Courtland Milloy, I challenge your thinking in your article “Spay Kitty? Not a hairball’s chance in you-know-where” in the Washington Post on September 16, 2014.  The limited spaying and neutering of animals causes an overpopulation.  According to the Humane Society of The United States, shelters hold six to eight million animals each year.  Of these adoptable cats and dogs, three to four million succumb to euthanasia every year.  It is simply irresponsible to not spay or neuter your pet.

Why spay a two-year-old cat that lives indoors, you ask?  Simple.  Spaying will change the cat’s behaviour but not personality.  Kitty’s affectionate behaviour is a sign that she is sexually mature and agitated.  In fact, even though Kitty lives indoors, you cannot stop a sexually mature animal from wanting to roam, dangerous not only to her but other cats as well.  Once outside rolling around, leaving her scent, a tom may come around to give her the cat love she desires, rather than what you believed to be her simply being more affectionate.

Leaving your cat unspayed results in a war of hormones.  In many cases unspayed cats suffer from ovarian cysts and uterine infections due to constantly fluctuating hormone levels, making this a common occurrence, according to Hartz.com.  The only way to solve this problem is to spay or neuter your pet.

Being concerned about the potential risks of spaying Kitty is understandable, but any surgery has risks, which doctors explain before the procedure.  However, a sexually mature animal has far greater chances of cancer, such as testicular cancer and ovarian cancer, than those that are spayed and neutered, as reported by SpayUSA.org.  I can see why you would think a catnip ball or a can of grilled tuna would be a better gift; however, spaying truly is one of the best gifts you can give to your pet.  The recovery time is seven to ten days, but after the first two to three days, Kitty will feel like herself again.  She may be lethargic up to 24 hours after the surgery, but will live a healthier and more peaceful life in the long run.

What’s more important to you: a seemingly more affectionate cat or a truly happy and healthy cat?  Owning a pet is a privilege, and it is our duty to be responsible pet owners.  Mr. Milloy, still “not a hairball’s chance” even though it is in the best interest of Kitty?