Neutering Scheme

Linacre Cat Neutering Project

Freshfields Animal Rescue Liverpool has formed a partnership with the Persula Foundation, Jean Sainsbury Trust and the Jean Marchig Trust that will allow for the sterilisation of 400 cats within the 2 wards of Linacre and Derby in Liverpool 20, Sefton for families on low income.

The scheme will work door to door as well as through the effective offices and channels of existing community groups on the ground in Linacre to maximise awareness and take up of the scheme.

The scheme has a start date of 1st Aug 2010, literature and advertising have been prepared and the Community post team will be responsible for delivery door to door throughout the area. Meetings with community groups, community policing teams, social housing organisations and local groups within Liverpool 20, to assist with the promotion of the scheme, are being held throughout July in order to aid the effective channelling of the project throughout those wards.

The charity will use the scheme to produce a detailed statistical assessment of cat health and medical state from within low income households derived from both basic consent/admittance forms and detailed vet exams under sedation. All the surgery will be carried out by Rufford Vet Group in Southport, the charity will aim to submit 8 cats weekly at a reduced surgery price that the practice has agreed in advance.

The charity also wishes to produce a follow up 'outcomes assessment' where participating households are contacted within 4 months of surgery to measure why neutering had not previously taken place and the benefits to the household that neutering has brought socially and economically. The charity will produce a statistical assessment from its figures in conjunction with John Moores University. We will be using the data collected to produce a more accurate assessment of cat ownership, veterinary access by owners, breeding and specific welfare issues within Liverpool 20 that can be related to income threshold and which in the future we can build upon as we focus our fieldwork into areas that need us most. We see this scheme as a pilot project which we could replicate in other deprived wards of Liverpool in the future

This is a new project deliberately targeting a specific, concise area where analysis of the charity's records have proven absolute need and will be running alongside an existing project sponsored financially by Cats Protection that has been running for several years across the whole of Merseyside and that allows neutering for all households where breeding is taking place. In 2010 Cats Protection have allowed us a £32,000 budget for this county wide scheme. The Linacre project is being funded to the tune of £12,000. The first three batches of household cats went in to the clinic in the last ten days and there are already over 100 now on the waiting list to participate

Like many independent animal rescue charities, Freshfields does not have the funds to begin, let alone sustain, such vital projects as these. Without the financial support of our sponsors these projects could not happen and our work in the community would be a fraction of what it is today.

Be a part of the SOLUTION…not the Problem!

Why Neuter Your Pet?

Neutering (spaying, castration, doctoring) is carried out for a variety of reasons in cats, dogs and smaller pets such as rabbits or guinea pigs. In all species neutering is permanent and obviously stops animals breeding. Neutered females will not reproduce and neutered males will not be able to impregnate un-neutered females should they manage to slip out. All neutering involves anesthesia but it is straightforward routine surgery on a healthy animal so the risks are negligible. It is worth remembering that there is both a stray dog and cat problem in this country and that charities like us are overrun with unwanted pets. Other rescue centres put these unwanted animals to sleep as there are not enough homes for them all. Freshfields has a strict non destruction policy – we deal with the situation and continually educate responsible owners by providing this information.

Various aspects in the species are discussed below:

Male Cats (Toms) – If not castrated, male cats are likely to be smelly and are more likely to fight, roam and spray urine in the house. Fighting can lead to abscesses and the spread of serious diseases such as FIV (‘Feline Aids’). Toms are usually neutered at 5 -6 months of age.

Female Cats (Queens) – Female cats can breed prolifically, up to 3 litters a year of possibly 8 – 10 kittens. Having them neutered stops this procedure. Queens are usually neutered at 5 – 6 months of age.

Male Dogs – Castration is a good idea not only because it stops them mating and adding to the unwanted dog problem but  it also helps with a selection of behavioural problems such as excessive barking, aggressiveness, hypersexual behaviour, roaming, inappropriate urination etc. There are also health benefits to castration including a decreased risk of prostate problems in later life and no risk of testicular cancer. Male dogs can be castrated at any age over 6 months.

Female Dogs (Bitches) – Spaying involves a total hysterectomy. It stops them coming into season every 6 months when there is the mess of bleeding as well as dogs hanging around and difficulties  when they are taken out for a walk. Neutering stops the risk of serious diseases in later life such as cervical cancer and an infected womb or pyometra, it also stops false pregnancies. If actioned before 4 years of age it also decreases the risk of mammary cancer.

It is a common myth that neutered bitches put on weight. It is true that neutered bitches are more prone to put on weight than unneutered ones but ONLY if they get too much to eat or too little exercise. In a healthy animal, food eaten and exercise are the two important things controlling weight and control of these will prevent weight increase. The other often talked about side effect of spaying is incontinence later in life. There is at present NO evidence that neutered bitches are more prone to this than unneutered ones. Bitches can be spayed at any time when they are not in season. Spaying before they ever have a season is commonly done; this makes the surgery easier and safer as the womb is smaller. The animals recover quicker and the cost is cheaper!

Rabbits – Neutering your rabbit has many benefits for you and your rabbit. Some rabbits can be very territorial and aggressive, neutering them usually eliminates these traits. Rabbits like the company of other rabbits so many people get them in pairs when they are young but don’t get them neutered. Same sex pairs often fight when they mature and mixed sexes will always breed. Unneutered males are at risk from testicular cancer and unneutered females are at a great risk from ovarian cancers which can effect up to 50% of female rabbits over 5 yrs old. Male rabbits can be neutered from 4-6mths old. Females can be neutered from 5-6 mths old. Over 24000 rabbits are abandoned yearly at rescues across the country.

If you require any other information regarding neutering or are in any way confused about any of the information in this leaflet please do not hesitate to ask a member of staff at Freshfields Animal Rescue Centre for more details …

… We will always be happy to help, giving sensible information about neutering helps us long term because if you understand the importance of neutering from the start we will inevitably see fewer and fewer unwanted animals – which is always our primary goal!