-term health and well-being. At Chester County Cat Hospital, our veterinarians routinely perform spay and neuter surgeries safely and effectively so your pet can enjoy lasting health benefits.
Direct Benefits for Your Pet
While spay and neuter surgery is dramatically beneficial for the greater pet population, it is also hugely important for your individual pet. It prevents a number of potentially deadly diseases from developing later in life. Some of these include:
Breast cancer. Just like its human counterpart, breast cancer in female cats is a serious disease. Spaying decreases hormone production and therefore, significantly reduces your pet’s risk of developing breast cancer later.
Testicular and prostate cancers. Similar to breast cancer in females, these serious cancers are directly linked to your pet’s reproductive hormone (testosterone). Neutering reduces your pet’s risk by eliminating the hormones’ source: the reproductive organs.
Other benefits for your pet include:
Females have a reduced risk of ovarian and uterine cancers.
Females have no risk of pyometra, a serious and sometimes fatal uterine infection.
Your pet will no longer be inclined to roam to find a mate which could put them in harm’s way. Car accidents, encounters with wild animals, or fights with other males are just some of the possible dangers.
Spaying eliminates heat cycles which cause cats to yowl and urinate in abnormal places, and it attracts unwanted attention from intact males.
Neutering your male cat generally makes them better behaved by reducing or eliminating their aggressive tendencies toward other males.
A neutered males and spayed females are less inclined to practice urine-marking behaviors.
Your Kitten’s First Visit
After you've welcomed your new kitten home, we’ll need to see them soon to discuss their spay/neuter options. Generally, we recommend surgery at about 6 months of age, but sometimes an earlier or later surgery is appropriate. At their first appointment, we’ll also talk about their vaccination timeline, parasite prevention, nutrition, and answer any questions you have.
Chester County Cat Hospital offers high-quality, stress-free, and low-anxiety care exclusively for cats in West Chester, Downtown Exton, Malvern, Glen Mills, Thorndale, Coatesville, and King of Prussia. Our clinic provides wellness care, preventative care, house calls, microchipping, behavior consultation, surgery, dentistry, ultrasound/radiology, diet consultations, and health products in a tranquil, cat-focused environment.
“When a man loves cats, I am his friend and comrade, without further introduction.”
— Mark Twain