Why Desex? | Furry Friends ARQ

Many Australians are unaware of the impact of non-desexed animals. Unchecked breeding results in unwanted litters of kittens facing a dismal future.

A single female cat can produce around 200 kittens in her lifetime, leading to overpopulation.

Sadly, many of these kittens are not adoptable and face euthanasia.

Desexing can prevent this tragedy.

Stray pets are those that have been lost or abandoned who cannot find domestic homes. Shelters across Australia are full to overflowing with strays. Many Councils are struggling to cope with an ever increasing problem. Many shelters only need to wait a mandatory few days for reclaim before they euthanise.

Stray domestic cats breeding in the wild produce feral offspring, posing a significant threat to native species.

With an estimated population of 2-6 million, they spread diseases and negatively impact farms and wildlife. Despite sentimentality, the survival of these cats comes at the expense of native fauna, necessitating close monitoring of introduced species.

Furry Friends Animal Rescue advocates for responsible pet ownership.

While organizations deal with the end consequences of the problem, it's the beginning that needs addressing. Pet owners are responsible for overbreeding cats by not desexing them. Whether due to lack of education or fear of cost, many pet owners neglect desexing, leading to suffering for innocent animals.

In 2010 Sydney Morning Herald reported “MORE than a quarter of a million healthy cats and dogs are destroyed in Australia every year because there are not enough homes for them.”

In RSPCA’s latest statistics (2019-20 Financial Year), 9,714 cats were euthanised.

Desexing Facts:

1. Both male and female cats need to be desexed.
2. Cats should be desexed at 5-6 months (same time as puberty).
3. A short resting time indoors is required after the operation.

The cost of catching, containing and then euthanising all those animals is huge. All the tax payer money that goes into dealing with the population of unwanted animals in Australia would surely be better placed in schools or roads or hospital care or elderly support. All it takes is more responsible pet ownership. Simple.