Rural Living

Campaign to reduce unloved cats
Friday, 14 August 2009

The mission of the ‘desex and the city’ campaign is to reduce the number of homeless cats and kittens entering the SPCA by creating public awareness and motivation for spey/neuter procedures.

With the help of compassionate veterinarians, who in some cases are offering significant discounts or promotions, ‘desex’ aims to move one step closer to a community where every healthy cat and kitten can be guaranteed a loving home.

Franklin Town and Country Vets takes part in the campaign and from August 24 to 28 will be offering half price desexing of all cats.

“The aim is to get as many cats as possible desexed and cut down on the number ending up at the SPCA,” Franklin Town and Country vet Paula Brocklehurst told Rural Living, “so we will have a special team on to focus on just doing the desexing.”

Paula said unwanted cats and kittens are a huge problem each year with hundreds being dumped and/or ending up at the SPCA and she really encourages people to phone the clinic and make an appointment to take advantage of the campaign discounts.

“There are clinics all over the country taking part.”

There are no disadvantages to desexing your cat, and although, as is the case with humans, every surgical operation carries a minute risk, most cats recover much faster than humans.

Desexed cats generally live longer, healthier lives and make more affectionate companions. They are also less likely to suffer from anti-social behaviour.

It eliminates ‘heat’ cycles in female cats and their endless efforts to get outside and find a mate.

Desexed male cats are less likely to spray and mark their territory. They are less inclined to wander, run away or get into fights, thereby reducing injuries such as abscesses, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (Feline AIDS); and it reduces or eliminates the incidence of some health problems that can be difficult to treat, such as Uterine, ovarian and breast cancer in females and prostate cancer/disorders and testicular cancer in males (less common).

Facts:
- One unspeyed cat and her female offspring can produce up to 3,200 kittens in one year.
- In one night one unneutered tom will impregnate as many females as he comes into contact with.
- Every year, hundreds of unloved and unwanted kittens are born in Auckland because their owners don’t get their pets fixed.
- Many of these surplus and abandoned little animals will die at a young age, unable to survive in the world around them.
- Hundreds of kind people feed stray cats and kittens in Auckland.

Note: If you take responsibility for feeding stray cats and kittens, also take responsibility for their sex control and have them desexed.