Table A10.

Weighted frequencies of reasons chosen by veterinarians as rationale for minimum desex ages of male and female cats. Reasons were provided by 57 vets for both cat sexes (question answered by 93% of 61 vets). Six career length categories were pooled into three because of small sample sizes (<1 and 1–5 years vs. 6–10 and 11–15 years vs. 16–20 and ≥21 years). There was no significant three-way interaction between career length, desex reason, and cat sex (G² = 20.36, d.f. = 22, p = 0.56).

Male Cats
	Reasons for Minimum Desex Age
	A.	B.	C.	D.	E.	Total
0–5 years	3.25	2.91	2.91	2.91	0.00	11.98
6–15 years	2.50	1.00	0.50	5.50	0.50	10.00
≥16 years	7.66	2.66	6.66	10.00	8.00	34.98
Total	13.41	6.57	10.07	18.41	8.50	56.96
Female Cats
	Reasons for Minimum Desex Age
	A.	B.	C.	D.	E.	Total
0–5 years	3.25	2.91	0.91	2.41	2.50	11.98
6–15 years	2.50	1.00	0.50	5.50	0.50	10.00
≥16 years	7.16	3.16	6.66	8.50	9.50	34.98
Total	12.91	7.07	8.07	16.41	12.50	56.96

A: Respondent believed there is less anaesthetic risk at the selected preferred age. B: Respondent had limited experience with desexing cats younger than the selected preferred age. C: Respondent had concerns about normal development of anatomy/physiology/behaviour in cats desexed younger than the selected preferred age. D: Respondent believed desexing at the selected preferred age will help reduce the number of stray/abandoned/feral cats in their community. E: Respondent provided alternative reason/s to justify the selected preferred age.