Feeling guilty for getting my cat neutered

[Sammy900]

Hey

Just wondering what other peoples views are and if I'm overthinking it or being unreasonable? I just want different opinions, experiences really so I can weigh up both sides....

Today our handsome boy cat went to the vets and was neutered and I've never felt so ethically uneasy and awful about making a decision for a pet. I feel like I've taken away his right to reproduce :(

Everyone keeps telling me it's for the best, he will be less likely to get into fights and be exposed to other illnesses from that, he won't spray around the house. We have two cats a boy and girl and they are brother and sister so it would be a whole load of wrongness later on ....

I just feel so uncomfortable about it, so much that I don't want anymore male pets now that I have to face this decision for. I love my pets and I suppose in some ways, further down the line of the argument it's unfair/restrictive to prevent anything from living a wild and free life.

I guess what I'm seeking is to weigh it all up and get my thoughts in the right frame and hopefully come to the conclusion that it WAS the best decision....any thoughts or experiences of a similar vein ? un-neutered pets that were a nightmare?

What does everyone else think?

I feel like we are going around in circles!

It’s going around in circles as you actually have no valid points in your argument and can’t seem to comprehend all of the valid points other posters have made that don’t fit your agenda.

You say you don’t want to neuter your female cat as it’s not natural.

Then you say you’re only going to let her have one litter, which again isn’t natural to only have one litter as wild cats have multiple.

You are then going to intervene to stop her having more litters which is also unnatural and you’ve not said exactly how you’re going to do this without getting her neutered.

Can you not see that people think you’re a troll because you keep contradicting yourself with the above statements?

No one is going to say that you letting your cat out to become pregnant by a random if not multiple random cats, is a good thing.

@WonderfulYou

I feel like we are going around in circles!

It’s going around in circles as you actually have no valid points in your argument and can’t seem to comprehend all of the valid points other posters have made that don’t fit your agenda.

You say you don’t want to neuter your female cat as it’s not natural.

Then you say you’re only going to let her have one litter, which again isn’t natural to only have one litter as wild cats have multiple.

You are then going to intervene to stop her having more litters which is also unnatural and you’ve not said exactly how you’re going to do this without getting her neutered.

Can you not see that people think you’re a troll because you keep contradicting yourself with the above statements?

No one is going to say that you letting your cat out to become pregnant by a random if not multiple random cats, is a good thing.

^^ This.

Why not come out and just say that you don't want to pay for neutering because you seem to have some bizarre anthropomorphic belief that cats have a right to a sex life. Do you think by neutering your cat you are denying her the opportunity to sweetly date a handsome Tom over a steaming dish of Mouse Supreme and have mutually respectful intercourse behind the wheelie bins? Seriously, get a grip.

BackBackBack

I agree with your points....yes further down the line of the argument, making an animal a pet does indeed strip them of a free life....I like how it was explained in previous post that I am experiencing cognitive dissonance regarding this situation ....wanting a pet vs enabling what is natural to them...I don't might providing shelter and food, these are easy to come to terms with....but actively forcing them to have the snip has made me feel that's I'm taking the control as a step too far. It's a very final life changing alteration. I've not had to think much about it before. I seem to be more in the middle ground umming and arring about it compared the the majority. There are lots of things on here that I have listened to and am considering in favour of them having the op.

AIBU to have my female cat gang raped no then go through the physical stress of pregnancy and birth only to have her kitten taken away from her?

You’re not “letting her have a litter” in some lovely mummy way, you’re leaving her to the mercy of every stinking Tom in the neighbourhood.

and yes that’s just ‘nature’ but why would you want to put your (presumably much loved) pet through that?

BackBackBack

Haha that last statement made me laugh - of course not...RTFT that's not what I think at all!! way off mark there

It's a very final life changing alteration.

You changed her life when you made her your cat! You are completely overlooking the fact that the cat does not know it can have kittens. The cat has no concept of tomorrow - just right now. The cat will not know she's been neutered. You are putting your own beliefs and feelings onto an animal, and completely overlooking the fact that the poor bloody cat will suffer if you don't neuter her.

And yet 300 posts in and you still can't make up your mind about whether you are "ethically comfortable" with neutering your cat, despite literally hundreds of posts explaining why you should.

I work in animal rescue and I genuinely despair of people like you.

@BackBackBack

It's a very final life changing alteration.

You changed her life when you made her your cat! You are completely overlooking the fact that the cat does not know it can have kittens. The cat has no concept of tomorrow - just right now. The cat will not know she's been neutered. You are putting your own beliefs and feelings onto an animal, and completely overlooking the fact that the poor bloody cat will suffer if you don't neuter her.

Why are they born with reproductive organs and then go on to develop the ability and animalistic drive to reproduce?....what is the point if humans are just going to come along and remove that opportunity....who the hell are we to decide whats right and wrong without any consideration to it....that is putting human beliefs and feelings onto an animal

Responsible cat owners have their cats spayed or neutered. That is all. Don't have a cat if you don't like it.

