Table 5.

Weighted frequencies of reasons chosen by 831 veterinary professionals and students to justify their choice of minimum desexing ages for male and female cats (answer equals approximately 1.00 per person, answers to two decimal places).

Male Cats
Professional Role	Vets	Nurses	Vet Students	Nurse Students	Other	Total Response Weight	%
Desex Reasons
A. Anaesthetic risk	13.41	77.15	46.58	68.33	4.49	209.96	25.3
B. Lack of experience	6.57	16.31	39.45	16.38	0.00	78.71	9.5
C. Abnormal development	8.07	71.00	56.68	57.01	4.49	197.25	23.8
D. Reduce no. strays	19.41	83.01	64.51	78.16	8.16	253.25	30.5
E. Other	9.50	62.21	7.48	8.83	2.83	90.85	10.9
Total Response Weight	56.96	309.68	214.70	228.71	19.97	830.02	100.0
Female Cats
Professional Role	Vets	Nurses	Vet Students	Nurse Students	Other	Total Response Weight	%
Desex Reasons
A. Anaesthetic risk	12.91	87.21	45.05	67.15	3.66	215.98	26.6
B. Lack of experience	7.07	16.63	43.16	14.89	0.00	81.75	10.1
C. Abnormal development	8.07	58.24	50.64	59.51	4.66	181.12	22.3
D. Reduce no. strays	16.41	81.73	60.30	77.99	7.83	244.26	30.0
E. Other	12.50	62.80	6.40	4.16	3.83	89.69	11.0
Total Response Weight	56.96	306.61	205.55	223.70	19.98	812.80	100.0