In 2025, the state of cat and dog neutering in Canada reveals a mix of progress and challenges. A whopping 94% of cat owners claim their feline friends are fixed, but there’s more beneath the surface of these numbers.
The surveys conducted on Canadian cat owners suggested some might be stretching the truth about neutering their furballs, possibly in pursuit of appearing responsible. This trend underlines a societal push for morally correct decisions, even if personal practices lag behind.
If you’re making six figures, the chances are nearly absolute that your cat is spayed or neutered. However, families with lower incomes often don’t have the luxury of affording such services easily. Meanwhile, only a small portion of cats and dogs under one year old are going under the knife, with less than a quarter of each group getting altered.
At home, around 2 million cats remain intact across Canada. These unspayed felines have the potential to balloon the kitten population astronomically—each female can pop out up to 25 kittens annually.
Looking at the broader picture, about 15% of the roughly 8.5 million Canadian cats could produce unwanted kittens within the year. And the sad aftermath? A staggering 80,000 cats and dogs meet their end in shelters annually.
Canada isn’t just watching the crisis unfold. The Toronto Feral Cat Coalition has already snipped 18,000 feral cats in a decade, showing that organized efforts can make a dent. They’ve been working to curb the stray cat population in the city by offering low-cost services.
Meanwhile, Toronto also boasts a mobile spay and neuter clinic that navigates communities in need, aiming to make pet care more accessible. So far, they’ve helped 4,200 animals.
In Edmonton, preventive measures have enormous implications. By spaying or neutering just one animal, the potential for nearly 250,000 unplanned animals over five years is halted.
The work by the Northern Dogs Project highlights strides made in First Nations communities. Over 5,500 dogs have been spayed or neutered since 2001. This collective effort significantly reduces the number of unwanted pups in remote areas.
The situation in Canada demonstrates that while there has been significant progress, there remains a lot of work to be done. More affordable and accessible spay and neuter services are critical. The potential benefits, not just in controlling pet populations but also in enhancing pet health and longevity, make these efforts worthwhile.
