Neutering can help reduce the huge number of unwanted pets, prevent illnesses and some unwanted behaviours. For more information on neutering your pet: http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/pets/general/neutering

1. Neutering Your
Pet

2. Neutering lowdown
Neutering can help reduce the huge
number of unwanted pets, prevent
illnesses and some unwanted
behaviours.
• Female animals are spayed – this
means the womb and the ovaries
are removed.
• Male animals are castrated – this
means the testicles are
removed.

3. Neutering lowdown
• Operations should be
straightforward - they are
carried out under general
anaesthetic and animals usually
recover quickly.
• Neutering shouldn’t mean that
your pets will put on weight-
your vet will be able to offer
appropriate advice on diet
following the operation.

4. Benefits of neutering
Neutering has many benefits that apply not only to
dogs and cats but also to other small animals such as
rabbits and ferrets.
Neutering prevents female animals coming into season, when
they may attract unwanted male attention, become pregnant or
have false pregnancies.

5. Benefits of neutering
Neutering prevents the risk of testicular
cancer in male animals and uterus
infections and cancers in females.
In male dogs and cats, neutering can
reduce behaviours such as urine marking
and roaming.
Unspayed female animals can be messy
when they come into season - during this
time, females can bleed for up to three
weeks.

6. Benefits of neutering
Animals don’t respect family relationships - siblings will mate.
This increases the risk of offspring being born with birth defects
and deformities.
If animals are neutered, this reduces the risk of them being
stolen for breeding.
If an unneutered pet becomes pregnant and there is a problem
during or after the birth, vet fees can be very expensive.
Offspring might need veterinary attention too.

7. Benefits of neutering
Owners have a legal responsibility to meet all of their animal’s
needs under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Pregnant and nursing
animals need even more care and their offspring will be equally
as demanding. When the young are ready to be rehomed, you
also need to ensure that they are vaccinated, wormed and flea
treated, which you will also need to be able to afford.
In 2011 we neutered 82,812 animals

8. Talk to your vet
• You do not need to let an animal
have one litter first. Pets can be
neutered before having any litters.
• Your vet will be able to offer
further advice on the best time to
neuter your pet.
• Check the cost with your vet. This will depend on the species,
size and sex of your pet.

9. Benefits of neutering
More information
Case studies
Read about just some of the abandoned young animals from
unwanted litters.
Our pledges
We have launched five pledges to improve the lives of animals in
England and Wales over the next five years.

10. For more information
visit the RSPCA
Thank You