News: sterilization of cats

Sterilization of domestic cats mandatory in 2018

As of January 1, 2018, all cat owners must have their cats spayed or neutered before they reach the age of 6 months. Cats born before January 1, 2018, must be spayed or neutered by July 1, 2018. The veterinarian issues a sterilization certificate, and changes the sterilization status in the central CatID database for cats that are already registered there. This was defined in the decree of the Government of the Brussels Capital Region of 13 July 2017 amending the Royal Decree of 3 August 2012 on the multi-annual plan for the sterilization of domestic cats (also known as the “cats plan”) and in the decree of the Government of the Brussels Capital Region of 7 July 2017 on the identification and registration of cats.

Why this measure?

Cats can in principle be sterilized as early as 8 weeks of age, this is called early sterilization. Some veterinarians are not comfortable with this early spaying. Therefore, the age limit for sterilization has been set at 6 months. A cat becomes fertile around the age of 6 months, which is why it is important to proceed to sterilization before this age in order to avoid unwanted pregnancies, and therefore also unwanted litters. Kittens are often abandoned, neglected or euthanized due to lack of space in shelters. The stray cat population is also maintained by the arrival of these abandoned kittens. Spaying and neutering also has direct positive effects on the cats’ well-being: young spayed cats are much less likely to develop mammary and uterine tumors, especially when spayed or neutered before their first litter. Neutered cats are often calmer and less aggressive, and they are less danger-seeking. There will also often be fewer problems with urine marking.

Exceptions are made in the following cases:

  • sale of unsterilized kittens under 6 months of age, whose sterilization is then the responsibility of the new owner of the animal;
  • sale between licensed breeders for breeding purposes, the cat must be neutered only when it is no longer intended for breeding;
  • if the cat is destined for a person outside the Brussels-Capital Region. The case of the adoption of a cat less than 6 months old in a shelter can also constitute an exception. In this case, the shelter concludes an agreement with the adopter, by which the owner commits himself to take the initiative to have his cat sterilized before the age of 6 months. The owner then sends to the shelter a certificate of sterilization issued by his veterinarian.cat owners who wish that this cat still has a litter can make a request for approval of breeder to Brussels Environment, Department Animal Welfare.

Legal obligations:

Since September 1, 2012, spaying and neutering was already mandatory for cats in shelters, prior to adoption, with some exceptions. As of September 1, 2014, spay/neuter became mandatory for all cats sold or transferred.

As of January 1, 2018, however, all cat owners must have their cats spayed or neutered (spayed for tomcats, ovariotomy or ovariohysterectomy for female cats) before they reach the age of 6 months. Cats born before January 1, 2018 must be spayed or neutered by July 1, 2018.

The veterinarian who performs the sterilization of a cat will issue a certificate stating the date of sterilization and the cat’s identification, if any, or description. Si le chat est enregistré dans CatID (ce qui est une obligation pour tous les chats nés depuis le 1er novembre 2017), alors le statut de stérilisation du chat doit être modifié dans CatID endéans les 24h. This allows on the one hand to control the efficiency and the follow-up of the cat plan, and on the other hand constitutes an easily consultable tool for a possible new veterinarian having to follow the concerned cat.

If an unsterilized cat is brought into the Brussels-Capital Region when it is older than 5 months, it must be sterilized within 30 days.

More information:

  • http://www.environnement.brussels/thematiques/bien-etre-animal/surpopulation-felinehttp://www.environnement.brussels/thematiques/bien-etre-animal/le- commerce-des-animaux-de-compagnie
You can call our Veterinary Assistants and make an appointment for a consultation on 02/3802492.

Contact us

Votre vétérinaire à Beersel
Uw dierenarts te Beersel
Your vet at Beersel

Alsembergsesteenweg 439, 1653 DWORP

Emergency

0475 781 739

Call us

02 380 24 92

Write to us

info@vetcarecenter.be
assistante@vetcarecenter.be

Follow us on FB and Instagram

Copyright © 2021 Vetcare Center.