Kitty Post October 2026

Why Spaying and Neutering Every Cat Matters

Beltsville Community Cats (BCC) has received so many calls recently about unaltered cats and litters of kittens that we sometimes wonder if we are really making a difference.

One thing is for sure: We cannot make a real impact without the cooperation and assistance of people who feed free-roaming community cats in the Beltsville area. While it thrills us to hear from people we have helped in the past, it is disappointing when they wait until a female cat is pregnant or has already had a litter before calling BCC for help.

In too many cases, the calls involve female cats that are well along in their pregnancies or have already given birth. By waiting, what could have been one spay surgery has become a litter of kittens that also need food, veterinary care, socialization, foster homes, spay/neuter surgeries, and, eventually, placement in forever homes. Sometimes the kittens are already too old to socialize easily for adoption and BCC is forced to release these older kittens outside, where they do not have a good chance of surviving to adulthood.

To avoid these unfortunate outcomes, BCC is asking people to report unaltered (non-ear tipped) community cats as soon as they see them. Please don't wait until a female is pregnant or has kittens.

While you may enjoy seeing little kittens, far too many are being born. Animal shelters and rescue groups are already beyond their capacity to foster the adult cats being abandoned by their owners and the kittens being born outdoors. 

At the same time, the constantly increasing cost of veterinary care is making it more difficult for rescue groups like BCC to keep up with the demand for trap, neuter, vaccinate and return (TNVR) services, and the medical services needed by community cats that are sick or injured. When BCC started in 2019, basic spay/neuter/vaccine packages cost us just $25. Today, the low-cost spay-neuter clinics that we use charge between $70 and $110 for the same services. 

Cats entering BCC's Rescue Program (for fostering and eventual adoption) require more extensive (and expensive) veterinary care, including testing for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), microchipping, and treatment for illnesses or injuries. Many young kittens arrive with serious, sometimes life-threatening, medical problems requiring intensive treatment or surgery.

So, let's take a quick look at why spaying and neutering cats is so important.

First, neutering male cats can prevent a lot of undesirable behavior. Unneutered males are much more likely to spray urine to mark their territory, roam in search of females, and get into fights with other males. They can travel surprisingly long distances, increasing the chances that they will be hit by a car, become lost or injured, or spread diseases through bites.

Neutering generally reduces or eliminates spraying and decreases hormone-driven aggression and roaming. It can also reduce injuries resulting from fights. Neutering before these behaviors become established is especially beneficial.

And what about female cats? Spaying prevents unwanted litters and eliminates the risks associated with pregnancy and giving birth. A female cat can become pregnant when she is still surprisingly young and can produce multiple litters in a single year. Her daughters can begin reproducing while they are still kittens themselves.

Spaying also eliminates the possibility of uterine infections such as pyometra, a potentially life-threatening condition, and significantly reduces the risk of mammary cancer when performed early in life.

Spaying and neutering can benefit indoor pet cats, too. An indoor cat may never encounter a community cat, but an unaltered cat can still develop hormone-driven behaviors such as spraying, attempting to escape outdoors, and calling or seeking a mate. Accidental litters can happen when an indoor cat slips outside or when an unaltered male or female is introduced into a household.

Perhaps most importantly, every cat that is spayed or neutered means fewer unwanted kittens. That gives the cats already waiting in foster homes and shelters a better chance of finding an adoptive home.

BCC's message is simple: Don't wait! Call us at 240-444-8353 or email hello@beltsvillecats.net as soon as you see an unaltered cat so that we can get it “fixed” before it gets pregnant or acquires potentially fatal injuries or disease. And if you see kittens, please contact us immediately – it could make the difference between a high-risk (and often very short) life outdoors and adoption into a loving forever home.