Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay/Neuter Clinic says kittens and puppies can go into heat as early as 4 and 5 months old

May 21, 2015 | Member News

They may be just babies, but kittens as young as 4 months and puppies as young as 5 months are old enough to get pregnant and have their first litter just two months later. “These precious babies shouldn’t be parents at 5 and 6 months old,” says Dr. Gloria Matsushita, staff veterinarian at Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay/Neuter Clinic.

That’s why Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay/Neuter Clinic, with funding provided by PetSmart Charities, the largest funder of animal welfare efforts in North America, is introducing the “Precious, Not Parents” campaign. Through the “Precious, Not Parents” campaign, FCCRSNC will provide $20 spay and neuter surgeries for up to 140 puppies and kittens under 6 months of age during the month of June.

Some pet parents may worry that their pet is too young for this procedure, but spaying and neutering is safe and easy for kittens and puppies as young as 8 to 10 weeks old, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. In fact, Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay/Neuter Clinic has performed thousands of pediatric spay/neuter surgeries since 2007.

“Many owners put off the procedure and wait until the puppy or kitten is 6 to 8 months old,” says Matsushita. “But by then, a litter of puppies or kittens can be born.”

This special $20 rate is even less than the organization’s normal low-cost prices and is available to all residents of Colorado and Wyoming. Pet parents who wish to take advantage of this offer must mention the “Precious, Not Parents” campaign when they call to schedule their appointment. The campaign is based on availability.

Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay/Neuter Clinic will provide 70 puppies and 70 kittens with the “Precious, Not Parents” sterilization for $20 in June. Please visit www.FCCRSNC.org or call (970) 484-1861 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

PetSmart Charities’ “Precious, Not Parents” campaign provides more than $705,541 to spay/neuter clinics to fund affordable, high-quality spay and neuter surgeries for more than 13,935 puppies and kittens across the nation during the month of June.

About Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay/Neuter Clinic

Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay/Neuter Clinic is a limited admission, adoption guarantee, nonprofit cat shelter and low-cost sterilization clinic for both dogs and cats. The organization is dedicated to the well-being of all cats and dogs in our community with emphasis on preventing pet overpopulation and on the sheltering and placement of surrendered or abandoned cats into loving, permanent homes. Since its inception, the shelter has found homes for more than 8,500 cats, and the clinic has performed over 33,700 surgeries.

About PetSmart Charities

PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that saves the lives of homeless pets. More than 400,000 dogs and cats find homes each year through our adoption program in all PetSmart& stores and our sponsored adoption events. PetSmart Charities grants more money to directly help pets in need than any other animal welfare group in North America, with a focus on funding spay/neuter services that help communities solve pet overpopulation. PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization, separate from PetSmart, Inc.