The compulsory neutering focus group is a fairly new UK group on Facebook and I was invited to join. They say:
‘We are getting together to petition the government for compulsory neutering for pet cats and dogs, compulsory microchipping for pet cats and dogs and compulsory breeding licences for breeders of cats and dogs’.
(For our friends abroad who use the terms spay/neuter, here in the UK the term neutering covers both sexes, spaying a female or castrating a male).
There are quite a number of Rescue Shelters involved in the group as well as people like me who care about the welfare of all animals.
This may be a good idea but I really can’t see the government passing a new law, animals come very low in priority on the present government’s agenda.
But there are situations where it would be very good news if there was such a law. If people have queens on heat they attract un-neutered tom cats from far and wide.
Cats can be a nuisance to a neighbourhood, even cat lovers must feel worried by the toms yowling their courting and fighting songs in the night. The cats mating instinct is very strong, it’s not their fault.
To people who don’t particularly like cats, it must be very irritating and this gets all cats a bad name.
Cats Protection would pay for people on low income to have their cats neutered but at present they can’t force people to accept their help. Do you think neutering should be compulsory? It would certainly solve the problem of so many unwanted kittens being born, but how could it be enforced?
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I guess I am the only one that is against mandatory spay/neuter laws. Anyone else against it?
Yes micro chipping can be expensive but it’s well worth saving up and getting it done professionally by a vet because there have been cases of cats paralysed by it done wrongly:
https://pictures-of-cats.org/insertion-of-cat-microchip-carries-risks.html
The problem is that many people tend to look at cats as ‘cats’ not as each and every individual cat 🙁
I think you make a good point in that every cat is an individual and therefore every situation is different which makes a blanket compulsory micro-chipping unsuitable.
Our Ebony wasn’t micro chipped either Michael, when she came along in 1990 it wasn’t deemed as important and like your Binnie and Charlie she didn’t go far from home.
I think it’s like everything else to do with cat welfare, we all have to do what we think is right for each individual cat.
Yes micro chipping is important but I don’t think it should be compulsory because it doesn’t affect other cats like not neutering them does, not being micro chipped doesn’t cause fighting Toms and litters of unwanted kittens being born.
well i agree that dogs or cats need compulsory getting fixed. not sure on mico chipped just cause is very expensive. Though are looking at getting it done for jasmin. I think its a responsible thing to do to make sure your animal is properly looked after i.e vaccinations, flea and worming treatment. It does get expensive esp if u have more than one or two cats. Ive had to wait till vet bill is down as was over 400 with cassy. So its getting abit down now thankfully. So will be able to get jasmin looked at soon. i do agree each caretaker needs to take special care of their animals i know alot cant really be bothered and tahts why kittens are always available.