Here, we outline the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) guidelines on why cats should be neutered at a younger ageEvidence and studies show that neutering of cats can takeplace from four months of age and this has been backed upby several peer reviewed studies and papers.Long-term confinement is not a humane option for the control of feral and stray or abandoned cat populations, according to new guidelines issued by the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) in its Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.According to the society, which is the veterinary division of the charity International Cat Care, culling to control cat populations is also rarely effective or acceptable, whereas trap—neuter—return programmes and rehoming (in appropriate cases) can offer effective and humane solutions, but need to be properly managed and targeted. The domestic cat (Felis catus) has successfully developed to occupy many different environments and current estimates suggest that we coexist with about 272m cats globally. Cats adopt a spectrum of lifestyles ranging from free-living ferals, with little or no human contact, through to street and community cats, and those kept as pets in homes where they are usually dependent on human care. Because cats are adaptable and often reproduce efficiently, populations can grow to a point where interventions are required. Overpopulation can result in unnecessary suffering, particularly if the cats are perceived as a nuisance to humans. In developing its guidelines, ISFM looked realistically at the plethora of situations where population control may be required and provided practical, considered, objective solutions that are in the best interests of individuals and groups of cats.
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