🚀 go-pugleaf

One significant correction on the discussion of consequences of not spaying
a female cat:

> > Is there a danger to the female if it is not neutered and
> > kept away from other cats?  
> No.

There IS a danger, and it can be significant.  If a female is allowed to go
through many heats, it can develop various reproductive system problems
which can seriously affect the cat's general health (i.e., effects worse
than just infertility).

One problem is that there seems to be a greater tendency toward cysts--
I guess due to frequent hormone changes.  A more common problem is much
higher risk of uterine infection from the time the cat goes into heat until
after it is bred.

If you discuss the matter with knowledgable cat breeders, you'll find that
they take some care in planning breeding so that females are not allowed to
go through more than a few heats between breedings.  Interestingly, it is
often the case that breeders have more knowledge (from experience) with
reproductive-system problems than vets do--since vets, quite rightly, see
mostly neutered or to-be-neutered cats.
-- 
Dick Dunn	{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd		(303)444-5710 x3086
   ...Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile.