In ideal circumstances a pair of cats can result in 420,000 new cats in seven years. This assumes that each litter is large with an equal number of male and female cats, and that the cats breed as often as possible.
The average mother cat can have two litters a year and the average litter has four kittens.
So if unregulated, in one year, a pair of cats becomes ten cats.
In the second year, those ten cats turn into thirty.
Third year: ninety cats.
Fourth year: 270 cats.
Fifth year: 810 cats.
Sixth year: 2,430 cats.
Seventh year: 7,290 cats.
Eighth year: 21,870 cats.
Ninth year: 65,610 cats.
Tenth year: 196,000 cats.
Eleventh year: 590,490 cats.
Twelfth year: 1,771,470 cats.
That’s almost two million kitty cats. That’s more than we can adopt. That’s more than the shelters can handle. We don’t want them all starving. That’s why neutering is a good idea.
Contrary to popular belief, a female cat does not need to have at least one litter of kittens to maintain health. Furthermore, she will not miss having had kittens.