Sterilisation facts

• Female: "Spaying" removes the womb and ovaries (an ovaro-hysterectomy).
• Male: “Neutering” removes the testicles (castration).
• Pain level: The operation is performed under general anaesthetic and is completely painless. It is a simple procedure and, at most, the dog or cat might experience mild discomfort after the procedure.
• When to sterilise: The earliest possible age is 12 weeks old.

Dogs

• A small unsterilised bitch averages 4-6 pups per litter, a medium-sized animal averages 6-8, and a large dog can give birth to 12 pups.
• Over a two-year period, an average bitch will produce at least 3 litters.
• This means that, if every unsterilised bitch produces 6 pups per litter, she will have 24 pups in a two year period alone.
• If all those pups are not sterilised, the female pups (12) will then produce 72 pups in one year.
• If those 72 pups are not sterilised by the end of the second year, they will give birth to 432 pups in the second year.
• Dogs live for an average of 8 years. By the end of those 8 years, there will be 10 368 puppies (females only) without sufficient shelter, food or care.

Cats

• On average, cats mate at least 3 times per year (sometimes 4), and have 5 kittens per litter.
• 3 female cats can produce 3 x 3 = 9 x 5 = 45 kittens in one year.
• If half those kittens are female and go on heat 3 times a year, then 22.5 x 3 = 67.5 x 5 = 337.5 kittens will be born in a year.
• That means in 5 years there are 16 875 kittens without sufficient shelter, food or care in Khayelitsha.