TigeraCat Rescues is establishing a fund to assist Black Hawk County's low-income cat-owners spay, neuter, & vaccinate their beloved pets.
Donate now to keep these precious felines in their loving homes & prevent them from producing more homeless pets!
So...You know you need to get that cat/kitten fixed.
You know it will make the cat healthier, happier, quieter, and keep you from having to deal with unwanted kittens!
But...there are so many questions!
Well... Here are some FAQs and Answers!
How old does a cat/kitten have to be before it can be spayed/neutered?
- Male cats as young as 8 weeks can be safely altered - provided they appear in good health and weigh at least 2 pounds.
- Female cats as young as 8 weeks can be safely altered - provided they appear in good health and weigh at least 3 pounds.
My cat never goes outside, so I don't need to to spay/neuter it. Right?
WRONG! What if it accidently gets out? Or an emergency happens, like the recent flooding, an it ends up outside on its own? Accidents DO happen! We see hundreds of cases each year where an unaltered pet ends up pregnant or worse.
An unspayed female indoors can attract outdoor males resulting in cat fights, injuries, and property destruction. Outdoor males will spray your house near doors & windows and your unaltered female may do the same inside. This is also true of unaltered males indoors! One outdoor female, looking for love, can start your unaltered male indoors doing the same thing as his male counterparts outside! What a stench!
Spaying your female cat also significantly reduces its chances of developing several types of cancers. So it's also a great health-care choice!
So, even if your beloved pet never goes outside, leaving it unaltered is just not a good idea. Do the RIGHT THING...SPAY & NEUTER YOUR PETS!
I like my cat's personality ... won't it change if I spay/neuter it?
If I spay/neuter my cat/kitten, won't it get fat & lazy?Not necessarily.
- In females it stops the behavior that comes with heat cycles. Less yowling, meowing, etc.
- In males & females it significantly decreases the spraying (marking of territory) since they no longer need to seek a mate or compete with other cats for that mate.
- In males & females it significantly reduces the yowling, crying, fighting, etc. that comes with seeking & competing for a mate.
Basically... Your cat will be more content. It will not stop your cat from wanting to play, cuddle, etc. It may just spend more time trying to get you to do those things!
Not if you don't over-feed it and/or ignore it. Spayed/Neutered cats don't burn energy seeking mates, so they often need less to eat and regular playtime with you.
It's so expensive! Can't I just use the cheapest vet? Aren't they all the same?
Not all vets are the same. Pigs, horses, sheep, & cows are not companion animals and their anatomy is different! Many veterinarians, although trained in a variety of species, specialize in certain animals (just like human doctors). Just because a veterinarian offers cheaper spay/neuter services, doesn't mean they have the expertise in companion animals like cats & dogs. You wouldn't let a foot doctor perform heart surgery on you, would you? So why would you take your cat to a horse doctor?
Make sure you use a licensed veterinarian that focuses his/her practice on companion animals or specializes in the animal species you have.
See our Veterinarians page for more information on trusted local vets!
I can't afford it, is there a less-expensive way?
Yes! Look around, get quotes from area veterinarians before you schedule the surgery. You can also look on the internet as there are several quality, low-cost spay/neuter services available. You can also check with your local humane society, animal welfare organization, or area rescues to see if they offer spay/neuter services or can refer you to someone who does. Check out our RESOURCES page for more information! And remember, if you don't fix-em ... accidents happen, and it's MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE to to spay/neuter & vaccinate a load of kittens you can't find homes for!
Can I neuter a cat myself by just removing the testicles?
NO! You will definately do more damage than good. Neutering should only be done by a licensed veterinarian.
TigeraCat Rescues is establishing a fund to assist Black Hawk County's low-income cat-owners spay, neuter, & vaccinate their beloved pets.
Donate now to keep these precious felines in their loving homes & prevent them from producing more homeless pets!
The Animal Protection & Education Charity (A.P.E.) offers low-cost clinics.
They are located in Paton, Iowa (near DesMoines)
For more information or reservations contact:
- A.P.E. The Animal Protection & Education Charity
- Web: http://www.goape.info/
- Email: united4ape@hotmail.com
- Phone: 515-460-SPAY (7729)
Services provided include:
- Spayed/Neutered by a licensed DVM
- Vaccinations: Distemper combo, Rabies (age appropriate - 12 weeks old)
- Microchip ID, with free national registration
- Treatment with Revolution (® Pfizer Animal Health) topical, 30-day parasite preventative.
- Ear clip for TNR & Barn cats (for tracking & identification purposes) *See photo at left