50 Times People Spotted An Adorable Pregnant Animal And Just Had To Take A Pic

As adorable as these moms look, you might want to take away your pet's possibility of having kids.

Experts say that by spaying or neutering your furry companion, you’ll help control the pet homelessness crisis, as millions of healthy dogs and cats are euthanized in the United States each year simply because there aren't enough homes to go around.

But there are medical and behavioral benefits to spaying (female) and neutering (male) pets as well.

Your female pet will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying prevents uterine infections and decreases the incidence of malignant or cancerous breast tumors in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. (Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.)

Neutering your male buddy, on the other hand, prevents testicular cancer and some prostate problems.

Next, onto behavioral benefits.

Your spayed female pet won't go into heat. While cycles can vary, female felines, for instance, usually go into heat four to five days every three weeks during the breeding season.

In an effort to advertise for mates, they'll yowl and urinate more frequently, and sometimes do it all over the house.

Your male dog will be less likely to roam away from home. An intact male will go above and beyond to find a mate, including creative escapes from the house, which greatly increase the risk of injury in traffic and fights with other animals.

Additionally, unneutered dogs and cats are more likely to mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house. Your dog might be less likely to mount other dogs, people, and inanimate objects after he's neutered too. (Also, some forms of aggression can be avoided by early neutering.)

However, if you decide to become a pet parent yourself and bring home a new critter, you need preparation to ensure they like it at their new home as much as possible.

Shauna Spooner, who is a vet nurse at the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) told Bored Panda that this begins with creating a calm environment.

"New places can be scary for pets," Spooner said. "While it can be exciting for us and our families when our pets come home, think how terrified they might feel! Try to create a calm environment at home ready for your new pet. Using a calming plug-in diffuser might help them feel less stressed."

Give them an area that is theirs. "It’s important to make sure they have somewhere they can go to be alone if they need to," the vet nurse continued. "Setting up a den with a familiar blanket or toy can be really comforting for them."

Also, expect accidents. "Even if a pet has been previously house trained, having a few accidents in their new environment is to be expected. Don’t get angry with them as this will make them feel confused and even more worried."

Try to limit their roaming at first. According to Spooner, if you plan to give your new pet freedom to explore your home some or all of the time, introduce them to it slowly. "Your pet will need time to relax and settle in, so limit them to one or two rooms at a time. Take it slowly and give them time to get used to everything," she explained.

Pets love keeping a schedule, so set a routine. "The sooner you do this, the sooner your pet will settle in," Spooner said. "Try to feed them around the same time every day and keep to a regular exercise regime."

Lastly, keep them indoors "With cats, for example, you will need to keep them indoors for around six weeks to give them chance to settle in and get used to the house."

For more helpful resources, visit PDSA's help and advice page.