Four Other Health Benefits Of Spaying Your Cat
Many Americans now understand that there are simply too many cats in need of homes to justify producing more litters of kittens. But if you are still on the fence about spaying your cat, you should be aware of the other health benefits that come along with spaying. Even if you never intend to breed your cat, her reproductive system can still cause trouble if she is allowed to mature naturally. These four side-effects of spaying can significantly extend your pet's lifespan while also increasing her overall comfort and contentedness.
Reducing the Desire to Travel
When female cats go into heat, they seem to experience both a mental and physical need to find a mate. For indoor cats, this leads to frustrated and destructive behaviors as they search for an outlet for their hormones. An outdoor cat in heat, on the other hand, may wander for miles in a quest for an appropriate mate. Either of these behaviors can be distressing for both you and your cat, and outdoor cats in particular are at risk of trying to cross roads or ambling into a predator's territory during this time.
Preventing Pregnancy Complications
Even the most dedicated pet owner can't account for every possibility, and your cat may find a way to become pregnant despite all of your best efforts. Should you continue with her pregnancy, your cat will face all of the standard dangers associated with feline pregnancies, including eclampsia and birthing complications. Rather than putting your cat's life at risk for a litter of kittens that no one really needs, take her to a spay clinic to avoid the toll of pregnancy on her body.
Reducing the Risk of Cancer
Cats spayed before the age of six months are 91 percent less likely to develop mammary cancer than those who are never spayed at all. Because approximately 90 percent of those tumors are malignant, there is a very real risk that any unspayed cat will eventually die of cancer before reaching her potential lifespan. Other cancers, like uterine cancer, can also occur in unspayed cats at higher rates. These diseases are often not treatable, which is why you must prevent them in the first place by spaying your cat as soon as possible.
Avoiding Pyometra
Pyometra is an infection of the uterus that can set in in both unspayed cats and dogs. The infection typically develops during your cat's heat cycle and persists until treated, causing severe discomfort, dehydration and vomiting. This condition is only possible for unspayed animals, and the treatment of choice is spaying. Instead of waiting for your cat to suffer a debilitating infection, cancer or pregnancy complication, spay earlier rather than later, such as at Akaal Pet Hospital. Doing so will protect your pet while also ensuring that another generation of kittens don't eventually wind up alone in a shelter.