As spring starts springing, the number of new puppies and kittens often peaks at this time of year. Not all of these new arrivals will be welcome, which is why The Ralph Site, along with countless animal welfare organisations and charities, highly recommend that you have your pet neutered.

With so many homeless and unwanted pets in the world, and many being euthanised every day, not adding more to this seems the right thing to do. Neutering prevents unplanned, unwanted and ultimately expensive kittens and puppies. It also helps to allow domestic animals to live alongside their human family by reducing aggression, straying, spraying, calling and other anti-social behaviour. There are also some reported health benefits of neutering pets such as prevention of certain types of cancer.

Both spaying and castration are routine and straightforward procedures, and your vet will carry out hundreds of them every year. Both operations are generally done as day cases, so your beloved pet will be home with you the same day for some treats and plenty of TLC.

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association recommends that cats be neutered from four months old, and rabbits and dogs at around six months. Contrary to what you may have heard, there is no requirement to wait until your female dog has had her first season.

It is in everybody’s interests to keep the numbers of unwanted pets as low as possible. Several organisations are able to provide subsidised rates for responsible owners wishing to neuter their pets, and you can find plenty more information about such schemes, as well as a whole host of advice on the following websites:

• Cats.org
• Dogs Trust
• Blue Cross
• RSPCA

Some people do believe that neutering causes pets to gain weight. Whilst not strictly true, it does slow down the metabolism of many pets and therefore you may find that your pet is prone to weight gain after neutering. With this in mind, you may wish to consider transitioning your pet onto a food that is designed to provide the correct blend of calories and nutrients for neutered pets. There are a wide selection of brands, flavours and pack sizes available in our shop including Royal Canin and Hills Science Plan Feline.

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of helping you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.