“”It’s going around in circles as you actually have no valid points in your argument and can’t seem to comprehend all of the valid points other posters have made that don’t fit your agenda.“

This. None of your “cats right to breed” arguments have been coherent or well thought out.

@GoIntoTheLight

“”It’s going around in circles as you actually have no valid points in your argument and can’t seem to comprehend all of the valid points other posters have made that don’t fit your agenda.“

This. None of your “cats right to breed” arguments have been coherent or well thought out.

I'm in two minds about it....so far I've only had a one sided argument, bar a couple of other posters that have empathised.

I haven't got a strong hard stance...it's obviously something I'm currently weighing up - I have taken on board what people have said...

Seeking different viewpoints now if there are any, I've heard all there is to know from arguments for neutering

Why are they born with reproductive organs and then go on to develop the ability and animalistic drive to reproduce?

But then why are you only letting her have one litter then?

Why are they born with sharp canine teeth if we give them meat out of a tin?
Why do they have sharp claws for climbing trees and hunting when we give them enough food to not need to hunt?
Why do they have fur when they live indoors in the warm?
All domesticated pets have things that they don’t really need compared to if they were living in the wild.

We try and keep their lives as natural as possible but it’s impossible to keep it exactly that same.
Not feeding them would mean they use their hunting instinct properly which would be a lot more natural but in reality we know many would starve to death like wild cats often do.
Which one is more cruel - making sure they’re sufficiently fed with cat food which is unnatural or not feeding them at all and letting them hunt for food which is natural?

I think it’s very brave and honest of you to admit you’re struggling with this decision.
But I also think it means you’re not ready to have a female cat right now.

I'm in two minds about it....so far I've only had a one sided argument

What does that tell you OP?
Come one seriously.

@Sammy900 do you drink milk?

WonderfulYou

I see what you are saying, but do you then feel that all domesticated pets should not be allowed to reproduce at all for their own benefit?

I see what you are saying, but do you then feel that all domesticated pets should not be allowed to reproduce at all for their own benefit?

I can’t think of any situation where a pet needs to reproduce for its own benefit.

Aah so we are on very different pages of thought.

Essentially, I feel that all animals have an inherent drive / biological / natural instinct to reproduce for the benefit of prolonging their species

As a pet owner therefore I have to go against my fundamental beliefs about what I feel is natural ...and a life changing op seems to be going too far into the zone of what I find uncomfortable....hence the incongruence

@Sammy900

WonderfulYou

Everyone that has a pet - is for their own benefit ...what another strange thing to say.

You are thinking/saying some very strange things yourself.

My cat was a street cat. I wasn't looking for a pet especially a feral cat but I felt sorry for her. 14 years later she's still living with me. It's taken a lot of effort and she's amazing.

it is my RIGHT to intervene and prevent my cat from being able to reproduce

It is your right to decide what is best for your cat. The cat isn't a rational being, able to make an informed decision so you have to do it for her. Every vet and every cat rescue centre says it is in the cats best interest to be spayed. Many posters here have explained why. If you choose to act against your cat's best interests then of course people are going to say you are an irresponsible pet owner.

Regarding the "it's natural to reproduce" argument, it really doesn't apply to domesticated pets. Humans have, through essentially selective breeding, interfered with nature to such an extent that domesticated pets cannot be left to their instincts. It would be wrong to do so. We created them so we are responsible for ensuring they live healthy lives.

As for the kittens you are thinking of producing and then rehoming, you cannot be sure what kinds of homes they will end up in. A huge number of adult cats currently in rescue centres were sold as kittens before being abandoned or neglected by their new owners - often people who really wanted them and were determined to take good care of them, but when faced with reality were unable to cope with the responsibility. You will have no way of ensuring any kittens would have a good life.

I'm a cat owner, and I adore my pets. I can't imagine choosing to put them through the pain and risk of pregnancy and birth, so I suppose I'll never actually understand your point of view.

[quote LittleDandelionClock]@EvenRosesHaveThorns

What a nasty post.

Read the full thread. The OP has had her cat done.[/quote]
Oh, dear.

Only the male cat. Not the female - because she wants her to have a litter.

Of course you did the right thing. People drown kittens because they cannot afford vet bills. It’s shocking how those poor kittens end up.

It's a onesided argument because neutering pets is the logical, practical and reasonable thing for most people to do. The few who don't can pat themselves on the back for strain that is being felt by all the animal charities up and down the country who can't cope.

Quite apart from all the unwanted kittens he’d otherwise father, an intact tom cat is liable to spray all over your house and make it stink to high heaven.

I wouldn’t feel guilty for a moment.

Essentially, I feel that all animals have an inherent drive / biological / natural instinct to reproduce for the benefit of prolonging their species

They do.
But so do humans.
Does that make it acceptable for human males to rape women so they can pass on their DNA?
Is it wrong of me to go on the pill because I don’t want to get pregnant every single time I have sex?
What about if your cat got ill? Would you treat it or have it operated on because that’s not natural?

We often do things that aren’t ‘natural’ but that’s because it’s for the greater good.

If you’re struggling with comprehending a difference between something that’s cruel and natural vs something that’s not cruel and unnatural, then you’re not ready for a pet.