What is Sterilisation?
Sterilisation is the surgical removal of part of the reproductive organs (ovaries and uterus of females and testicles of males) from an animal so that it can no longer reproduce. It is a safe and quick procedure that is performed by a veterinarian. The cat is under general anaesthesia the entire time, so it will not feel any pain. The procedure takes 5-15 minutes and the cat is back to normal in 1-2 days.

How does sterilisation save lives
Sterilisation saves lives by reducing the number of cats that are killed each year in a bid to control the cat population. Sterilisation is a humane and effective alternative to killing. When we reduce the number of cats on the streets through sterilisation, there will be no need to kill.

How does sterilisation control the cat population?
When we trap, sterilise and return the cats to their environment, the sterilised cats will guard their territory against other non-sterilised intruders. The sterilised colony will first stabilise, and then decrease over the years as the cats live out their natural lives. But this is only possible if pet cat owners do not abandon their cats and kittens.

How does sterilisation benefit me?
If you don’t like cats, you will be glad to know that sterilisation is an effective way of reducing the number of cats in your area in the medium to long term.
If you like cats, you will be happy that fewer cats are being killed because of sterilisation.

How does sterilisation benefit my cat?
Sterilisation has health benefits for both male and female cats. Spayed female cats will not contract ovarian and uterus cancers, or pyometritis (a potentially fatal uterus infection). Their chances of getting breast cancer are also greatly decreased, especially for those sterilised before their first heat.

As for sterilised male cats, they will not suffer from testicular cancer and because they are less inclined to fight other cats, their chances of being bitten and hence contracting feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are very much reduced.

Should only female cats be sterilised?
Sterilising male cats will result in health benefits and eliminate ‘anti-social’ behaviours. Also, if a male cat is not sterilised in an area of sterilised female cats, it will roam further afield to look for non-sterilised females and impregnate them.

Should I sterilise my pet cats?
Yes, as they will benefit health-wise and you will gain when they stop trying to leave your home to mate, spray urine around the house and get into fights with each other. Also, you will not have unwanted litters of kittens on your hands. And if your cat should happen to run out one day, you’ll rest easy knowing that it’s not breeding and adding to the community cat population.

I'm sure I can find homes if my cat has kittens...people like kittens, don't they?
Unfortunately, there are already so many cats and kittens that need homes, including pure-bred ones, that finding homes will be very difficult. You will also be taking away a home from a community cat who may be in need of immediate care or who’s in danger.

Isn't it cruel to deprive my cat of a chance to have a family?
Cats do not mate for pleasure. It is actually rather painful for the female cat. They also have no control over their mating i.e. they are slaves to their hormones. Sterilised cats on the other hand do not miss the act of mating as they no longer have the urge to mate.

Will my cat get fat and lazy after sterilisation?
It is a myth that cats get fat and lazy after sterilisation. As long as you feed your cat the appropriate amount of food and play with it so that it gets some exercise, your cat should not get fat and lazy.

When should I get my cat sterilised?
In general, cats are sterilised when they are 6 months old. However, some female cats do come into heat at an earlier age. Signs of heat include increased appetite, restlessness, being more affectionate than usual and emitting short low calls. At this point, she will also start to attract males. Tom cats, on the other hand, when they reach sexual maturity, will instinctively spray their surroundings with a strong-smelling urine. Look out for these signs and take your cat to be sterilised immediately once you see them.

If your cat hasn't been sterilised yet, do so today!