Blog The Change is for writers and readers alike. This event takes place on the 15th of January, April, July, and October every year. It offers an overview of the various aspects of animal welfare as reported by those who take part : personal actions, promotion of a shelter in need, … Your participation (blogpost, comment, share) makes a difference in keeping the spirit of change alive.

According to a recent article of the newspaper Le Matin, the shelters of French-speaking Switzerland are full of kittens. The arrivals don’t stop since June. Why don’t people neuter their cat ?

“I have no money for this operation” : we regret being also categorical, but in our opinion, if you cannot meet the basic expenses of a healthy animal (food, neutering, and annual visit at the veterinarian), show yourselves responsible : don’t adopt an animal if you can’t afford to take care of him.

“A cat has to have a litter before being neutered” : it’s a common myth, and totally erroneous. Your cat will feel neither decreased, nor unfortunate of being neutered. The risk of health problems bound to the secretion of sex hormones as ovarian or mammary tumors for example will be reduced. Do you find I look unhappy, me ?

“My tomcat will not be any more a tomcat” : certainly, but as he will less want to run away and fight, the risk of wound will be reduced, and his quality of life will be improved there. The abolition of the marking will be also appreciated inside your house…

“Kittens are too cute” : completely agree ! But kittens grow up : did you leave your children to the orphanage when they were transformed into pimple-faced teenagers ? You maybe wanted to do it certain days, but you did not ! All the members of your family have right for the same respects.

Angel Céleste, August 2008, 4 months old

“Kittens are easy to give” : yes, but an indoor cat lives between 15 and 20 years on average ; adopting is making a commitment to take well care of a kitten during one year, of a grown-up cat during eight years, of an old cat during five years, and of a very old cat during the next years. On second thought, everybody doesn’t want to have a cat, even if as we have already said it, kittens are cute.

To avoid the proliferation of kittens in shelters, to protect the health of your cat, to decrease the risk of wound, and to avoid the abandonments of kittens and grown-up cats, please spay or neuter your cat.

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