Louisiana animal welfare organization joins United Spay Alliance in urging cat owners to “Fix by Five” to prevent unwanted litters and feline homelessness.
SpayMart has sterilized more than 1,400 cats so far this year through its monthly spay/neuter clinics.
METAIRIE, LA — Most people think of kittens as babies themselves. But female cats can become pregnant as young as four to five months of age, sometimes before their families have even scheduled a spay appointment.
For SpayMart, a Louisiana animal welfare organization that holds monthly spay/neuter clinics, this isn’t a theoretical concern. The organization routinely encounters pregnant cats who are still kittens themselves.
That’s why SpayMart is joining United Spay Alliance in promoting Feline Fix by Five, a national campaign encouraging cat owners to spay or neuter their pets before five months of age.
In Louisiana and throughout the South, where mild temperatures allow cats to reproduce throughout much of the year, preventing unintended litters is especially urgent. Every litter prevented means fewer kittens born outdoors, fewer animals entering already overburdened shelters, and fewer cats facing homelessness, disease, and suffering.
“We see kittens who are already pregnant when they come to our clinics, and it’s heartbreaking because they’re still babies themselves,” said SpayMart Executive Director and Founder Lynn Chiche. “Spaying and neutering before five months of age is one of the most effective things we can do to prevent that cycle of suffering. Every surgery means fewer unwanted litters and fewer cats struggling to survive on the streets.”
SpayMart has spayed or neutered more than 1,400 cats and dogs so far in 2026 through its ongoing clinic program, helping reduce animal overpopulation in communities where affordable veterinary services remain a critical need.
United Spay Alliance’s Feline Fix by Five campaign addresses an important gap in traditional veterinary scheduling. Although some cat owners wait until six months of age to sterilize their pets, female cats are already capable of reproduction by that age.
“We see shelters with unwanted litters all the time,” said Julie Bank, Interim Executive Director of United Spay Alliance. “Moving spay/neuter earlier is one of the simplest ways to prevent over-population.”
Why Early Spay/Neuter Matters
Spaying and neutering kittens before five months of age offers benefits beyond preventing unwanted litters.
- Prevents early pregnancies. Female cats can become pregnant while they are still kittens themselves.
- Reduces health risks. Spaying before the first heat cycle significantly reduces a female cat’s risk of developing mammary cancer.
- Supports healthier, longer lives. Research has associated sterilization with increased longevity in cats.
- Provides safe, effective prevention. Pediatric spay/neuter is an established veterinary practice, with appropriate protocols for young animals.
- Reduces shelter intake and homelessness. Preventing unintended litters helps address the continuing overpopulation crisis facing Louisiana’s animal welfare organizations.
What Cat Owners Can Do
United Spay Alliance and SpayMart encourage cat owners to speak with their veterinarians about scheduling spay/neuter surgery before their kittens reach five months of age.
Families seeking affordable services can search United Spay Alliance’s free national provider directory at:
www.unitedspayalliance.org/directory
SpayMart also conducts monthly spay/neuter clinics as part of its ongoing commitment to reducing animal overpopulation in Louisiana.
Help SpayMart Prevent the Next Unwanted Litter
SpayMart’s spay/neuter efforts depend on community support to continue providing accessible services and reducing the number of animals born into homelessness.
To learn more about SpayMart’s programs or support its spay/neuter work, visit www.spaymart.org.
About SpayMart
Founded in 1999, SpayMart is a nonprofit animal welfare organization dedicated to reducing pet overpopulation and improving the lives of animals in need. Through spay/neuter initiatives, rescue, adoption, foster care, and veterinary assistance, SpayMart works to prevent animal suffering and create better futures for cats and dogs in Louisiana and surrounding communities. www.spaymart.org
About United Spay Alliance
United Spay Alliance is a national animal welfare organization dedicated exclusively to promoting affordable, accessible, and timely spay/neuter services as the solution to the crisis of cat and dog homelessness. www.unitedspayalliance.org
Local media contact:
Christie Keith
SpayMart
415-205-4461
communications@spaymart.org
Local interviews: Lynn Chiche, SpayMart Founder and Executive Director, available upon request.
National interviews: Julie Bank, Interim Executive Director, United Spay Alliance, 760-908-8058.