This is because during her fertile period she may mate with several tom-cats each fertilising different eggs each time. Most cats killed on the road are unneutered toms as they are more likely to roam further afield and cross busy roads. A female cat can, in 5 years, be responsible for 20,000 descendants. The oldest cat on record was probably 'Puss', a tabby owned by Mrs Holway of Clayhidon, Devon. The oldest living cat in the care of The Cats Protection League is Mark, aged 28, who lives at our Haslemere Shelter.
Cats are happier if they have had one litter of kittens before being neutered.
There is no good reason to let a cat have kittens before neutering. It costs far more to feed a pregnant cat and her kittens than to pay for a neutering operation. Neutering means that cats don't make such good mousers. Neutering does not affect a cat's ability to catch mice. It is cruel to neuter a cat.