Please sterilise your cat – SPCA
The local SPCA has refuted claims that cats breed more in late winter and early spring.
The SPCA has advised residents of Centurion to sterilise their cats. Local SPCA manager Christina Masemola said uncontrolled cat-breeding in the area remained a problem hence the SPCA was calling on residents to sterilise their cats.
Mosemola also debunked a myth of social media speculation that cats bred more in late winter and early spring. She said cats tended to breed whenever – basically throughout the year.
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“They become sexually active at around six months of age,” said Masemola.
A local veterinarian said the perception could be because cats roamed more then so people tended to see more cats and therefore thought population numbers were growing.
“Cats become a little more active as it gets warmer but they breed throughout the year,” said Bakenkop Animal Clinic surgeon Dr Kristina Ludz.
Ludz said a female cat could be on heat once every three weeks.
“This is why it is so important to sterilise,” Ludz said. “Unspayed cats tend to roam large areas, males even as much as 5 kilometres.”
“Cats who mate often also stand an increased chance of catching diseases including feline immunodeficiency virus or feline aids.”
Ludz said female cats tended to be very vocal when not spayed and owners tend to sterilise them more often.
“Males are not very vocal and people tend to leave their tomcats unspayed,” she said.
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“These tomcats then roam large areas mating with different cats leading to increased risk of diseases.”
Ludz said cats should be sterilised before they come on heat for the first time which is usually around six months of age.
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