Free Spays/Neuters For Feral Cats By The ASPCA

1. Free Spays/Neuters For Feral Cats By The ASPCA Katey DeIaco CIS 55-608

2. What is a feral cat? • Feral means "gone wild." Feral cats can be the offspring of stray or abandoned domestic cats who have reverted to a wild state. They can also be the offspring of feral cats who have lived in a wild state for some generations. Finally, they can be domestic cats that have run off, or have been abandoned, or have "gone feral" meaning "gone wild." Feral Cats live in family groups called colonies and can be found anywhere there is food.

3. What is Spaying/Neutering? • Spaying: This is the sterilization process that is preformed on female cats. the medical term is ovariohysterectomy.  In this major abdominal surgery the pet's ovaries and uterus are removed.  There is no evidence that a pet suffers from any personality or emotional harm by having their ovaries removed.  The uterus is also removed to insure that it does not become a source of infection over a period of time. • Neutering: This is the sterilization process that is preformed on male cats; another term is castration.  In this surgery the doctor makes an incision in front of the scrotum and through that incision accesses each testicle.  The fibrous coverings of the testicles are incised and each testicle is removed after securely ligating the blood vessels that attach to each testicle. NEUTER = Male SPAY = Female

4. Why Spay or Neuter??? • Each year thousands and thousands of cats and kittens are euthanized due to over population. • Statistics show that 10-12 million pets and euthanized annually in the United States. (That’s 192,380 per week or 27,473 every 24 hours, 365 days a year) • Every hour 415 children are born so are 3500 cats. • 25% of cats are destroyed daily; that’s one out of every four, and the majority of these cats are healthy. “Help control the pet population have your cat spayed or neutered” ~Bob Barker

6. Spaying or Neutering Is Good for Your Pet • Spaying and neutering helps cats live longer, healthier lives. • Spaying and neutering can eliminate or reduce the incidence of a number of health problems that can be very difficult or expensive to treat. • Spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer, particularly when your pet is spayed before her first estrous cycle. • Neutering eliminates testicular cancer and decreases the incidence of prostate disease.

7. Spaying or Neutering Is Good for You • Spaying and neutering makes pets better, more affectionate companions. • Neutering cats makes them less likely to spray and mark territory. • Spaying a dog or cat eliminates her heat cycle. Estrus lasts an average of six to 12 days, often twice a year, in dogs and an average of six to seven days, three or more times a year, in cats. Females in heat can cry incessantly, show nervous behavior, and attract unwanted male animals. • Unsterilized animals often exhibit more behavior and temperament problems than do those who have been spayed or neutered. • Spaying and neutering can make pets less likely to bite. • Neutering makes pets less likely to roam the neighborhood, run away, or get into fights.

8. Spaying and Neutering Are Good for the Community • Communities spend millions of dollars to control unwanted animals. • Irresponsible breeding contributes to the problem overpopulation of cats. • Animal shelters are overburdened with surplus animals. • Stray pets and homeless animals get into trash containers, defecate in public areas or on private lawns, and frighten or anger people who have no understanding of their misery or needs. • Some stray animals also scare away or kill birds and wildlife.

9. ASPCA • The ASPCA strongly recommends that all companion dogs and cats, except those who are part of a responsible breeder’s breeding program, be spayed or neutered. To prevent the accidental breeding of young cats and dogs, the ASPCA supports pediatric or “early-age” spay/neuter of animals, i.e., as soon as they reach a minimum of two months of age and two pounds in weight.

10. Low Cost or Free Spay/Neuter Programs Animals in DistressPO Box 168Catasauqua, PA 18032610-264-5554Allentown area. PA P.E.T.S. (Prevent Excess Through Sterilization)PO Box 64Lewisburg PA 17837Toll free 1-866-472-7387Low cost s/n to qualifying residents who live in Union, Snyder, or Northumberland counties. The People-Pet PartnershipPhiladelphia PA215-629-2350 Animal Rescue and ReferralPO Box 16Richboro, PA 18954215-752-7556 or 215-322-9251Information about low cost spay/neuter for feral cats. City of PittsburghBureau of Environmental Services3001 Railroad StreetPittsburgh, PA 15201412-255-2036Voucher program for residents of Pittsburgh. Call for information.

11. References "Low Cost or Free Spay - Neuter." lovethatcat.com. 14 Nov 2006 <http://www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html>. "Why You Should Spay Or Neuter Your Pet." The Humane Soceity of The United States. 14 Nov 2006 <http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/why_you_should_spay_or_neuter_your_pet.html>. "Stop-Don't Litter! Spay and Neuter." Pawprints and Purrs Inc.. 14 Nov 2006 <http://www.sniksnak.com/stop_s-n.html>. "Cat Spay and Neuter." The Internet Animal Hospital. The Pet Center. 14 Nov 2006 <http://www.thepetcenter.com/sur/Spayandneuter.htm>. "Adopt." Top 10 Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Cat. ASPCA. 14 Nov 2006 <http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=adopt_spayneuter>. "Why Spay or Neuter?." ASPCA. ASPCA. 14 Nov 2006 <http://www.aspca.org/site/DocServer/Why_SpayNeuter-English.pdf?docID=188>.