By Linda Chitwood, Director, Homeless Animals Relief Project, Senatobia, Mississippi A man once called us about getting his cat and her litter of kittens fixed. When I picked them up for surgery, I found three six-week-old kittens, and a four-pound juvenile kitten that I assumed was from a previous litter. I asked the owner to…
The Fix by Five Campaign, designed to end the large surplus of cat litters born each year, was awarded the Best Public Awareness Campaign at the 16th Annual New York Pet Fashion Show for 2019. (Photo: L to R: Esther Mechler, Gregg Oehler, Chairman NY Pet Fashion Show, and Elizabeth Anderson) The campaign promotes moving the recommended…
reprinted with permission by felinefixbyfive.org This campaign advocates that the age for spaying/neutering cats be reduced to five months or earlier, instead of the commonly accepted six months. This small change would help decrease the risk of mammary gland cancer as well as the risk of unwanted litters by ensuring that these kittens will not have…
As we enter the new year, we may be on the verge of a real turning point in feline welfare. Why? Because, at the start of 2016, a veterinary task force was formed with the goal of improving the lives of cats. After a review of the currently available evidence for the optimal age for spaying or…
What is more precious than a family of tiny kittens, piling up on their mom for love and nourishment? Cats are among the most dedicated and loving mothers in the animal world. Some of us would even argue they are better parents than many humans are to their offspring! This is the time of year…
For decades, veterinary students have been taught that 6 months is the minimum age to safely spay or neuter companion animals. This has carried over to public perception, many who believe that kittens as young as 6 months cannot possibly get pregnant. This is biologically incorrect. Six month-old kittens can and do indeed go into…