The Importance of Early Age Spay and Neuter of Ragdoll Kittens
Originally published Jan 13, 2012 - running it again because this continues to be an ongoing problem for me through email. Sometimes it can be hard to have a site that supports purebred cats. I receive nasty emails from people that do not support breeding - and there are strong reasons why they don't support breeding. Sometimes, I struggle with supporting breeding because of the emails I receive about irresponsible breeders.
Even breeders who think they are being responsible, end up causing irresponsible breeding.
How does this happen? They release a kitten that has not been altered to a pet owner who signs a contract that they will spay or neuter the kitten, however, something comes up - financial strain or the pet owner changes his or her mind and wants to breed the cat.
Even if they sign a contract, it doesn't stop them. Some people don't care about contracts and in fact, the original breeder doesn't have much control once the kitten is released. Sure, they can sue, etc. But once the damage has been done, it's been done.
No court of law can take away the fact that the cat has produced a new litter of kittens, irresponsibly.
However, I do support responsible breeders who do not release their kittens without early age spay and neuter. Floppycats.com is nearly 4 years old and in the process of receiving e-mails and comments from readers and visitors over the years,
I have come to the conclusion that it is CRUCIAL for breeders to responsibly spay and neuter kittens BEFORE they go to their forever homes. I get emails every week from people that decided to breed their pet quality kitten "because she's so cute" with their neighbor's Siamese cat - and the kittens are so cute and can I list them on my site.
Or people that couldn't afford to neuter them, so they now need to get rid of the cat because he's spraying all over the place. It is heart-breaking for me, thinking about everyone involved and to think that it could ALL be avoided if breeders just early spayed and neutered their cats.
Yes, many breeders have kitten adopters sign contracts where they say they will spay and neuter the kitten they are adopting, but it doesn't always happen. And if it doesn't happen 100%, then it's not good enough. There are too many dangers involved in NOT spaying and neutering early on.
When my parents got Rags and Cosby in 1989, they signed a contract that they would neuter the two kittens and they did when they were 6 months old. It's just that not everyone does this. Caymus and Murphy came neutered from their breeder, Bluegrass Rags. Charlie and Trigg came neutered from their breeder, Soulmate Ragdolls.
There are special vets that know how to to do this procedure and responsible breeders will find them. Do you know a responsible breeder that does early spay and neuter? Please feel free to list them in the comments section below. Here are additional resources where you can learn more about it.
Further Reading on Early Spay and Neuter in Cats
- The Cat Fancier's Association - Winn Foundation EARLY SPAY/NEUTER IN THE CAT
- Feline spaying pros and cons - the reasons for and against spaying cats
- THE ANTI-NEUTERING LOBBY - A STEP BACKWARDS FOR FELINE WELFARE
- Early-age neutering of dogs and cats in the United States (a review)
- AAFP Position Statement: Early spay and castration
There are always two sides to every argument, here is a resource that is opposed to early age spay and neuter - but I bet if they ran this site they would change their minds!
Melinda
My kittens have always been spayed before I received them. My last kitten was not. I asked my vet, who is an incredible vet that I have 20 years experience with, and we decided together to wait until Milo was 5 months old. We looked at all of the possible consequences of early vs waiting and I am happy with my decision. Milo went through the neuter easily and is doing great.
Amy
My cat was neutered early by his breeder, Bluesky Ragdolls in North Carolina. They even put a tiny little tattoo on his tummy. He’s doing great!
Harriet Hopgood
I’m getting my first Ragdoll kitten from Thundering Paws Ragdolls in Port Angeles, Washington and he will be neutered before he comes home. I’m very impressed with these breeders and everything they do. The wait for Waylon is difficult but it is the right thing to do.
Melanie Leavey
When the shelters I use now spay/neuter their animals before it is adopted because people are breeding (which I'm totally against being the amount of feral Cats that need home or for whatever stupid reason. Iidon't believe in designer pets. Making profit on animals is just wrong. In any situation. People that need a certain breed is all about the person. We have a place called Pet Rescouce and it's all about low-cost spaying, shots. Their goal is to keep pets and owners together. I had my dog spayed and paid the full price. Ii also had shots given to an already-neutered cat. I paid the full price. By doing so, it allows people that can't afford it use it. Let me be honest. I care about animals and the others people that fight for the rights of animals. I don't have much use for people who don't. I've had many emotional problems in my life and animals have gotten me through. I have written, called and emailed the ASPCA when they show horrible things that happen to animals. I know why they do it, but they need to give a warning that this will be shown. I see one before I know it's coming on. I run out of the room covering my ears. Then it haunts me for a long long time. I'm all about animals. Thank you Mom and Dad for showing the love of animals
Anonymous
I can't stand ppl that get cats and let them out side to breed and spray and make loud weird noises nonstop all night ,outside all the neighbors windows. These ppl are the reason some people hate cats and abuse them. Cats don't need humans to "Breed" them. They do a fine job on their own. People don't realize that most of these cats are INBRED not purebred. Instead of trying to buy a so called purebred cat, people should drive to their local trailer park and pick out a kitten and save it. There is no shortage of stray cats and kittens. And if you don't have the money to spay or neuter a cat then you shouldn't get one in the first place because you don't have the means to feed it and take care of it properly. That's called animal abuse.