milabue
Esteemed Citizen of ZV
I think that applies to people who pay for pets.honestly I think a lot of cat owners neuter because they refuse to keep their cat indoors. I think there’s a good case for spaying a female cat that doesn’t tolerate heat cycles well indoors
But most people I’ve met who say they had their cat neutered or spayed did it because they wanted to have an outdoor cat that they barely took care of with no risk of pregnancy. Horrific behaviour imho. If you can’t provide a cat with a safe home and enough enrichment that they don’t have to live in dangerous city environments (cars, urban predators) or outdoors in rural spaces where larger predators are a major concern—don’t get a cat. An outdoor cat has an average lifetime anywhere from 2-10 times shorter than an indoor cat in North America. Can’t imagine letting an animal I love get eaten by bears, eagles, etc or hit by a Canadian driver with a car so big they can’t see a middle-schooler let alone a tiny cat crossing the road (famously shit drivers out here).
It certainly doesn't apply to folks who just happen to be feeding a feral animal. It isn't theirs, they didn't choose it. If they catch it, give it shots and neuter it, isn't that a case where neutering would be good?