Thanks to Valentine’s Day perched right in the middle, February is known as the month of romance. But when it comes to our companion animals, unbridled passion is a bad idea, which is why the last Tuesday in February is World Spay Day.

World Spay Day reminds us how important it is to desex the cats, dogs, rabbits, and other animals we live with so that they can live longer, happier lives and so that we never contribute to the ever-growing animal overpopulation crisis.

Spaying or neutering is part of responsible animal guardianship, and thanks to community initiatives lowering the cost, there’s no excuse for delaying this life-saving action.  

Spay Because: Rescues are Full

Australian shelters are overflowing with unwanted animals. Around 110,000 dogs and 80,000 cats find themselves homeless yearly, and specialist rescues, such as those focused on rabbits, are closing their doors, simply unable to care for more animals.

Thanks to the cost-of-living crisis and lack of companion animal-friendly real estate in our country, baby animals more often than not find themselves at the mercy of council shelters, where they are often euthanised for lack of a good home, or taken in by people who go on to abuse them.

Some street animals, and those sold online, even end up in dog fighting rings— there are an estimated 150 of these disgusting operations in Australia, and unwanted puppies fuel the fire.

Spay Because: The Streets Are Unsafe

When council shelters can’t keep up with the influx of animals, more of them end up on the streets, and the effect is exponential. Just one unaltered female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in only six years. One female cat and her offspring can produce a jaw-dropping 370,000 kittens in seven years!

Desexed animals are less likely to roam, meaning they’re less likely to be hit by cars, poisoned, attacked by other animals, or even targeted by cruel humans.

Since roaming cats pose a huge threat to Australia’s wildlife, killing a staggering two billion animals every year, keeping feline friends inside isn’t just good for them; it’s better for everyone.

Spay Because: It’s Best For Health

Sterilized animals live longer, happier lives. Not only are their frustration levels lower and the stress and discomfort females endure during heat periods reduced, but fixing an animal also eliminates the risk of uterine and testicular cancer and greatly reduces the risk of mammary and prostate cancer.

Desexed animals are less prone to fighting, and a lower desire to roam means a lower risk of contracting deadly, contagious diseases like feline AIDS and leukaemia in cats.

Spay Because: It Reduces Frustration

Animals ruled by their hormones are easily frustrated, harder to toilet train, less likely to territorially spray urine, and more likely to stray from home, putting their lives and the lives of other animals at risk.

Desexed rabbits are calmer, less likely to fight and hump, and more likely to use a litter tray, while all companion animals can become more affectionate after desexing.

No matter how cute your companion animal is (and we’re sure they are!), the world doesn’t need a carbon copy. This World Spay Day, do the right thing and book your furry family member in to be spayed or neutered. If you’re on a budget, the National Desexing Network (NDN) offers low-cost desexing to approved applicants.

 In the meantime, learn how to enrich your cat’s life while keeping them safe inside and how to extend your compassion to all species with our ‘Every Animal is Someone’ empathy kit here: