2021 ANIMAL STORIES MAGAZINE

Page 50 2021 PET MAGAZINE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS JANUARY 21, 2021 Continue p S paying and neutering your pets is the responsible thing to do. The majority of the animals found in shelters, especially in the feline category are the result of pet owners who suddenly find themselves with too many cats. There are certain times each year when the Humane Society of Logan County has a large inventory of kittens, so many that they host adoption fairs at local retailers in the hopes of finding fast and permanent homes. If you have an animal that has not been spayed or neutered, you should consider the pros and cons, which includes health benefits to the animal. By the numbers Cats have larger litters and they reproduce more often than dogs. Statistically, over a seven year period, one female cat and her offspring can produce 370,000 kittens based on every generation having multiple females with a litter and every female mating again, and again. In contrast, a female dog and her following generations of females over a six year period could produce 67,000 puppies. Unaltered, unpopular behaviors Unaltered male dogs and cats display undesirable pet behaviors. And in both species, males become more aggressive toward other males and injuries may occur. Cats Unaltered male cats and female cats in heat spend a great deal of time serenading. They are seeking a partner and may spend an hour or two calling and caterwauling, which can become disruptive in our lives. In addition male cats have the unseemly habit of “marking their territory” through urination. The act of “spraying” can result in smelly destructive damages to homes. When considering the pros and cons of whether or not to have a cat spayed or neutered, the cons are few, but there are some important health benefits to spaying. Spaying or neutering your pets When, why and why not