Low Cost Spay & Neuter Animal Medical Center Low Cost Spay/Neuter and Micro-Chip 16540 Harbor Blvd. Suite A Fountain Valley, CA 92708 714-531-1155 Make appointment with Dr. J.C. Haefner ONLY Call 1 month in advance for appointment Orange County SPCA Free Spay/Neuter Vouchers for Cats, Dogs and Ferals 714-374-7738 Leave a message stating that you need a spay/neuter voucher and someone will get back to you. e-mail - ocspca@verizon.net http://www.orangecountyspca.org Save Our Strays of Huntington Beach Low Cost Spay/Neuter and Micro-Chip for Huntington Beach Residents PO Box 4083 Huntington Beach, CA 92605-4083 714-442-1446 e-mail - saveourstrayshb@aol.com http://www.saveourstrayshb.org Animal Birth Control Center Low Cost Spay/Neuter 11314 W. Pico Blvd (at Sawtelle) Los Angeles, CA 90064 310-444-3114 1950 Pacific Coast Hwy Lomita, CA 90717 310-539-3112

Santa Ana Friends for the Animals Low Cost Spay/Neuter for Santa Ana Residents 60 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 714-254-8727 http://www.saffta.org/ Friends of Long Beach Low Cost Spay/Neuter for Long Beach & Signal Hill Residents 562-988-7647 Call - 310-635-2126 for low-cost voucher: Cats - $5.00 Dogs - under 45 lbs - $10.00         - over 45 lbs - Free Rabbits - $10.00 http://www.friendsoflongbeachanimals.org/ SNAP - Spay Neuter Assistance Program Free Spay/Neuter in Los Angeles 310-364-4282 Best Friends Catnippers Free Spay/Neuter to Caretakers of Feral Cats in Los Angeles County 818-377-9700 e-mail - info@bestfriends.org http://www.bestfriends.org/

Facts and Fiction about Spaying and Neutering

She needs to have one litter before spaying
There is no medical research to support this supposition. In fact, spaying your female cat will not only save her the misery of frequent heat cycles throughout her life, but also will reduce her risk of mammary cancer, and eliminate the risk of uterine and ovary cancer, as well as pyometra. If none of these arguments are convincing enough, consider the possible complications of birth, which may result in the death of mother and/or babies, not to mention the potential threat of eclampsia.

I'd like for my kids to witness the Miracle of Birth
Just one unaltered cat can produce 420,000 cats in seven years - 10 million in ten years. Do the math. It's not a pretty picture, considering most of these cats live a very hard life and usually meet with an untimely and unnatural death. Kids can learn about the miracle of birth in so many other ways that won’t have a negative impact on the lives of animals.

Spaying or neutering will make my cat fat and lazy, or worse, sick
All cats have the potential of getting fat and lazy. Feeding your cat an appropriate premium food and engaging with her in interactive exercise will keep her in prime physical condition. As for medical issues, female cats, for instance can develop uterine or ovarian cancer and/or infections if they are not spayed. Also, owners of neutered male cats do not report behavioral marking issues in male cats that have been neutered.

Reasons to Spay and Neuter

Promote Good Health
Again, spaying your female cat will not only save her the misery of frequent heat cycles throughout her life, but also will reduce her risk of mammary cancer, and eliminate the risk of uterine and ovary cancer, as well as pyometra. Neutering male cats will prevent testicular cancer. It will also vastly reduce the urge to fight other males, which inevitably leads to abscesses, torn ears, and sometimes death.

Reduce Potential Behavior Problems
Unaltered male cats spray indiscrimately, and their urine has a pungent, musky odor that is extremely difficult to remove from walls, furniture, and drapes. Unspayed female cats also spray - it is a natural instinct designed to attract a mate. In addition, unaltered cats of both sexes will stop at nothing to escape the house for mating purposes.

Help Prevent Overpopulation
The first two reasons are personal; this one is universal. You may think that because you can find good homes for your cat's babies, that you're not contributing to the problem. Think again. There are simply not enough "good homes" to go around. For every kitten you place in a good home, another cat loses its life on the streets or in a traditional shelter.

If you want kittens, consider fostering a litter from a shelter. You will have the joy of seeing them in their "cute" period (which lasts only a few months), and you will have the satisfaction of helping, rather than contributing to the problem.

If you are interested in fostering cats and/or kittens from Second Chance, please call 714-715-3027.