Pregnant AGAIN? Spaying and Neutering Stops Kitten Season

Spring is just around the corner and your pretty kitty is looking a mite heavy. What? She's pregnant again?

Before you start thinking about putting both her and her upcoming brood into the Free Ads, you may want to know why every year she manages to have at least one litter, if not two.

Well, you may know how it happens, but why it happens is equally important. Rescue workers often call spring and summer "kitten season" - and with good reason. It's the time of year when female cats go into estrus or "heat." Nature is particularly clever with a cat. During estrus she attracts an intact male and the act of copulation actually stimulates her to ovulate. In layman's terms, that means if she has sex, she's going to have kittens.

Obviously to not have kittens every year and still own a cat, you have two choices. One is to keep your cat indoors. The other is to spay and neuter your cats. (The best of all options is to keep your spayed and neutered cats indoors, but that is a discussion for another time).

Spaying and neutering is quite safe when done by a veterinarian. In most cases, you do have the option of spaying a pregnant cat, thus avoiding the kitten problem altogether. The costs for spays and neuters vary, but if you can't afford it, check out the ASPCA's Free and Low Cost Spay and Neuter Database. Many shelters and humane societies offer spay and neuter assistance as well, so if you can't find one in your area, call your local humane societies.

Other helpful organizations that will help with the cost of spay and neuters include:

Friends of Animals

Friends of animals provides low-cost spay and neuter certificates for pet owners. You may purchase them on their website or call 1-800-321-PETS (1-800-321-7387) and order it directly from them. They charge $51/$65 for a male/female cat and $64/$90 for a male/female dog. They'll be able to provide names of local clinics in your area that will perform the spay or neuter. Go to Friends of Animals for more information.

Pets 911

Pets 911 has an online database where you can look for clinics in your area. Check them out at Pets911, fill in your zip code and select "Find Low Cost Spay & Neuter."

Spay USA

Spay USA is a program of the North Shore Animal League of America. They offer low cost spay and neuters throughout the country and financial assistance for those who are looking to spay and neuter their pets. You can contact them at 1-800-248-SPAY (1-800-248-7729) or go to their website at Spay USA and check them out.

References

ASPCA's Free and Low Cost Spay and Neuter Database

Friends of Animals

Pets911

Spay USA