• Spaying a cat has many positive benefits.cat image by Pavel Vlasov from Fotolia.com
  
  Is the cost of the surgery worth the benefits of spaying your cat? Absolutely! The positive effects of spaying a cat can be clearly measured. Fewer unwanted kittens are born, fewer health issues occur and fewer behavior problems emerge. According to veterinarian Holly Nash, breeding kittens should be left to the professionals, and everyone else should spay their cats.
  
  

Reproductive Benefits

• Thousands of kittens are euthanized every year because there aren't enough homes.white kitten image by Alexandra Thompson from Fotolia.com
  
  The first, and most obvious, effect of spaying a cat is the prevention of reproduction. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that 3 to 4 million animals a year are euthanized in shelters across the country. Spaying a cat reduces the litters of unwanted kittens that enter the shelters.
  
  

Health Benefits

• Spayed cats live longer, healthier lives than unspayed cats.Cat image by Kondretnko Max from Fotolia.com
  
  Spaying has many health benefits for cats. According to veterinarian Holly Nash, mammary cancer is one of the most common cancers in cats. The reproductive hormones in a cat cause the development of the mammary tumors. Spaying a cat reduces the risk of mammary cancer by 40 to 60 percent. Spayed cats also are not at risk for pyrometra, a serious and often fatal infection of the uterus.
  
  

Behavior Benefits

• Unspayed cats often roam in search of a mate.the cat image by Andrzej Dziedzic from Fotolia.com
  
  Unspayed cats in heat are very vocal and can be aggressive or spray urine. When a cat is in heat, she will actively seek out a mate, often leading to escapes. A lost or runaway cat is at serious risk of injury from cars, dogs and other predators and cruel people. Even if a cat is lucky enough to end up a shelter, she may not be safe. The Humane Society of the United States reports that only 2 to 5 percent of cats entering shelters are reunited with their owners. Unspayed females will also attract male cats to the yard, which often results in significant spraying and fighting among the male cats.
  
  

Potential Complications from Spay Surgery

• Some cats may have reactions to sutures following a spay surgery.surgery 2 image by rvvelde from Fotolia.com
  
  Generally, spay surgeries are very safe. However, some risks are present. A very small percentage of cats may have reactions to the anesthesia and not survive surgery. According to veterinarian Phil Zeltzman, approximately one-third of small animals may have reactions to the sutures, and 20 percent of pets may experience some kind of complication from the surgery.
  
  

Behavior Changes After a Spay

• Spaying slows a cat's metabolism, which may lead to obesity if food intake is not monitored.cat face image by Viktor Korpan from Fotolia.com
  
  Spaying a cat will cause the cat's metabolism to slow down, states veterinarian Wendy Brooks. She may not need as much food as she did before her spay, so food intake should be monitored and decreased if necessary. Cats in heat are often overly affectionate, and this behavior may decrease after the spay.