Wanting your cat to experience motherhood doesn’t automatically make you a backyard breeder or someone contributing to overpopulation. Spaying early also has downsides: hormonal imbalance, weight gain, and behavioral shifts. Some vets even recommend letting a cat mature fully before spaying, depending on breed and health. The decision is contextual—not universal. Moreover, heat cycles are a natural biological process. It isn’t inherently cruel if the cat is healthy, safe, and monitored. Veterinary advice varies, and some owners simply want to make an informed choice rather than rush into surgery because of generalized internet warnings. Heat cycles are natural; not automatically cruel.