Cats - Fix by Five (at the latest!)
Fixing your cat by five months of age should be considered the latest time to spay or neuter!
Many non-profit and low-cost clinics will spay/neuter cats as young as 2 months or 2 pounds. These clinics offer high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter surgeries (HQHVSN). Visit our Spay/Neuter Services page or download our vet list to find service providers near you. Low-cost clinics are highlighted in green.
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Important Information on Feline Spay/Neuter:
Make your appointment now!
Due to the nationwide veterinary shortage, clinic schedules can fill up quickly. Booking an appointment as soon as possible ensures your cat is fixed by the appropriate time.
Why Fix by Five?
- Cats can go into heat as early as four months old.
- Fixing cats by five months prevents unwanted litters and promotes healthier lives.
Younger cats recover from surgery faster than adult cats.
Spaying kittens before five months reduces their risk of mammary gland cancer by 91%. Mammary gland cancer claims the lives of an estimated 75,000 cats annually. Early spaying also eliminates the risk of pyometra (an infection of the uterus.)
Undesirable behaviors reduced by Spay/Neuter:
In males:
- roaming
- aggression
- strong urine smell
- territorial marking
In females:
- howling
- other heat-related behaviors.
Spay/neuter can help keep cats in their homes!
Over 80% of cats relinquished to shelters or abandoned are unspayed or unneutered.
When to Spay or Neuter Your Dog
Most Indiana private-practice vets spay/neuter at 4-6 months of age. Nonprofit clinics frequently spay/neuter as early as 2 months of age.
If your vet recommends waiting to spay/neuter your large-breed puppy, please ask about pricing. Spaying and neutering full-grown large dogs can be very expensive. Some vets will not spay/neuter large dogs because of the time and cost involved.
Why It’s Important to Spay or Neuter Your Dog
Health benefits to females include:
- A lower risk of mammary cancer in spayed dogs, especially if the surgery is performed prior to their first heat cycle.
- Spay before your pet’s first heat cycle to reduce the risk of pyometra, an infection of the uterus that can be fatal. An emergency surgery can cost thousands of dollars. Delaying a spay surgery comes with significant risks.
Health Benefits to male dogs include:
- Prevention of Certain Cancers: Early neutering significantly reduces the risk of testicular cancer and lowers the chances of prostate issues
- Lower Risk of Perianal Tumors and Hernias: These conditions are more common in older, intact male dogs.
- Decreased Risk of Injuries: Neutered dogs are less likely to roam in search of mates, reducing the risk of accidents or fights.
- Potentially Longer Lifespan: Studies suggest neutered dogs tend to live 1-2 years longerdue to reduced health risks and lower likelihood of trauma-related incidents.
Indiana Shelters are FULL
If your dog has an accidental litter, please understand that shelters are full. Some are turning dogs away, others may have to euthanize dogs because there are too many dogs and too few homes. Spay or neuter your dog to prevent overpopulation.
