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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 27th February 2018
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Unneutered pets risk fuelling pregnancy crisis, vets warn
An estimated 2.7 million dogs and one million cats in the UK have not been neutered.
Report finds 70 per cent of kitten litters unplanned

PDSA vets are warning of a ‘pregnancy crisis’ as new figures show millions of cats and dogs across the UK have not been spayed or neutered.

The warning comes on the 24th annual World Spay Day - an event that gives organisations an opportunity to highlight the power of accessible, affordable spay and neuter programmes.

According to the PDSA, an estimated 2.7 million dogs and one million cats in the UK have not been neutered. As well as putting them at risk of unwanted litters, this also puts them at risk of major health problems such as cancer and infectious diseases.

“One unneutered female cat can be responsible for up to 20,000 kittens in just five years. Clearly, with one million unneutered cats in the country, this poses a major animal welfare problem if left unchecked,” said PDSA Senior Vet, Sean Wensley.

“Owners may not be willing or able to care for a litter of kittens, either financially or in terms of time needed to ensure they remain fit and healthy.”

The 2017 PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report found that a shocking 70 per cent of kitten litters were unplanned. Many owners believe that cats should have one litter before being neutered. Another common myth is that cats won’t mate with their siblings.

In the last three years, vets and nurses at PDSA’s Pet Hospitals across the UK have successfully neutered more than 72,000 cats, microchipped over 92,000 and given health and wellbeing advice to more than 100,000.

Sean Wensley concluded: “This vital work by our PDSA veterinary teams means that, as these cats age, they’ll be at reduced risk of potentially fatal diseases, won’t have contributed to the problem of stray and unwanted animals and their wellbeing will have been improved thanks to tailored veterinary advice on each of their five welfare needs.”

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.