![[Cat FAQ's #1]](cathamm.jpg)
Q. Do you recommend that cat owners should allow their female cats to have one litter before having them spayed?
A. No, definitely not. I advise all cat owners to have their cats spayed at 6 months of age. This is that age when they have reached sexual maturity but they will not reach physical maturity for several more months. If not spayed prior to their first heat they will inevitably become pregnant when they are only half grown themselves. They will have to try to nourish their own growing bodies plus a womb full of developing kittens. Their pelvises may not be sufficiently wide to allow for normal birth leading to caesarians or even death. And the feeding of several kittens drains the young mother's resources to such an extent that it may stunt her own growth. We have all seen undersized, weakly feral cats who have had one or two litters while still under one year old themselves. Some owners argue that they want their cat to keep one of its own kittens as a companion, but I have seen many cases of severe rivalry between a mother and her kitten. In one case recently the daughter actually drove her mother out of the house and she had to find a home with a caring neighbour! It would be preferable in these cases to adopt a homeless neutered male as a suitable companion for a spayed female.
Then, of course, there is a litter of kittens to be homed - no easy task when up to 8,000 unwanted cats and kittens are destroyed every year in the Dogs' and Cats' Home alone. Many litters are brought to Cats' Aid every year by despairing owners who have been 'let down' by the people who promised they would offer a home to one of their kittens. Within six short months these kittens will be producing litters themselves - so if there is any delay in finding homes the problem soon gets out of control.
So, if you have a female kitten (or indeed a male) make a provisional appointment for neutering with your vet at the time of the last vaccination booster at 3 - 4 months and spare your cat, yourself and the unfortunate kittens any unnecessary hardship.