I don’t think I can afford to sterilise my cat.

The question you should ask yourself is "Can I afford NOT to sterilise my cat?"

Your cat may have kittens and finding good homes for them will not be an easy task. If you do keep all of the kittens, the cost of food, litter and medical bills may prove to be a heavy financial burden.

Abandoning your cats or kittens when there are too many to handle is not an option. Cats that are abandoned often do not have the skills and instincts to survive on their own and you will be directly causing their suffering or death from starvation, being knocked down by cars or caught by pest control to be culled.

Sterilisation is a vital personal responsibility of a cat owner.

Under the Animals and Birds Act, anyone who is found guilty of pet abandonment can be imprisoned for up to 12 months, fined up to $10,000, or both.