Neutering
Introduction
It is Cats Protection policy to promote the neutering of all cats and kittens. In a period of only five years, a single female cat can be responsible for 20,000 descendants, so clearly neutering is essential if the number of unwanted cats and kittens in the UK is to be controlled and ideally reduced.
Benefits to Cats
Sometimes people believe neutering is unfair to the individual cat. However, there are in fact clear benefits to cats from neutering. In female cats, the risk of mammary (breast) cancer is greatly reduced if a cat is spayed, as is the risk of pyometra, a potentially life-threatening infection of the womb. Male neutered cats are less likely to wander, thus reducing the risk of road traffic accidents and the risk of getting into fights with other cats, during which fatal diseases may be transmitted. For male cats with an undescended testicle, not neutering means a greatly increased risk of cancer in the undescended testicle.
Neutering also greatly reduces the chances of the cat spraying in the home, thus reducing stress for the owners and increasing the cat’s chances of being a loved and wanted family member.
Age at Neutering
In the USA, it is becoming increasingly common for cats to be neutered at very young ages, sometimes at the age of eight weeks. The usual age for neutering or spaying in the UK is around 4 months. Please discuss with your vet what would be the most suitable age for your particular cat.
What Neutering Entails
For males (unless they have an undescended testicle, when the operation is a bit more complicated), neutering is a fairly simple operation, and the cat can usually come home the same day. For females, the operation is a little more invasive, but often the cat can still come home the same day, although she may need to return to the vet about 7 - 10 days later in order to have her stitches removed.
Financial Assistance
We are sometimes able to assist with the cost of having your cat neutered. You may qualify if you are the owner of the cat and you are:
a full-time student; or
in receipt of a pension; or
in receipt of a means-tested benefit; or
on a low wage.
We will need to see proof of you receiving benefits or a pension before we can consider helping.
If you wish to apply for neutering vouchers, email neutering@bedford.cats.org.uk with the following information available:
Your full name
Your address
Your contact number
The name, age and gender of each cat
Where you got them from (breeder, advert, friend, other rescue etc)
Which vets you plan to use
Copy of proof of benefits (within last 3 months)
Recently we are receiving applications from other areas, and even other countries. We can only consider helping those who live in our area. If you do not live in postcodes MK40 - MK45 and SG15 - SG19, please do not contact us because we are simply not in a position to help you. For your local branch of Cats Protection, click here. If you do not live in the UK, Cats Protection regretfully cannot help you with neutering your cat.
If your application is accepted, you will receive a voucher for £40 (female cat) or £25 (male cat). You must give the voucher to your vet when you take your cat in for the operation. Please note that the voucher will not necessarily cover the full cost of neutering, and any remaining balance is your responsibility, and must be paid directly to the vet.