Many shelter programs are safely neutering and spaying as early as seven weeks to prevent pet overpopulation with careless pet guardians. Most veterinarians recommend spaying and neutering at six to eight months, as there is no known benefit to allowing a heat cycle. The only real evidence we have (as far as health benefits go) is that there is a lower risk of mammary cancer if we spay before one year of age. There is a fair amount of folklore, often generated by fanciers of the various breeds, regarding when to spay or neuter. Rather than let your pet procreate (intentionally or accidentally), adopt one who needs a home! The idea of puppies and kittens is always appealing, but there are far too many animals living in shelters or being euthanized due to overpopulation. Intact male cats who are outdoors are more likely to get into fights with other cats, which in turn can spread disease into the population. Once this behavior starts, it might not be easily reversed. At about the same time, many will start to mark their territory by urinating outside the litter box. Male cats who aren’t neutered will develop a strong and unpleasant odor to the urine as they become sexually mature (usually around eight months). Male dogs of any size who are not neutered tend to exhibit more of the unpleasant sexual behaviors, such as “humping.” Some cases of BDLD (Big-Dog-Little-Dog) are deadly. Bite wounds are frightening and can be quite costly, even if they appear minor. Much of our social activity takes place at the dog run or daycare, and it is all too common for a large-breed dog to attack an un-neutered small dog (no matter how friendly he is). I emphasize this point very strongly with clients who live in the city, especially those who have small dogs. Intact male dogs have more issues with aggression, whether they are the instigator or the target. During this time there will be excessive (often extreme) vocalizing and posturing, which can be unpleasant for the cat and her human. Cats are seasonally polyestrous, which means that once an intact female comes into heat, she will continue cycling until bred. Intact female dogs will attract uninvited attention from male dogs while they are in heat. Neutering a small-breed male dog will reduce the chances of dangerous or deadly attacks by larger dogs. If there is a testicle that remains in the abdomen rather than descending into the scrotal sack, it can become cancerous. Intact, or un-neutered, male dogs are more likely to develop prostate problems later in life than are neutered dogs. They also have a risk of developing a uterine infection later in life, which can be serious - even life threatening. Intact, or unspayed, females have a seven-fold higher risk of developing mammary tumors. Neutering is occasionally used in a broader sense to describe surgical sterilization of either males or females. With normal post-operative swelling, it might even look like the testicles are still there, but eventually the sack will shrink and become barely noticeable.

In both cases, the scrotal sack remains completely intact. Cats will have two tiny incisions on the scrotum itself. Dogs will have a single incision below the scrotum.

The procedure is slightly different for dogs versus cats. Neutering usually refers to the surgical procedure for males by which both testicles are removed (castration). Because the organs are within the abdominal cavity, there will be a midline incision below your pet’s “belly button.” Once your pet has had this procedure, she is considered spayed (not spaded - a common misconception). The same term applies to both dogs and cats, and the procedure is essentially the same for both. Spaying refers to the surgical procedure for females by which the uterus and both ovaries are removed (ovariohysterectomy).

(First published March 2005 in The Mayor’s Alliance for Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals newsletter, Out of the Cage!)

Cat neutered tiny balls