“No matter how much cats fight, there always seems to be plenty of kittens.” – Abraham Lincoln
Did you know up in the tropics cats can be ‘on heat’ all year around and from four month of age.
One female kitty has the ability to produce an average of about 12 kittens each year. Theoretically, this could result in up to 180 kittens in her lifetime.
A sexually mature kitten can have kittens herself, as early as her first heat cycle. Pregnancy in cats lasts approximately 65 days. After giving birth a nursing mom can immediately go into heat, even while nursing, and become pregnant again.
As for male cats, they can impregnate countless numbers of females in heat.
Benefits of Desexing
Health
– Reduced risk of getting cancer or other diseases of the reproductive organs
– Reduced risk of acute uterine infections and breast cancer in females
– Females can suffer from physical and nutritional exhaustion if continually breeding.
– Pets generally live longer and healthier lives.
Behavioural
– Pets are less prone to wander, fight, and are less likely to get lost or injured
– Reduces territorial behaviour such as spraying indoors.
– In females it prevents mating behaviour and false pregnancy.
Cost
– No need to find homes for unwanted kittens or puppies.
– Potential cost savings for expensive surgeries from car accidents or fights, which are less likely to occur if your pet doesn’t roam around.
What is the best age to have my animal desexed?
Cats can be desexed with 3 -4 month of age or one kilogram weight.
Cats can come on heat as young as 4 months of age so best not to delay it much longer to minimise “accidents”.
It’s never too late to desex. In fact, the risk of certain diseases increases with age, so desexing is even more important for older animals.
Cost of Desexing
Desexing costs are a guide only. Please note if your pets is obese, pregnant, on heat, have retained testicles or other health conditions then it would be best to speak to your vet to get an accurate costing.
Cats desexing in Darwin cost on average
$150 for male cats
$200 for female cats
Cat Desexing Program results
In the last two years our charity was successful in receiving grant money to offer free cat desexing for concession card holders.
In 2016-2017 we desexed 220 cats for free in the greater Darwin area.
As part of our Animal Welfare Grant program 2017/18 we were able to desex 122 cats
Most popular suburbs were:
Moulden
Malak
Gray
